We partner with mission based funders and investors that are dedicated to supporting and growing small businesses across our region. We seek to…
You invest in us. We invest in entrepreneurs.
We leverage funds to have a multiplying effect on your donation.
Our work wouldn’t be possible without the support of foundations and government funders. The philanthropic capital and grants our partners make allow us to build innovative solutions that create vibrant, prosperous communities for all. Entrepreneurs in every corner of our 17-county region benefit from our shared mission, strategic partnership and synergy around supporting and prioritizing small business.
We partner with financial institutions, including local, regional and national banks, to channel more capital into economically challenged communities, helping them achieve their community development goals and promote economic prosperity.
As a CDFI, we partner with financial institutions that are working hard to have a positive impact in their local communities. The two common ways we partner with banks are (1) referrals to and from and (2) funding to EF to support our work in under-resourced communities such as business owners with low to moderate incomes, women, BIPOC owners, and others.
U.S. Small Business Administration
MN IRRR
MN DEED
Bank of America
Wells Fargo
Opportunity Finance Network
Dakota Resources
U.S. Department of Agriculture
CDFI Fund
National Bank of Commerce
Midwest MN CDC
National Bank of Commerce
Midwest MN CDC
Otto Bremer Trust
Blandin Foundation
City of Duluth + DEDA
CNote
Northern Trust
Great River Energy
U.S. Bank
Bush Foundation
CommonSpirit Health
St. Louis County
BMO Harris Bank
Episcopal Church
WBD
North Shore Bank
Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
Members Cooperative Credit Union
Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation
City of Cloquet EDA
Huntington Bank
LISC Duluth
Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation
Federal Home Loan Bank
Initiative Foundation
Duluth Running Company
Associated Bank
Security State Bank of Hibbing
Timberlake Lodge
COGGS (Cyclists of the Gitchee Gumee Shores)
Nelson Wood Shims
Katrina Lynn Consulting
JMR Financial Group
Rural Living Environments
be.Media House and The Lake and Company
Anonymous (9)
Aaron Haugen
Ann Possis
Chris Fulton
Chris Swanson
Dawn Hagen
Diane Weber
Jack Ryan
Janie Moore
Jim Boyd
John & Julie Foucault
John Acheson
July George
Maggie Becker
Mark Glasnapp
Mary Mathews
Michael Lattery
Mike Carlson
Mike Holden
Nancy Dougherty
Pascha & Abbot Apter
Sandi Larson
Sandy Voigt
Scott Bradt
Scott Harrison
Shawn Wellnitz
Stan Tull & Pat Campanaro
Steve Surbaugh
Terry Lundberg