For U.S. donors

Support a more democratic economy

ZEF is building practical alternatives in cooperative finance, community ownership, housing and the regenerative economy. Follow the work, learn how the model works, and support it when you are ready.

Follow the work behind a different kind of economy

Get the ZEF Brief - occasional updates on cooperative finance, democratic ownership, community projects and the ideas shaping a more regenerative economy.

You will complete your gift on CAF America's website. Your contribution is made to CAF America, and you may recommend Cooperative for Ethical Financing (ZEF) as the organization you wish to support.

CAF America is a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity · EIN 43-1634280

ZEF is currently a CAF America Validated Organization through October 23, 2027.

Why follow ZEF before you give?

ZEF works on long-term economic infrastructure, not one-off campaigns. The ZEF Brief helps you understand the projects, people and ideas behind the work before deciding whether and how you want to support it.

• See real cooperative projects in practice
• Understand how democratic finance works
• Follow new work in housing, energy and local economies

Local roots. Broader relevance.

ZEF is a member-owned cooperative based in Croatia - a small country where philanthropy and funding for systemic economic change are still developing.

Yet the challenges we work on reach far beyond our local context: how finance can better serve communities, how ownership can become more democratic, how sustainability can create real rather than symbolic change, and how the social and solidarity economy can grow into a credible alternative.

What we develop locally - practical models, knowledge, experiments and experience - can be useful to cooperatives, social enterprises, impact organisations and communities well beyond Croatia.

Your support helps us develop, test and share ideas that create value beyond ZEF itself.

Support locally rooted work with relevance far beyond Croatia.

How it works

1. 1

   Make your gift to CAF America

   Complete the secure CAF America gift process as a U.S. donor.

2. 2

   Recommend ZEF

   Select or enter Cooperative for Ethical Financing (ZEF) as the organization you would like CAF America to support.

3. 3

   Receive your U.S. tax receipt

   CAF America issues the donor's tax receipt and retains full discretion and control over donated funds and any subsequent grant to ZEF.

CAF America

U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity

EIN

43-1634280

ZEF status

CAF America Validated Organization through October 23, 2027

CAF America fee

8% Of the first $100,000, minimum $80 per gift. ZEF is already validated, so the additional $400 validation fee does not apply.

CAF America retains full discretion and control over all donated funds and any grant made to ZEF.

You will complete your gift on CAF America's website. Your contribution is made to CAF America, and you may recommend Cooperative for Ethical Financing (ZEF) as the organization you wish to support.

Tax information

CAF America is a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity and provides U.S. donors with a tax receipt for eligible contributions. Individual tax treatment can depend on the donor's circumstances. This page provides general information and is not tax or legal advice. Donors should consult their own tax adviser where appropriate.

Help build a more democratic economy

ZEF develops practical infrastructure for an economy in which finance serves people, communities and the planet. Support can help advance charitable and public-benefit work connected with cooperative development, ethical finance, affordable cooperative housing, community energy, local economic resilience, education and knowledge sharing.

Cooperative development

Ethical financial infrastructure

Affordable and cooperative housing

Community and regenerative economy

Questions from U.S. donors

Is ZEF a U.S. 501(c)(3)?

No. ZEF is a Croatian cooperative and a CAF America Validated Organization. U.S. tax-deductible gifts are made to CAF America, a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity.

Who receives my donation?

The legal recipient of the gift is CAF America. The donor may recommend Cooperative for Ethical Financing (ZEF) for support. CAF America retains ultimate discretion and control over donated funds and any grant.

Will I receive a tax receipt?

CAF America provides donors with the applicable U.S. tax receipt for eligible contributions.

Does my entire gift go to ZEF?

CAF America applies the fees disclosed above and retains discretion over any subsequent grant.

About ZEF

Cooperative for Ethical Financing - ZEF

Ilica 36, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Croatian Non-Profit Register (RNO): 0281136

The RNO is a Croatian registration number, not a U.S. tax-exemption number. The U.S. tax-exempt entity in this donation process is CAF America.

STEP 1

Choose donation purpose

Your choice is automatically reflected in the payment description, reference and contact message.

Selected purpose

General cooperative work

STEP 2

Choose donation route

Start with where you are donating from and whether you need the U.S. tax-deductible procedure.

Donations from Europe and internationally (EUR)

Pay by card, or send a SEPA transfer in EUR to ZEF's Croatian account. SEPA transfers are usually free within the EU/EEA. From outside the EEA, use the IBAN and BIC/SWIFT below; your bank may charge its own fees.

Not sure which route to choose?

Tell us where you are donating from, whether you need a tax receipt and which purpose you want to support.