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REDF Impact Investing Fund

Flexible capital fuels growth

What We Do > REDF Impact Investing Fund

As the employment social enterprise field matures, so does the need for flexible capital to grow, seize new opportunities, and better serve employees.

In response to demand from our employment social enterprise partners, REDF launched its Impact Lending Practice in 2017 to provide an important tool to accelerate the growth of the field. REDF is demonstrating a model for how flexible loan terms combined with technical assistance can improve borrower performance and attract new sources of capital to employment social enterprises.

The REDF Impact Investing Fund (RIIF) is a 501(c)(3) debt fund, and certified CDFI, that provides loan capital and technical assistance to nonprofit and for-profit employment social enterprises. RIIF supports borrowers to improve their financial sustainability and strengthen their businesses so they can employ and empower more individuals striving to chart a new course in life.

RIIF’s Board of Directors bring their deep expertise to further our mission, and in 2020 we formed an Advisory Council of accomplished leaders to help ensure RIIF reflects the diverse voices of the social enterprise movement and the communities we serve.

RIIF serves the following industries: Alternative Staffing, Recycling, Cleaning and Maintenance; Consumer Goods/Retail; Food Services and Manufacturing.

Impact Lending Report
Loan Process Overview

Loan Products

Lines of Credit

Bridge Loans

Term Loans

Eligibility

Employment social enterprises that meet the following eligibility criteria are encouraged to contact Emilie Linick, Director of Impact Lending at ELinick@redf.org:

  • Three years of operation
  • Current or demonstrated path to profitability with growing profit margins
  • Positive sales growth
  • Strong management track record

Financials

Audited Financial Statements

2021
2020
2019

IRS Form 990

2021
2020
2019

Loans Closed-to-Date

To date, 25 loans totaling over $7.5M have been put to work to accelerate social enterprise growth.

View Loans

RIIF Funders

We’ve been having some great conversations on scaling – without this loan product in place I don’t know that we could have those conversations.

Patrick Arney, CEOWELD Seattle

We're less intimidated about borrowing now and have a much better understanding about what to expect.

Carl Phinney, Founder & CEOOpportunity Construction

Communications with RIIF were clear and consistent, and we knew exactly what to expect at every step along the way.

Chelsea Bardot Lewis, COOWorking Fields

Having a line of credit from RIIF provided critical financial sustainability as we navigated our first ever government grants, built a new workforce training program, and more than doubled the number of people we served this year.

Aina Gutierrez, Executive DirectorRebuilding Exchange

When we paid off our RIIF loan, we went to a more traditional corporate commercial bank less familiar with nonprofits. The rates may be better, but it’s worth weighing the decision with the TA and understanding of how nonprofits work, as well as the relationships that come along with RIIF’s lending program.

Jennifer Gilmore, CEOKitchens for Good

This process forced us to really button up - it was a lot of work, but good work. It felt like the RIIF team also had best intentions for us, so that made us feel safe.

Brandon Smith, CEOForestry and Fire Recruitment Program

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