How EFund Partners with Banks to Finance Small Businesses and Close Funding Gaps

Strong partnerships create stronger businesses. That’s why the Entrepreneur Fund collaborates with banks to ensure small businesses have the capital they need to grow. We don’t compete with banks—we complement traditional financing, filling in the gaps to make more deals happen in our communities.

As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), our lending and advising services help small businesses access the resources they need, whether it’s working capital, technology investments, or gap financing. By partnering with banks, we support local business owners on their journey to long-term financial stability. Here’s how we do it:

Referrals: Turning Viable Projects into Approved Loans

Not every promising small business is immediately bank-ready. When you have a client who isn’t quite there yet, the Entrepreneur Fund (EFund) can help. We specialize in character-based lending, working with business owners who may have credit challenges, lower wealth, or income barriers. Our strategic lending + advising approach helps businesses build financial stability, preparing them to return to traditional banks when they’re ready.

Co-Lending: Making Bigger Deals Possible

When a deal needs additional funding, EFund can step in as a partner. We collaborate with banks on gap financing, loan participations, and subordinate collateral arrangements to bridge funding gaps. For larger projects, we bring in additional gap lenders, reducing risk while ensuring small businesses get the financing they need to succeed.

Bankability: Helping Small Businesses Become Bank-Ready  

Our mission is to help small businesses succeed and that includes getting business owners back to you when they’re ready for traditional financing. By working together, we help develop stronger, bankable clients—fueling economic growth and sustainability in our communities.

Let’s Make More Deals Happen, Together

By partnering with EFund, you can make more deals happen, grow your customer base, and reduce risk. Let’s work together to strengthen small businesses across our region.  

Have a referral or want to get in touch with our team of lenders and business developers? Complete this short form or contact us at info@efund.org. Our team is ready to discover creative approaches to help move more projects forward.