Financial Support
Designations, Memberships and Recognition
The Entrepreneur Fund is a certified Community Development Financial Institution. In 2004, we were designated an SBA Women’s Business Center. We have been an SBA Microlender since 1992 and a member of Opportunity Finance Network since 1995. In 2010, the Entrepreneur Fund was designated a non-bank SBA 7a lender and was CARS Rated.
In 1999, the Entrepreneur Fund received the Presidential Microenterprise Award for Excellence in Developing Entrepreneurial Skills. While sponsored by President Clinton, industry peers and leaders judged the prestigious award.
We Thank Our Funders
Sources of funding for the Entrepreneur Fund have included the Blandin, John S. & James L. Knight, Ford, Mott, Northwest Area, Northland, Lloyd K. Johnson, Initiative, and Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundations; Duluth LISC; CDFI Fund; Wells Fargo; U.S. Bank; Calvert Social Investment Fund; U.S. Small Business Administration; Opportunity Finance Network; Bank of America; HUD; Douglas County Revolving Loan Fund; Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board; Minnesota Power; MN Department of employment and Economic Development; St. Louis County, City of Superior and City of Duluth CDBG; and USDA Rural Development.
Sources of funding for NEF have included:
- Ford Foundation
- Mott Foundation
- Northwest Area Foundation
- US West Foundation
- Blandin Foundation
- Initiative Foundation
- John S. & James L. Knight Foundation
- Northland Foundation
- Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation
- Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation
- CDFI Fund
- Wells Fargo
- U.S. Bank
- Calvert Social Investment Foundation
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- Douglas County Revolving Loan Fund
- Iron Range Resources
- Minnesota Power
- MN Department of Trade and Economic Development
- St. Louis County (Community Development Block Grant)
- City of Superior (Community Development Block Grant)
- City of Duluth (Community Development Block Grant)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
