Sustainable Communities Fund

Varies; past investments ranged from $37,000 to $350,000.

Rolling submissions — no set deadline.

AMOUNT

Varies; past investments ranged from $37,000 to $350,000.

AMOUNT

Varies; past investments ranged from $37,000 to $350,000.

DEADLINE

Rolling submissions — no set deadline.

DEADLINE

Rolling submissions — no set deadline.

FUNDING TYPE

CDFI, Loan

CAN YOU GET THIS?

This funding is for CDFIs and mission-aligned intermediaries, not direct loans to individual small businesses.

SCF invests in organizations (such as CDFIs and community loan funds) that then lend to underserved, low-income, or underrepresented entrepreneurs. If you run a small business and not an intermediary lender, you would need to access SCF capital through a partner CDFI.

YOUR REAL ODDS

SCF has made a small number of investments ranging from $37,000 to $350,000, suggesting a selective, relationship-driven process.

The portfolio page shows only a handful of named investments since 2011, indicating this is not a high-volume program. Competition for investment is likely significant given the mission focus and limited deal history.

WHAT IT TAKES

Confirm your organization is a CDFI or mission-aligned intermediary aligned with SCF's poverty-alleviation focus — 1-2 days
Review SCF's investment criteria on their site and prepare an overview of your lending model and target community — 1 week
Contact SCF directly through their website to initiate a conversation — 1-2 weeks for initial response

WORTH KNOWING

SCF specifically values innovative and new models addressing poverty, so organizations piloting novel financial inclusion approaches may have an edge over established players.

Apply on the funder’s site →

Community 1st Credit Union

Varies; loan terms depend on business type and credit profile.

Iowa-based small businesses and startups can apply for business loans through this CDFI credit union on a rolling basis.

Afena Federal Credit Union

Varies; personal and business loans from $200 up to undisclosed amounts depending on product.

Small businesses and startups in Indiana can access loans through this CDFI credit union, with no stated identity restrictions.

The Bridgeway Federal Credit Union

Varies; specific loan amounts not published.

Small businesses and startups in Alabama can apply for loans on a rolling basis through this CDFI credit union.

This is 1 of 1,600+ open opportunities.

$50B+ in available capital across grants, VC funds, CDFIs, and accelerators. Filter by your industry, stage, and region, and see everything you qualify for.

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