Community First Fund
Community First Fund, operating as Finanta, is a non-profit CDFI providing small business, real estate, housing, nonprofit, and consumer credit union loans to underserved entrepreneurs and communities across Pennsylvania and adjacent regions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersLancaster, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Community First Fund does
Community First Fund, now operating as Finanta, is a U.S.-based non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in the 1990s to provide financing and credit access to underserved communities across Pennsylvania, with reach extending into Camden County, New Jersey, and Delaware from its Philadelphia headquarters. The organization operates six regional offices spanning Philadelphia, Lancaster, Reading, Harrisburg, Allentown, and York, delivering relationship-based lending and community development services through in-person engagement and partner referrals rather than technology-led distribution.
Finanta's core products comprise Small Business Loans, Commercial Real Estate Loans, Housing Development Loans, Nonprofit Financing, Affinity Group Lending, and New Markets Tax Credits financing, supplemented by a wholly-owned subsidiary, Finanta Credit Union, which extends into consumer/personal loans. Supporting services include Guidance (advisory/mentorship) and Resources (financial-literacy and business-planning education). No proprietary technology platform is disclosed; customer-facing workflows are supported by a third-party Client Portal and the Spark lending portal, while customer acquisition is dominated by community-engagement and partnership-referral channels.
Revenue is generated primarily through interest income on the lending book, transaction-related fees, New Markets Tax Credit allocations, and credit-union interest and fees. The organization also raises capital from individuals, institutions, and foundation grants (notably a $2.25M grant from the Truist Foundation in August 2022, a $6.2M CDFI Fund award in April 2023, and a KeyBank Foundation grant in July 2025), and it runs a five-year campaign to grow its capital base to $50 million. As a private, non-profit CDFI it does not have equity owners and is not publicly listed; the company rebranded from Community First Fund to Finanta in 2022 while retaining its CDFI mission and underlying operations.
Community First Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Community First Fund
- Legal name
- Finanta
- Website
- https://communityfirstfund.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Community First Fund, operating as Finanta, is a non-profit CDFI providing small business, real estate, housing, nonprofit, and consumer credit union loans to underserved entrepreneurs and communities across Pennsylvania and adjacent regions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Community First Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Lending
- NAICS
- Credit Unions (52213), Credit Unions (522130), Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (522180)
- SIC
- Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Personal Credit Institutions (6141), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA), Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA), Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs) (FSABAEAC)
Keywords
Where Community First Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lancaster
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Community First Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Loan Financing: Community First Fund (now Finanta) generates revenue primarily through lending activities, including small business loans, commercial real estate financing, housing development loans, and nonprofit financing. Interest income from these loans constitutes the core revenue stream.
- New Markets Tax Credits: The organization participates in New Markets Tax Credits programs, which generate revenue through tax credit allocations and financing mechanisms for community development projects in low-income areas.
- Credit Union Services: Finanta Credit Union provides personal loans and financial services to members, generating revenue through interest and fees on credit union products.
- Investment Capital: The organization accepts investments from individuals and institutions committed to community development, providing capital for lending operations and community investment programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Small Business Loans |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Commercial Real Estate Financing |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Housing Development Loans |
| Other | Monthly | Personal Loans (Credit Union) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Community First Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Community First Fund (now operating as Finanta) is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides loans and financing to small businesses, commercial real estate buyers, affordable housing developers, and nonprofit organizations in underserved communities. It also operates Finanta Credit Union, which offers personal loans and financial services to individuals, and channels New Markets Tax Credits into low-income areas.
Product overview
Finanta (formerly Community First Fund) is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that operates as a unified platform providing various financing products and services to underserved communities. The core offerings include Small Business Loans, Commercial Real Estate Loans, Housing Development Loans, Nonprofit Financing, Affinity Group Lending, and New Markets Tax Credits. Supporting services include Guidance and Resources for business development, while Finanta Credit Union provides personal loan products. The company serves individuals, businesses, and community-based organizations across Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Delaware through multiple regional offices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Small Business Loans Loans designed to help start and grow small businesses, providing capital for working capital, equipment, inventory, and business expansion in underserved communities.
- Affinity Group Lending Specialized lending programs tailored for affinity groups, enabling collective access to financing for group members.
- Commercial Real Estate Loans Financing solutions for business owners to purchase commercial property, supporting community revitalization and business expansion.
- Housing Development Loans Loans to support the development of affordable housing units for low and moderate-income families.
- Nonprofit Financing Financial products and guidance for community nonprofit agencies to deliver vital services and support community programs.
- New Markets Tax Credits Federal tax credit program that channels capital into low-income communities, supporting job creation and economic development.
- Finanta Credit Union Personal Loans Credit union offering personal loans and financial services to help individuals access fair and respectful financial support and build credit.
Quantifiable outcome
- Job creation through small business financing
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Community First Fund
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Community First Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Community First Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Community First Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LiftFund: Texas-based CDFI (formerly ACCION Texas) providing micro and small business loans to minority and underserved entrepreneurs. Highly comparable in targeting minority entrepreneurs with small-dollar community development lending.
- Capital Impact Partners: National CDFI delivering financing and capacity-building for community development, affordable housing, and health care. Comparable for CDFI-led community development lending with NMTC expertise.
- Forward Community Investments: Wisconsin-based CDFI loan fund supporting affordable housing, community facilities, and small business in low-income communities. Comparable as a regional CDFI lender with community development focus.
- CDC Small Business Finance: California-based CDFI providing SBA-guaranteed and conventional small business loans in underserved communities. Comparable CDFI small business lender with SBA program expertise.
- Reinvestment Fund: Philadelphia-based CDFI providing financing for housing, community development, education, and healthcare in underserved markets. Most comparable peer given shared CDFI mission, regional Mid-Atlantic focus, and overlapping product set (CRE, housing, nonprofit, small business financing).
- Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI): Maine-based CDFI providing small business loans, housing financing, and natural-resource industry lending in underserved communities. Comparable for mission-driven small business and community development lending focus, though serving a different region.
- Hopewell Ventures / Hope Credit Union: CDFI credit union serving Deep South communities with a similar model combining a credit union subsidiary with small business, consumer, and community development lending. Comparable for combining CDFI lending with member-owned credit union structure.
- Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corporation: St. Louis-based CDFI providing small business loans, credit-building, and asset-building services to underserved populations. Comparable in combining small business lending, credit-building, and community development focus.
Others
- National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC): National advocacy and member network for fair lending and community reinvestment, including CDFI members. Relevant ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; provides policy advocacy and capital connections for community-based lenders.
Broad incumbents
- Self-Help Credit Union: One of the largest CDFI credit unions in the U.S., offering small business, mortgage, and consumer lending across multiple states. A broader incumbent peer combining credit union and CDFI activities at significantly greater scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Community First Fund social profiles
Digital presenceCommunity First Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Community First Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Community First Fund subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Community First Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Community First Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Community First Fund
What does Community First Fund do?
Community First Fund (now operating as Finanta) is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides loans and financing to small businesses, commercial real estate buyers, affordable housing developers, and nonprofit organizations in underserved communities. It also operates Finanta Credit Union, which offers personal loans and financial services to individuals, and channels New Markets Tax Credits into low-income areas.
Is Community First Fund a public or private company?
Community First Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Community First Fund founded?
Community First Fund was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Community First Fund based?
Community First Fund is headquartered in Lancaster, United States, in the North America region.
How does Community First Fund make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Loan Financing is the primary driver. The others are new Markets Tax Credits, credit Union Services and investment Capital.
Who are Community First Fund's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LiftFund, Capital Impact Partners, Forward Community Investments, CDC Small Business Finance, Reinvestment Fund, Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI), Hopewell Ventures / Hope Credit Union and Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corporation. National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) is listed as an others. Self-Help Credit Union is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Community First Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for Community First Fund.
What industry is Community First Fund in?
Community First Fund's product category is Community Development Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans, with a secondary code of FSAKAGAA, Microloans & Working Capital Loans. Its NAICS code is 52213 and its SIC code is 6153.