Impact Fund
About the Impact Fund
The Initiative Foundation has advanced access to capital across Central Minnesota as a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) since 1997—a commitment now carried forward through its subsidiary, the Impact Fund. Together, they are among the region’s few CDFI resources dedicated to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs facing barriers to traditional financing.
Through the Impact Fund, the Initiative Foundation can offer patient, flexible lending, backed by support from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Rather than competing with banks, it complements their efforts by helping emerging businesses gain stability before transitioning to traditional financing.
Help for Central Minnesota Entrepreneurs
The Impact Fund provides access to capital, flexible lending criteria, and technical assistance to improve financial literacy and business management skills. It also targets investments in projects that drive economic and social impact and collaborates with community partners on development initiatives.
By focusing on low-income and diverse communities, the Foundation and its Impact Fund aim to deploy more lending capital and support entrepreneurship. It also provides business training and guidance to help borrowers become bankable. A board of community members oversees the Impact Fund, ensuring its mission aligns with regional economic growth and empowerment.
A Network of CDFI Lenders
The Initiative Foundation and its Impact Fund are connected to the wider CDFI community through member-supported organizations.
Member: Minnesota CDFI Coalition
The Minnesota CDFI Coalition supports the work of CDFIs with connections, learning, and collective advocacy to advance shared goals. The coalition works to build peer network and learning; support CDFIs in building their capacity and leadership; elevate the visibility and impact of Minnesota CDFIs; and advocate for state policies and funding to benefit CDFIs and aggregate resources to expand CDFI lending. The coalition includes the 33 federally certified CDFIs in Minnesota.
Member: Opportunity Finance Network
The Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is a leading national network of more than 470 community development financial institutions (CDFIs) nationwide. The network of community development loan funds, banks, venture capital funds, and credit unions works to ensure communities underserved by mainstream finance have access to affordable, responsible financial products and services.
Find us on Candid
The Impact Fund is a subsidiary of the Initiative Foundation with its own board of directors to guide decision-making. See our profile on Candid (formerly known as Guidestar) for an exploration of the organization’s commitment to supporting small-business clients through friendly, flexible capital and business coaching to help clients with sales tax reporting, financial record-keeping and marketing.
Contact Us
Contact a member of our team to learn more about the Impact Fund, lending or business coaching services.
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