Resourcing the Field

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** Resourcing the Field: Owning the Land
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November 19, 2025

So much of our economy, and who has power in it, is tied to land—who has access to it, who controls it, and who owns it. A nonprofit that owns its own building, for instance, has an asset that can help ensure stability and sustainability in hard times. Yet land ownership is not without its risks and burdens. In today’s Resourcing the Field newsletter, we look at how community land ownership can resource nonprofits, communities, and movements.


In an interview that explores these nuances, I spoke with Rudy Espinoza, CEO of Inclusive Action for the City, and nonprofit financial advisor Alison Wagstrom of Propel Nonprofits, about whether nonprofits should own or rent ([link removed]) —but within that is a deeper conversation of how organizations balance capacity building, operational, and mission goals.


Next, Nikishka Iyengar covers a model of community ownership of commercial real estate called a community stewardship trust ([link removed]) . The Guild, the Atlanta-based organization she leads, is developing this model in which residents in a zip code invest in a local company to co-own and steward land together.


Then, on the topic of Native land ownership, A-dae Romero Briones (Cochiti/Kiowa) of First Nations Development Institute, writes about how to return land to Native Americans ([link removed]) but also how to develop capital flows that enable Indigenous communities to manage those lands in a regenerative way.

Lastly, a recent Economy Remix column examines an Indigenous business network in Mexico ([link removed]) . Cecilio Solís Librado (Nahua), a founder of the network, noted that Indigenous communities in Mexico have resource-rich lands, but the wealth has typically been extracted. Community-owned businesses are changing this situation, by ensuring that the value generated by Indigenous lands stays in their communities.


In reading these articles, I encourage you to reflect on how land intersects with your work and how land ownership might relate to your resourcing strategy.

Steve Dubb

Senior Editor

Economic Justice


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** Must-Read Articles
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Owning versus Renting, and Other Questions Nonprofits Should Ask About Real Estate: A Conversation with Rudy Espinoza and Allison Wagstrom

by Steve Dubb, Rudy Espinoza, and Allison Wagstrom

Nonprofits are increasingly using land ownership as a tool to forestall gentrification. But what does it mean for a nonprofit to own land? Two field leaders offer their perspectives.
Read Article ([link removed])
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Building Economic Democracy Through Community-Owned Real Estate

by Nikishka Iyengar

Beyond providing housing for residents in a neighborhood, community-owned real estate can lead to broader economic transformation.
Read Article ([link removed])
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Movement Is Justice

by A-dae Romero Briones

Achieving land justice for Indigenous communities requires land return, but it’s more than that. It is about restoring movement and the right relationship to the land.
Read Article ([link removed])
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An Indigenous Business Network Rises in Mexico

by Steve Dubb

In Mexico, a growing Indigenous business network sets forth a transformative vision of an economy rooted in community ownership and offers practical steps to get there.
Read Article ([link removed])

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Resourcing the Field is a biweekly newsletter focusing on how we resource the health, wellness, and sustainability of ourselves, our teams, and our impact. From philanthropy to mental health, financial planning to mergers, these are the hard, needed stories, tools, and insights to fuel sustainable workplaces and meaningful community impact.

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