MD Neighborhood Exchange

LOOKING TO INVEST IN LOCAL BUSINESSES? REGISTER HERE

Connecting Commerce to Community Capital

The Maryland Neighborhood Exchange is a Community Wealth Builders' initiative that connects local businesses with the neighbors who believe in them. If you're a business looking to grow or a resident who wants to support businesses in your community, this is your space. By working together, we’re building stronger neighborhoods and a more resilient economy—one investment at a time.

✨ Explore past campaigns and see what’s launching next!

SPORTY DOG CREATIONS
Sporty Dog Creations has set their sights on a new home in Downtown Baltimore from which they can sell their delicious handcrafted gourmet hot dogs and grow their wholesale operations. Learn how you can fuel this Black women-owned business here: Coming Soon!

CHECK OUT SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS HERE

Why We Created the Maryland Neighborhood Exchange

Too often, local businesses struggle to access the capital they need to grow—especially when traditional financing doesn’t fit their needs. At the same time, everyday Maryland residents rarely get the chance to invest in the businesses they care about in their own neighborhoods.

The Maryland Neighborhood Exchange was created to change that. We exist to bridge this gap—empowering small businesses to raise capital on their own terms and giving local residents the opportunity to invest directly in their community’s success.
By supporting businesses that value people, the planet, and purpose—not just profits—we’re building a more inclusive financial ecosystem that reflects the heart and soul of Maryland’s Main Streets.

When neighbors become investors, they don’t just help businesses grow—they help their communities thrive. That means more jobs, stronger local economies, and a better quality of life for everyone.

Our Impact

By connecting community members with locally owned businesses that need capital to grow, we’re making funding more accessible—especially for businesses that care about people, the planet, and purpose, not just profits. This work is part of a larger movement to build a more inclusive and equitable financing ecosystem for community-focused businesses.
(Impact reported from July 2019 - December 2024)

89

Local businesses featured on the Exchange achieved (or surpassed) their funding goals.

$6.1M

Raised from roughly 13,000 residents.

90%

Of businesses we support are owned by people of color.

Testimonials

“Crowdfunding did two very important things for my business. Firstly, it gave me the funds that I needed to start my business in a financing model that is both communal and equitable. Secondly, it confirmed to me that I actually had a good idea.”

-FISHNET RESTAURANT & FISHIES

“They have been instrumental in walking us through the process of preparing our business for crowdfunding as well as strategizing on how to help educate the community about our crowdfunding efforts and how they can get involved as well as support.”

- BOYD CRU WINES

Getting Started

Are you ready to scale your business with the Maryland Neighborhood Exchange? We are eager to support you!
To get started, register your business on the Exchange and someone from our team will contact you with next steps.

Are you a Maryland resident who is looking for your next investment opportunity? Learn about becoming an investor and upcoming investment opportunities by registering for our newsletter below.

Resources & FAQs

Getting Started
for Businesses

Getting Started
for Investors

FAQs

Contact Us

Stephanie Geller

Founder and Director, Community Wealth Builders

Stephanie Geller has spent over a decade working on the ground in Baltimore to build a more inclusive, supportive ecosystem for local and minority-owned businesses. Her deep relationships with city officials, local business networks, entrepreneurs, community organizations, funders, and technical assistance providers are central to the success of the Maryland Neighborhood Exchange and other initiatives led by Community Wealth Builders, where she serves as Founder and Director.

Prior to founding Community Wealth Builders, Stephanie worked at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, where she advanced community wealth building strategies and co-created the first-ever interdisciplinary graduate course for MSW, MBA, and JD students. The course focused on using anchor institution procurement to generate local business opportunities.

Stephanie also brings nearly 15 years of research experience from her role as a Research Project Manager at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Civil Society Studies, where she led national projects focused on the U.S. nonprofit sector.
She holds a Master’s in Social Work with a specialization in Social and Community Development from the University of Maryland, a BS in Urban and Regional Studies from Cornell University, and has completed public policy training at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Bakari Jones

CWB Liaison

Bakari Jones is a producer, facilitator, and consultant committed to amplifying the voices and experiences of Black, women, LGBTQ, gender-expansive, and entrepreneurial communities. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Bakari curates transformative spaces, blending narrative development, event production, and hospitality to foster connection, confidence, and cultural impact.

With an adaptive and intentional approach, Bakari thrives at the intersection of strategy and storytelling, helping individuals and organizations bring their visions to life with authenticity and impact.

Bakari earned a Bachelor's degress in African American studies from Temple University, Masters degress in Business Administration from Loyola University Maryland, and graduate certificate from University of Pennsylvania's Center for Social Impact Strategy.