Ogen

What Ogen does

Ogen (עוגן) is a non-profit social finance organization founded in 1990 in Jerusalem, Israel, providing interest-free and subsidized-interest loans combined with financial and management mentoring to populations facing barriers to accessing traditional banking services. The organization operates through three divisions — Private (individuals and families), Business (small businesses), and NGO (social organizations) — and serves a diversified, long-tail customer base including Haredi, Arab, Ethiopian, and French immigrant communities, credit-excluded individuals, and first-home buyers. To date Ogen has extended 75,000+ loans totaling approximately 2 billion ILS in credit, with 10,000+ jobs created and 2,000+ first-home purchases attributed to its programs.

The product portfolio includes dedicated sub-brands: Keren Shemesh (business mentoring with 1,300+ volunteer senior executive mentors), Ment-OR (executive mentoring for social-sector CEOs), Ogen L'Bayit (first-home buyer financial counseling), Horef Mevtahim / Safe Harbor (debt rehabilitation), Hatzaga Shava / Equal Opportunity (credit rehabilitation), SparkIL (P2P lending platform), Breakthrough Businesses (Haredi entrepreneurs), and Tzmicha-Numa (Arab business owners). The technology stack is modest — the website is built on Wix, with client and adviser portals for loan applications — and the organization holds ISO 27001:2022 certification. Bizz.AI, a WhatsApp-based AI assistant built on the Base44 Superagent third-party platform, is a recent addition aimed at small business user productivity. Ogen holds two extended credit service provider licenses and a credit mediation operating license from the Israel Capital Market Authority, with direct access to the Bank of Israel credit database.

Revenue is generated through interest spreads on subsidized loans, one-time loan activation fees (e.g., 5% on Equal Opportunity path), and modest program participation fees (150-3,000 ILS). Capital is sourced from charitable donations, impact investments, government aid, government bonds, and dedicated trust funds — including 90M ILS (Equal Opportunity) and 53M ILS (Safe Harbor) commitments. The organization is funded and supported by a broad coalition of partners including the Jewish Agency, Edmond Safra Foundation, Russell Perry Foundation, the Ministries of Finance and Social Equality, the Jerusalem Municipality, and the National Insurance Institute. The 11-50 paid employees are augmented by 1,300+ volunteer mentors, allowing Ogen to deliver a credit-plus-mentoring model that commercial lenders cannot economically replicate.

Name

Ogen

Legal name

עוגן - קרן להלוואות חברתיות בע"מ (חל"צ)

Website

https://ogen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ogen is a non-profit social finance organization in Israel providing interest-free and low-interest loans combined with financial and management mentoring to individuals, families, small businesses, and NGOs excluded from traditional banking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Microfinance

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Debt Advisory & Financing Advisory (FSAEAGAD)

Keywords

• Interest-free social loans
• Non-profit microfinance
• Financial mentoring programs
• Small business credit
• Community lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Loan Interest: Ogen operates as a non-profit social financial organization providing interest-free loans, subsidized interest loans, and below-market interest loans to individuals, families, small businesses, and NGOs. Revenue is generated through interest spreads, loan activation fees, and program fees. Capital is sourced from charitable organizations, impact investments, government aid, and government bonds. The organization holds two extended credit service provider licenses and a credit mediation operating license from the Israel Capital Market Authority.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ogen is a non-profit social finance organization that provides interest-free and below-market interest loans to individuals, families, small businesses, and non-profit organizations that are underserved by the traditional banking system in Israel. Each loan is paired with structured financial and management mentoring, as well as business or family financial planning support, delivered through three divisions (Private, Business, NGO) and a network of over 1,300 volunteer senior executive mentors.

Product overview

Ogen is a non-profit social finance organization operating as a platform providing interest-free and low-interest loans combined with financial mentoring and management support. The organization serves three main segments: individuals and families (offering loans up to 50,000 shekels for credit rehabilitation and home buying programs like Ogen L'Bayit), small businesses (through Keren Shemesh mentoring program, Tzmicha-Numa for Arab businesses, and Breakthrough Businesses for Haredi entrepreneurs), and NGOs/non-profits (via Ment-OR executive mentoring and dedicated loan products up to 1.5 million shekels). The portfolio includes core loan products, specialized programs like Horef Mevtahim for debt rehabilitation, and technology offerings like Bizz.AI WhatsApp assistant. Ogen also operates SparkIL as a P2P lending platform connecting global lenders with Israeli entrepreneurs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Keren Shemesh (קרן שמש): Business mentorship and loan program connecting small business owners with volunteer senior executives for management guidance
• Ment-Ur (מנט-אור)
• SparkIL
• Ogen For Home (עוגן לבית)
• Safe Harbor (חוף מבטחים)
• Equal Opportunity (הזדמנות שווה)

Products and services

• Social Loans (הלוואות חברתיות) Interest-free and low-interest loans for families, individuals, small businesses, and NGOs that cannot access traditional banking services, combined with financial mentoring and management support.
• Loans for Individuals and Families (הלוואות לפרטיים ומשפחות) Interest-free social loans to help individuals and families overcome economic challenges, including programs for young couples, new immigrants, and those in financial distress.
• Loans for NGOs (הלוואות למלכ"ר) Various loan products for social organizations including bridging loans and growth loans, offered at favorable terms to help NGOs achieve financial stability, with loans up to 1.5 million ILS.
• Keren Shemesh (קרן שמש) Business mentoring program that connects small business owners with volunteer senior managers who provide ongoing guidance for approximately 18 months, including business planning and financial support.
• Bizz.AI (ביז איי)
• Ment-OR (מנט-אור) Administrative mentoring program for CEOs of social organizations, providing personalized mentorship from experienced executives, workshops, professional consultations, and access to a professional community.
• Ogen L'Bayit (עוגן לבית) Financial counseling program that helps families and young couples purchase their first home, including a workshop series covering savings, mortgages, and financial planning over approximately 7 months.
• Horef Mevtahim / Safe Harbor (חוף מבטחים) Debt rehabilitation program for individuals in execution proceedings, offering interest-free loans up to 40,000 shekels as alternative to existing debts, financial counseling, and debt settlement assistance.
• Equal Opportunity / Hatzaga Shava (הזדמנות שווה) Credit rehabilitation program for credit-restricted individuals offering loans up to 50,000 shekels with financial accompaniment to improve credit scores and achieve financial stability.
• SparkIL P2P digital lending platform enabling Israelis and Jews worldwide to provide interest-free loans to small businesses in Israel's social and geographic periphery.
• Tzmicha-Numa (צמיחה-نماء) Growth program for Arab community business owners providing professional and administrative accompaniment, expert consultations, and professional lectures to support business development.
• Breakthrough Businesses (עסקים פורצי דרך) Business development program for Haredi business owners in Jerusalem, including mentorship, accelerator workshops, and long-term business support over approximately 18 months.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ families purchased their first home in Israel through Ogen's financial mentoring programs
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Jewish Agency for Israel (הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of the MentOr program for management mentoring of social CEOs. The Jewish Agency is a co-founder and operational partner in the program, helping reach and serve social organizations across Israel.
• IVN - Israeli Venture Network (אי.וי.אן)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder and operational partner in the MentOr program, providing expertise in volunteer management and impact measurement for social organizations.
• Authority for Economic Development for Minorities, Ministry of Social Equality (רשות לפיתוח כלכלי למיעוטים)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner for the Numah program targeting Arab business owners, providing government-level support and legitimacy for the program.
• ShafufminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing and outreach partner for the Numah program, helping reach Arab business owners across Israel.
• Tema Association (אגודת תמך)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Breakthrough Businesses program, contributing local Haredi community expertise and network access.
• Jerusalem Municipality Small Business Development DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in the Breakthrough Businesses program, providing municipal support and access to Jerusalem's Haredi business community.
• Haredi Institute (המכון החרדי)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Breakthrough Businesses program providing specialized expertise in Haredi business culture and community access.
• SparkIL (via The Jewish Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSparkIL is a P2P lending platform developed in partnership with The Jewish Agency, enabling Israeli and global Jewish investors to provide interest-free loans to small businesses in Israel's social and geographic periphery.
• Filat Group (קבוצת פילאט)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Equal Opportunity program, providing SMART financial counseling expertise and professional staff to accompany borrowers through financial rehabilitation.
• JDC Israel (המרכז היהודי להתנדבות)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing programmatic support and international volunteer network expertise, particularly in the Haredi community programs.
• TadmitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting social programs and community outreach initiatives.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Minterest: Digital P2P lending platform focused on personal loans in Israel. Comparable to Ogen's SparkIL as an Israeli lending platform, though operating as a for-profit with investor returns rather than social purpose.
• Lendio: U.S.-based small business loan marketplace connecting borrowers with multiple lenders. Comparable to Ogen's broker/intermediary function for credit access, though commercial rather than social-purpose oriented.

Broad incumbents

• Nonprofit Finance Fund: U.S. non-profit CDFI providing loans, financial consulting, and advisory services to other non-profits and social purpose organizations. Comparable to Ogen's NGO division in serving the non-profit sector with both lending and capacity-building support.
• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): National network of U.S. Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) providing affordable lending and financial services to underserved communities. Comparable as a broad umbrella of mission-driven lenders, though OFN itself is a network rather than a direct lender.

Direct peers

• International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC): Faith-based humanitarian organization providing economic development, including microfinance and small business support, to underserved communities globally. Comparable to Ogen in faith-rooted social finance model and combination of credit with capacity-building support.
• Hebrew Free Loan Society: New York-based non-profit providing interest-free loans to individuals and families, with a parallel Jewish community focus. Closely comparable to Ogen in mission (interest-free social lending) and structure (non-profit with mentoring component), though serving the U.S. Jewish community rather than Israel.
• Grameen America: Non-profit microfinance organization providing small loans, credit-building, and financial education to women entrepreneurs in low-income U.S. communities. Comparable to Ogen in combining credit access with financial mentoring, though focused on business loans rather than Ogen's mixed household/business/NGO model.
• Kiva: Non-profit P2P lending platform enabling crowdfunded interest-free loans to underserved borrowers globally, including small businesses. Highly comparable to Ogen's SparkIL sub-brand, but operates at larger global scale through digital crowdfunding rather than in-house underwriting.

Regional players

• Tamid Capital / Tamid Israel: Israel-focused organization providing educational and economic development programming including business mentorship. Comparable to Ogen as an Israel-based non-profit serving underserved entrepreneurs, though with a different emphasis on student/professional engagement.
• JDC Israel (Joint Distribution Committee): Israeli arm of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee providing social services including economic empowerment programs for vulnerable populations. Directly comparable to Ogen in serving Israeli Haredi, elderly, and immigrant communities, and listed as a partner in Ogen's programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ogengroup615
• Facebookfacebook.com/OgenIsraelFund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/israel-free-loan-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/ogen_group_official
• Xx.com/ogenisrael

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ogen