The Good Money Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction of  the Good Money Guide
I. Guidelines for Seeking Capital
II. What Funders Will Fund
III. Platforms & Advisors
IV. Credit-Builder Support
V. Money Help
VI. How Funders Provide Funding
VII. Some Simple Guidelines
VIII. Financial Support Networks
a. Impact Investing - Angels
b. Impact Investing - Funds
c. Crowdfunding - Investment Based
d. Crowdfunding - Reward/Donation Based
e. 0% Loans from Peer-to-Peer Platforms
f. Loans from Community Banks
g. Loans from Community Organizations & Institutions
IX. Glossary
X. About Alliance for Community Development
XI. About Uptima Business Bootcamp
XII. About Identafire

What is the Good Money Guide?

A comprehensive guide to help ANYONE (from aspiring entrepreneurs to serial business owners) find funding from organizations that don’t just invest in businesses, but in the communities in which they operate -- organizations that are interested in seeing everyone in the community enjoy a positive triple-bottom line (people, profit, and planet),

Guidelines for Seeking Capital

Starting a Business? Prepare Yourself Financially

Check Yourself Before you Wreck Yourself

Avoid Scarcity Mindset

If you’re in a financial position where you’re relying on your business to provide you with personal income in the short term, you are more likely to make decisions from a scarcity mindset. That is, you may end up chasing business opportunities that are not aligned with your values, ideal customer profile, the terms of your product and service offering, or that don’t value your work appropriately—all, in order to quickly make personal income off of the business.

Understand that Business Income Will Be Shaky at First

New businesses rarely make consistent sales and often are not able to cover their costs in the first few months or years. Yes, it might be years before your business makes enough of a profit for you to receive a salary or live off its profits. As a result, you need to have a plan for how you will cover your living expenses during this time.

Are You Ready to Raise Money for Your Business?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine if you’re ready to raise money for your business:

Do you understand the market that you’re wanting to put your product or service in?

For any business, you will provide a good or service designed to solve a problem or provide a benefit to a targeted audience. It’s hard to know what service or product to provide if you don’t know your audience.

Can you demonstrate that your product or service has a demand?

You can show that your product or service is actually catching on with people through pre-orders, sales, and letters of intent to purchase from customers.

Do you have a plan for growing your business?

You’ll need to demonstrate to funders that you have a clear plan for how the business will run and become financially sound. Doing this shows that you thought through your business plan and have come up with measurements of success.

What Funders Will Fund

First Thing First...Not Your Salary

Most early stage equity investors and lenders aren’t willing to fund your salary while you’re starting your business because they view that as a risk and a lack of "skin in the game.”

Manage Day-to-Day Expenses

As you grow your business, you’ll see an increase in the day to day expenses needed to keep your business running smoothly. As a result, you may need funding to cover your operating needs until your business achieves profitability.

Acquire and Retain Talent

You may not be able to raise money for your own salary, you can use additional funding to hire other people as employees or independent contractors so you can free up time to grow your business.

Purchasing Equipment

Depending on the type of business you’re in, you might need to invest in machinery, vehicles, or other equipment to improve your processes. Since the upfront purchase of equipment tends to be a major expense, it may be more helpful for you to save your cash flow and finance the purchase through funders, spreading out the cost over a longer time period.

Platforms & Advisors

Business Advice Focused on Finance

Year-round services specifically focused on helping small businesses with their finance needs

Centro Community Partners

Centro stewards the development of mobile apps that can help you assess your creditworthiness, create a budget and income statement, and determine which micro lender best suits your needs. CentroCommunity.org

ICA Fund Good Jobs

Educates, accelerates, and invests in high-growth small businesses in order to create accessible good jobs that lead to equitable communities for all. ICAFundGoodJobs.org

Main Street Launch | Veteran Launch | Alameda County SBDC

Offering no-cost, one-on-one assistance to help you explore financing options and create a strategy to get funding for your small business, including raising equity from investors, banks, and community lenders, and crowdfunding strategies. MainStreetLaunch.org | VeteranLaunch.orgACSBDC.org |
2101 Webster Street, Suite 1200, Oakland

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

Financial Resource CenterRenaissance Entrepreneurship Center can help package a loan for you and support you through the process. RenCenter.org
275 5th Street, San Francisco | 1325-B Evans Avenue, San Francisco | 1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto1500 MacDonald Avenue, Richmond

Small Business Support & Tools

Local business assistance centers and online tools providing directories and referrals to various advisors and classes

East Bay EDA

The East Bay Economic Development Alliance provides a resource map to connect businesses to sources, investment opportunities, information, and training programs at local, state, federal, and international levels. EastBayEDA.org
1221 Oak Street, Suite 555, Oakland, CA

Nor-Cal FDC

Nor-Cal FDC offers a wide range of Loan programs and funding sources to meet the needs of California's 3.6M small business community throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley and throughout the State of California, with distinct attention to  underserved markets and small business persons that are considered economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

Oakland Business Assistance Center

One-stop information and referral center operated by the City of Oakland. From site location and market information to business permitting assistance and referrals to business support and financing resources, their team will help your business prosper in Oakland.OaklandBusinessCenter.com
270 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland

OCCUR NOW

The Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal (OCCUR) offers a Micro-Enterprise Assistance Program that is focused on helping small business owners in Oakland’s District 6 improve and sustain their business through capacity building training

Pacific Community Ventures

BusinessAdvising.org is a free program that matches small business owners with pro bono expert advisors and mentors who provide tailored assistance to grow their businesses and create good jobs in our communities. BusinessAdvising.org

San Francisco EDA

San Francisco Economic Development Alliance is a collaboration of non-profit organizations that provide business training, funding and ongoing support to Bay Area Small & Micro Businesses serving San Francisco www. sfeda.org

San Francisco Small Business Assistance Center

The Office of Small Business (OSB) and its Small Business Assistance Center (SBAC) function as the City of San Francisco’s central point of information and referral for entrepreneurs and small businesses. BusinessPortal.sfgov.org
City Hall, Room 110, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco

Venturize

Venturize offers free online, unbiased education and resources about small business loans, retirement and healthcare to empower entrepreneurs to make the best financial decisions for their business. Venturize also helps small businesses get connected to trusted local providers that can help their enterprises grow. https://venturize.org/

Credit-Builder Support

MAF Lending Circles

Mission Asset Fund (MAF) is a nonprofit organization on the mission to create a fair financial marketplace for hardworking families. The Lending Circles program offers community-based loans for individuals to safely build their credit.

Money Help

Learn about the different types of capital that you may have access to

Angel & Venture Investing

Angel Investing

When an individual investments their own money into an entrepreneurial company.

Venture Investing

When a firm invests other people’s money into an entrepreneurial company.

Debt

In essence, it is borrowing money from a lender at a fixed rate of interest, either through a loan or by issuing a bond. In the case of loans, the borrowed amount is repaid over a set period of time. Bonds are “bought back” at their date of maturity by the borrower (you) for the original amount plus interest.

Equity

In essence, it is ownership (full or partial) in the capital of a company. To raise capital, business owners sell partial equity of their business, usually in the forms of stock or real estate, to lenders in exchange for funds to build and sustain their businesses. 

Grants

Money provided by a government agency, foundation, or other organization that does not need to be repaid and does not purchase equity.

Impact Investing

Financial investments that also aim to create value for society.

How Funders Provide Funding

How these funders provide funding

Angel Investing

Angel Investors often support businesses in their early stages, backing unproven but promising companies with the investor's own money. They are likely to provide mentorship and advice along with funding for startup founders.

City Revolving Loan Funds

A revolving loan fund (RLF) is a financing option that is primarily used to fill in funding gaps for the development and expansion of small businesses. It is a self-replenishing pool of money, utilizing interest and principal payments on old loans to issue new ones. Cities, such as San Francisco and Berkeley, offer these loans to their respective city small business owners.

Community (or Local) Banks

The role of a community bank is to meet the needs that a commercial bank does, within the specific community that it represents. They offer similar services as national banks, such as loans to small-business owners or personal loans to individuals, but on a smaller scale. 

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

CDFIs address the needs of a community by offering loans to small-business owners or personal loans to individuals. These loans are generally targeted and have a tangible impact on local communities by funding small businesses, developing affordable housing, building community facilities, and launching or expanding other community programs.

Community Organizations & Institutions

Generally speaking, foundations do not make grants to for-profit businesses. Instead, foundations usually provide program-related investments (PRIs) to social enterprises, as well as nonprofits. PRIs are low-interest loans that a foundation can give to organizations or projects that align with the funder's mission.

Crowdfunding

1. Crowdfunding is often used by inventors in two ways:
   1. To fund their projects through individual investors who give large amounts of money (greater than $___) in exchange for a reward once the project is completed. 
      
      
   2. To fund their projects through small ($10, $50, $100) contributions that add up over time.
      

Integrated Capital Funds

Integrated capital funds require the coordinated and collaborative use of different forms of capital (such as, equity investments, loans, gifts, loan guarantees, etc.), often from different funders, to support developing businesses and start-ups.

Venture Capital (commonly shorthanded to "VC")

VC funds are typically given to entrepreneurs and startups within the expansion stage of growth, which usually leads to rapid growth in both cash flow and revenue. These types of investments help to provide stability to a new or expanding business that has demonstrated a high potential for growth.

Financial Support Networks

Financial Support Networks

So now what? Now that you have all of this information, you may be asking yourself where you can find any of the funders we've been talking about and if any are close to you. Well look no further! In this section, we've included local, regional, and national funders ranging from angel investors, 0% loans from peer-to-peer platforms, community banks, and everything else in between to help you grow your business.

Impact Investing-Angels

Organization	Focus Area	How it Works & Requirements	Features	Good Certifications
Cutting Edge Counsel	United States; Strategy and legal services that assist businesses and nonprofits in operating sustainably, including capital strategies to attract impact investors	Fund Amount:  • Capital raises from $100,000 Requirements: • Privately offer an investment to wealthy and/or non-wealthy people you know • Fewer required legal filings than public offering • Usually accredited (high-net-worth) investors • Non-wealthy investors may also participate • In California, can have up to 35 non-accredited investors	• This source will work with startups with less than one full year of operations. • This source provides services to nonprofits. • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores.	• B Corp Bay Area • Green Business • Oakland Grown Member
Investors' Circle	• Bay Area, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Colorado, North Carolina, and D.C. •Early stage businesses with high growth potential in: •Clean energy • Consumer products • Education •Energy & environment •Sustainable agriculture •Food & beverages •Infrastructure & apparel •Health & wellness •Community development • Impact software	Fund Amount: • Capital raises from $50,000 - $3,000,000 Requirements: • Early-stage companies that have gone to market and achieved some degree of traction • Business models that are post proof-of concept, demonstrated by contracts, revenues, strategic partnerships, etc. • Companies that expect to achieve $5,000,000 in annual revenues within the next 5 years • Companies that plan to scale and ultimately pursue an exit strategy • A qualified and inspiring management team • Strong IP protection (if applicable)	N/A	N/A
Slow Money Northern California	Northern California: •Soil and farmland protection • Community infrastructure development • Access to healthy food advancement • Health and environment enhancement	Fund Amount: • $5,000 - $250,000; investments made by individuals in the community (not the Slow Money organization itself)	• Through its gatherings and showcases, Slow Money convenes and connects entrepreneurs, investors, foodies, and localization activists to catalyze investments in the local food systems • In addition to loans and equity investments, they help facilitate “royalty-based financing” in which returns are based on revenues	N/A

Impact Investing Funds

Organization	Focus Area	How it Works & Requirements	Features	Good Certifications
Better Ventures	United States: •Entrepreneurs leveraging the tools and methodologies of the modern technology startup to address some of society’s biggest challenges	Fund Amount: •$1,000,000 - $5,000,000 Requirements: • Early stage • Must address opportunity, health, or sustainability	N/A	N/A
Brightpath Capital Partners	United States: • Businesses committed to positive social and environmental impact • High growth potential • Clean energy • Energy efficient • Environmental technologies • Sustainable agriculture & healthy food • Education • Wellness	Fund Amount: •$1,000,000 - $5,000,000  Requirements: • Clean-tech, information technology, sustainable products and services, and healthcare	N/A	N/A
Double Bottom Line Venture Capital	Western United States: • Companies to enable social, environmental, and economic improvement in the regions in which they operate	Requirements: • Double bottom line practices	N/A	N/A
ICA Funds Good Jobs	Bay Area	Requirements: • To be evaluated for investment, a company must participate in ICA Fund Good Jobs Entrepreneurship Services (Education, Advisory, or Acceleration offerings), it must be poised for high growth, and committed to creating good jobs for those who need them the most	This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores	• CDFI • Opportunity Finance Network Ally • GIIRS Rated • Social Venture Network • National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy • Mission Investors Exchange
Kapor Capital	United States: • People of color, women, and other groups that have been historically underrepresented	Requirements: • Low-income and/or communities of color • Tech, seed stage • Committed to diversity in hiring	This source engages as advisors to assist with strategy, problem solving, growing the business, and fundraising	N/A
New Media Ventures	United States: • Media and tech startups that disrupt politics and catalyze progressive change: •Innovative Technology and Tools •Media Platforms and Distribution •Advocacy Platforms • Digital Organizing • Civic Engagement Tools • Elections and Voting Systems	Requirements: •Have significant market opportunity •Have a defendable competitive advantage and some evidence of traction with customers or key constituents • Beyond ideas stage • Capacity to create progressive change	This source has a twice annual call for applicants	N/A
Radicle Impact Partners	United States; • Early stage companies where financial success creates meaningful social and environmental value in the realms of finance, food, and energy	• Loan Size: $250,000 - $1,000,000	N/A	B Corp

Crowdfunding-Investment-Based

Organization	Focus Area	How it Works & Requirements	Features	Good Certifications
Barnraiser	United States: • Food innovators • Sustainable food and farming • Food production • Community-based food, garden, and nutrition projects • Food education and media	Fund Amount: • $2000 - $30,000  How It Works: • Crowdfunding campaigns are launched with a pre-set goal, and contributors pledge support online Requirements: • Must reach campaign goal to be funded • 5% fee to Barnraiser, plus 4-5% for payment processing	N/A	N/A
WEFUNDER	United States and beyond •  For-profits businesses	Fund Amount: • $50,000 - $50,000,000 How It Works: • Recommend raising from at least one professional investor you personally know first Requirements: • $195 fee • Up to a 7% fee based on online funding total, only if your funding is successful	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This sources generates and files a Form C • This sources provides free crowdfunding contracts	• Public Benefit Corporation • Donates 5% of Profits to Nonprofits

Crowdfunding-Reward/Donation-Based

Organization	Focus Area	How it Works & Requirements	Features	Good Certifications
Indiegogo	United States and beyond • Businesses interested in sourcing funds from their customers or community	Loan Size: • Average amount of $3,700 How It Works: • Crowdfunding campaigns are launched with a pre-set goal, and contributors pledge support online: • Fixed funding - get your money only if goal is reached; 4% fee • Flexible funding - get whatever money you raise, even if goal isn’t met; 9% fee • Payment platform fees are an additional 3%	This source will lend or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations.	N/A
Kickstarter	United States and beyond • Businesses interested in sourcing funds from their customers or community	Loan Size: • $5,000 average; $100,000 - $1,000,000+ is possible How It Works: • Crowdfunding campaigns are launched with a pre-set goal, and contributors pledge support online: • Projects must reach their goal to be funded • Projects typically provide rewards to backers	This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations	• B Corp
Start Some Good	United States and beyond • For-profits, nonprofits, community groups, and individuals • Social impact projects and organizations • Advocacy/activism • Community organizing • Research/information/inspiration	Loan Size: • Goal set by campaign  How It Works: • Must create positive social change • Must be new initiative or new element to the work Requirements: • 5% fee plus about 3% for payment processing	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations. • This source provides finances for nonprofits.	N/A

0% Loans from Peer-to-Peer Platforms

Organization	Focus Area	How it Works & Requirements	Features	Good Certifications
KIVA	United States • People of color • No or damaged credit • Early stage businesses	Loan Size: • Up to $10,000 first loan Requirements: • Over 18 years old • Earn under $100,000 annually • Not in bankruptcy or foreclosure • Recruit lenders from your own network	• This source offers 0% interest loans • This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source provides finances for nonprofits • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers	• Social Mission
Mission Asset Fund (MAF)	• Business owners interested in building credit and/or accessing loans for their business	Loan Size: • $500 - $2,000 How It Works: • Lending Circles (each participant puts in a small amount of money each month and takes turns getting a loan from the pooled fund). Requirements: • A checking account • SSN or ITIN • Photo ID • Proof of income	• This source offers 0% interest loans • This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers	•Nonprofit • NCLR Affiliate •CFED •Ashoka • Smart Money Network • SFEDA •Spark Point Affiliate • AC CAN
SF LGBT Center	• Business owners interested in building credit and/or accessing loans for their business	Loan Size: • $600, but ultimately determined by the circle How It Works: • Lending Circles (each participant puts in a small amount of money each month and takes turns getting a loan from the pooled fund) Requirements: • A checking account • SSN or ITIN • Photo ID • Proof of income	• This source offers 0% interest loans • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores	Nonprofit SFEDA Powered by MAF

Loans from Community Banks

Organization	Focus Area	How it Works & Requirements	Features	Good Certifications
Beneficial State Bank	California, Oregon, and Washington • Socially & environmentally-responsible • Women and minority-owned • Affordable & multi-family housing • Sustainable food • Clean energy, recycling, and re-purposing • Other local & community-oriented businesses and nonprofits	Loan Size: • Up to $10,000,000 commercial loans; In addition, the bank has a special “Builder” program for business and non-profit loans that are $150,000 and below Requirements: • 3 years of operation • 3 years Financial Statements and Tax Returns • Bank will file a UCC 1 on all business assets and require a first deed of trust on commercial real estate loans • Financial statement must demonstrate established debt service capacity from cash flow • Personal guaranty required on all commercial loans (except to non-profits)	• This source provides finances for nonprofits	• B Corp • Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) • JUST • Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) • Bay Area Green Business • SBA Preferred Lender • Owned by a nonprofit
Community Bank of the Bay	Bay Area: • Located in, serve, and/or support low to moderate income communities • Environmentally sustainable either through their project(s) or ongoing business practices	Loan Size: • $100,000 - $5,000,000 generally Requirements: • Able to demonstrate an ability to repay • Willing to pledge available assets as collateral	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source provides finances for nonprofits • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers.	• Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) • SBA Preferred Lender • Bay Area Green Business • Oakland Grown Member
Amalgamated Bank	California: • Organic & natural products • Clean energy • Green building • Sustainably-managed businesses • Nonprofit organizations	Loan Size: • Generally greater than $250,000 Requirements: • Minimum one year of profitability • Positive cash flow • Commitment to sustainability	• This source provides finances for nonprofits. • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores	• B Corp • Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) •SF Green Business

Loans from Community Organizations & Institutions

Organization	Focus Area	How it Works & Requirements	Features	Good Certifications
CDC Small Business Finance	California, Nevada, and Arizona • New and existing businesses	Loan Size: • $5,000 - $20,000,000 & up (based on loan type) Requirements: • 3 years of business and personal federal tax returns or 2 years of projections (start-ups) • 10% minimum down payment (depending on loan type & eligibility)	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations	• Nonprofit
CLEARINGHOUSE CDFI	California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, & Sovereign Nations in the Western United States • Projects that provide measurable community benefit • Small businesses • Multi-family affordable housing • Commercial real estate • Community facilities	Loan Size: • $250,000 - $7,500,000 Requirements: • Personal and business financial statements • Additional requirements assessed individually • Real estate secured	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source provides finances for nonprofits • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores	• B Corp • CDFI
Community Reinvestment Fund	United States • Low to middle income communities • Under-served borrowers • Veteran-owned businesses • Women-owned businesses • Minority-owned businesses	Loan Size: • $50,000 - $3,500,000  Requirements: • Minimum credit score of 650 recommended • 20% down for startups recommended	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source provides finances for nonprofits • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers • This source offers financing support for Mandarin or Cantonese speakers	• CDFI • Opportunity Finance Network • New Markets Tax Credit • Financial Innovations Roundtable • Forum for Sustainable & Responsible Investment • Minority Supplier Development Council
Copernicus Fund	Bay Area: • Start-up businesses of any kind • Creative businesses • Ventures turned away from financial institutions due to high risk • Entrepreneurs without formal banking relationships	Loan Size: • $5,000 - $30,000  Requirements: • Requirements and repayment schedule are customized to each borrower	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source provides finances for nonprofits • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers • This source offers financing support for Mandarin or Cantonese speakers	N/A
Hebrew Free Loan	Northern California • Provides interest-free loans to the Jewish community of Northern California	Loan Size: • $6,000 - $25,000 for most loan programs; up to $50,000 for business loans Requirements: • Applicants must be Jewish and residents of Northern California • Minimum of 2 guarantors	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source provides finances for nonprofits • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers • This source offers 0% interest loans	• Nonprofit
Main Street Launch	Serves Oakland, San Francisco, and Stockton and veteran-owned businesses in California	Loan Size: • $10,000 - $250,000; fund disbursement varies by case Requirements: • Startups and existing businesses • Unable to obtain sufficient bank financing • Demonstrated ability to repay the loan • No personal or business tax liens • No bankruptcy in the last 3 years and current on all accounts • Owner contribution of 10-20% of total project cost • Startups must have direct industry experience • Personal guarantee required, including partners with 20% or more ownership • For-profit entities that are licensed in the City of Oakland, the City of San Francisco, the City of Stockton, or owned by a military veteran and/or military spouse • Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, or U.S. Documented Resident	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers • This source offers financing support for Mandarin or Cantonese speakers.	• CDFI • Nonprofit • Municipal contracts with the City of Oakland and the City of San Francisco • SBA Lender • Members of CAMEO • AEO • OFN • CDFI Fund • CBA • SFEDA •Bay Area Entrepreneurship Alliance
Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)	San Francisco • Small businesses who can’t get funding from a traditional bank	Loan Size: • $5,000 - $100,000 Requirements: • Fixed interest rates for 3 or 5 year loans • Establish your ability to repay the loan	• This source provides business coaching and pre- and postloan technical assistance • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers	• CDFI
Nonprofit Finance Fund	West Coast: • Social enterprises that promote economic or social development of diverse communities • Nonprofit organizations • Arts & culture • Childcare & youth • Community development • Domestic violence • Education	Loan Size: • $500,000 - $6,000,000; the process takes 3-4 months  Requirements: • 501(c)(3) nonprofit or social-mission business • Have been in existence for 3 years or more • Revenue of at least $3,000,000 annually Loan Size:$500,000 - $6,000,000; the process takes 3-4 months	•This source provides finances for nonprofits.	• CDFI
Northern California Community Loan Fund	Northern California mission-driven enterprises • Affordable housing • Human services • Arts/culture • Healthy food • Employee-owned ventures/ cooperatives	Loan Size: • $50,000 - $3,000,000 for most loan programs Requirements: • 3+ years of financial statements	• This source provides finances for nonprofits • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers • This source offers financing support for Mandarin or Cantonese speakers.	CDFI Aeries AAA+ Rating
Opportunity Fund	Small businesses in California	Loan Size: •$2600 - $250,000 Requirements: • In business 1 year or more • No minimum FICO score required • Credit on-time for the past 12 months • No current delinquencies, open tax liens, or open bankruptcies • Collateral (e.g. vehicle title) often desired	• This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers • This source offers financing support for Mandarin or Cantonese speakers.	• CDFI • Nonprofit
Pacific Community Ventures	California with a focus on the Bay Area: • California with a focus on the Bay Area • Small business loans and micro-loans • Specializes in working with business owners who’ve had a hard time accessing capital, like female entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs of color, and borrowers that may have been turned down for SBA or traditional bank loans	Loan Size: •$10,000 - $200,000 Requirements (flexible): • No minimum credit score • Minimum one year in business • Preferably profitable • Minimum of one full- or part-time employee	• This source provides  free advice from a pool of 500+ experts in any area you need • This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers	• CDFI • Nonprofit • Opportunity Finance Network • San Francisco EDA • East Bay EDA • San Francisco OEWD • Social Mission •Oakland Grown member
RSF Social Finance	Values driven businesses and nonprofits: • Food & agriculture • Rural businesses and farms • Startups • Energy efficiency projects • Recycling-based businesses	Loan Size: •$1000 - $500,000, Micro-loans $1000 - $25,000 Requirements: • Mission addresses one of RSF’s 3 focus areas • Strong collateral (may include pledges or guarantees) • 3 or more years of operating history • Profitable or a clear path to profitability in 12 months • Annual revenue of $1,000,000 or more • Annual revenue of $500,000 for arts orgs	• This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source provides finances for nonprofits • This source provides grants	• CDFI • Nonprofit • Opportunity Finance Network • San Francisco EDA • East Bay EDA • San Francisco OEWD • Social Mission • Oakland Grown Member
Working Solutions	Bay Area: • Startups •Small businesses • Established businesses	Loan Size: •$5000 - $50,000 Requirements: • One year of recent, paid same industry experience • No minimum credit score and no collateral needed • All outstanding debt must be current • No bankruptcy in the last 2 years	• This source determines creditworthiness with alternative criteria, not just credit scores • This source will lend to or invest in startups with less than one full year of operations • This source offers financing support for Spanish speakers • This source offers financing support for Mandarin or Cantonese speakers	• DFI • SBA preferred lender
Fonto Adlente (MEDA)	Nationwide through the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB)	Loan Size: The Acceso Loan Fund will provide small-business loans in the range of $50,000-$500,000 How It Works: The Fund will engage in two related lines of business: •  Lending directly to small businesses, referred by members of the NALCAB Network, that provide small-business development services, targeting an average loan size of $160,000 • Purchasing portfolios of small-business loans, of similar size and character, from NALCAB Network lenders	Support growth-oriented lending to minority-owned businesses nationwide through a network of Latino-led nonprofit business lenders. The new Acceso Loan Fund is designed to help diverse entrepreneurs scale, expanding their revenue, impact on the economy and ability to provide jobs.	N/A
Feed the Hunger Fund	California and Hawaii	How It Works: • Character-based credit analysis model looks at each applicant’s commitment to community, entrepreneurship training, and connection to community organizations, in addition to the usual financial criteria. • Focused investment strategy begins and ends with people and their communities – the farmers, growers, cooks, creators, and dreamers	• This source provides one-on-one guidance before, during and after the loan process. From developing new skills to connecting borrowers with like-minded customers, partners, and markets, we coach through every challenge and cheer every success	N/A
The Real People's Fund	Alameda and Contra Costa County	How It Works:  Focusing on financing entrepreneurs of color, creating quality jobs, and breaking down barriers to employment.	N/A	N/A
The Runway Project Oakland	Bay Area and Boston: Entrepreneurs of color, with an emphasis on African-American entrepreneurs, with early-stage businesses	How It Works: Provides affordable, patient, "friends and family" style loans, weekly coaching and support with other entrepreneurs of color in the program	Value	N/A

Organization	Focus Area	How it Works & Requirements	Features	Good Certifications
	Value

About The Alliance for Community Development

The Alliance for Community Development is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1999 and proudly based in Oakland. We’re dedicated to promoting economic investment in low-income Bay Area communities and increasing access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs, such as women, people of color, immigrants, and veterans. ​

About Uptima Business Bootcamp

Uptima Business Bootcamp is a member-owned business accelerator that provides diverse entrepreneurs with greater access to quality hands-on education, mentorship, resources, and community to create thriving businesses. We’re passionate about making the knowledge, language, and processes of starting and growing a business accessible and relevant to our local communities.

About Identafire

Identafire works with organizations that have an eye toward social justice, community, and equity. We focus on the education, housing, and independent journalism spaces but work with all manner of change-making organizations! Our passion is doing good in the world by enabling our clients to do good in the world. We achieve this by creating exceptional marketing collateral and purpose-built, beautiful and functional websites.