Spruce Root
Spruce Root is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution based in Juneau, Alaska, providing business loans, financial coaching, and educational workshops to underserved Indigenous and non-Indigenous entrepreneurs and residents across Southeast Alaska.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersJuneau, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Spruce Root does
Spruce Root is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 2012 and headquartered in Juneau, Alaska. The organization provides business loans, personalized coaching, financial wellness workshops, and community development programs to underserved entrepreneurs and residents across Southeast Alaska, with a particular focus on Indigenous communities. It is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a CDFI, enabling it to extend capital to businesses that may not qualify for traditional bank financing, including borrowers in sectors (e.g., adult entertainment) that mainstream banks decline. The organization serves all of Southeast Alaska and runs a dedicated program footprint on Prince of Wales Island, with services delivered through in-person workshops, one-on-one coaching, and regional events.
Spruce Root's core offerings comprise Loan Services (business loans bundled with coaching from business plan through fund application), Business and Client Services (financial wellness workshops, one-on-one financial coaching, Business Basics courses, and the Path to Prosperity business competition), and complementary programs including the POWER energy reliability initiative, the Future Scenarios strategic planning tool, the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, and the Seacoast Trust. The Future Scenarios tool, co-developed with the Reos Institute, is the most notable proprietary asset: a scenario-planning framework presenting four plausible futures for Southeast Alaska from 2025 to 2050, supported by facilitation guides and a publication, and designed for use by communities, Tribal councils, organizations, and businesses. The technology footprint is otherwise light: there is no unified software platform, mobile app, or API, and delivery is primarily service-based.
The business model is predominantly grant-funded, with revenue derived from federal and state grants (notably a $2,500,000 U.S. Department of Energy grant in May 2024 and a $500,000 CDFI Fund grant in April 2023), interest income from a modest loan portfolio, and modest fee-for-service revenue such as a $25 per-person fee for financial wellness workshops (with fee waivers available). Total program investment across Business and Client Services, Sustainable Southeast Partnership, and Loan Services was approximately $6.1M, reflecting deployed capital rather than earned revenue. Distribution is community-led and event-driven, relying on a lean 1–10 person staff, partnerships with Sealaska, Alaska SBDC, the Alaska Mariculture Alliance, and others, and direct regional engagement across Southeast Alaska.
Spruce Root firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spruce Root
- Legal name
- Spruce Root, Inc.
- Website
- https://spruceroot.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Spruce Root is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution based in Juneau, Alaska, providing business loans, financial coaching, and educational workshops to underserved Indigenous and non-Indigenous entrepreneurs and residents across Southeast Alaska.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spruce Root industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Financial Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (115310)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
Keywords
Where Spruce Root is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Juneau
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Spruce Root business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Loan Services: Spruce Root provides access to capital for small businesses through their CDFI lending program. Loans are complemented by personalized coaching services. They have provided three loans to clients like The Red Lantern adult boutique in Ketchikan.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time | Goal Setting for Financial Wellness Workshop |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Spruce Root product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spruce Root is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that provides business loans, business coaching, financial wellness workshops and one-on-one coaching to small business owners and residents in Southeast Alaska. Its offerings are delivered through on-the-ground community programs including Business Basics courses, the Path to Prosperity business competition, and the Future Scenarios regional planning tool, complemented by the POWER heat pump initiative and the Sustainable Southeast Partnership collaborative.
Product overview
Spruce Root is an Indigenous institution that operates as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing a portfolio of interconnected programs to support Southeast Alaskan communities. The core offerings include Loan Services (business loans with coaching support) and Business and Client Services (financial wellness workshops and one-on-one coaching, Business Basics courses, and the Path to Prosperity business competition). These are complemented by the Future Scenarios planning tool for strategic regional foresight and the POWER initiative for energy reliability. The Sustainable Southeast Partnership and Seacoast Trust operate as sub-brands within this ecosystem, providing collaborative environmental initiatives and an alternative economic model for community investment. The organization does not offer a unified software platform; rather, it provides a suite of service programs connected by their mission to catalyze local communities and empower small businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sustainable Southeast Partnership: A collaborative regional partnership focused on energy, protection, and structure to create a supportive environment for Southeast Alaska communities.
- Seacoast Trust
- POWER (Prince of Wales Energy Reliability)
- Future Scenarios
Products and services
- Loan Services Business loans provided to entrepreneurs in Southeast Alaska, complemented by personalized business coaching from business plan development through fund application. The lending process is described as gradual, intentional, and tailored to individual business contexts and visions.
- Financial Wellness Workshops In-person and virtual workshops teaching strategies for building a healthier mindset around finances, including budgeting basics, creating financial goals, navigating credit and debt, and making informed financial decisions based on personal values. The Goal Setting workshop is priced at $25 per person with a fee waiver option available.
- Financial Wellness Coaching Free one-on-one personalized guidance tailored to financial goals and needs, covering budgeting basics, credit and debt navigation, and providing tools and knowledge to confidently manage finances.
- Business Basics Courses Educational courses for entrepreneurs covering foundational business knowledge and skills for starting or growing a local business.
- Path to Prosperity Business Competition A business competition program supporting and recognizing promising entrepreneurs in the region.
- Future Scenarios for Southeast Alaska
- POWER (Prince of Wales Energy Reliability) A multi-year initiative to increase affordability of air source heat pumps to Tribally owned homes and facilities on Prince of Wales Island, in partnership with Information Insights. Designed to reduce energy costs, improve comfort, and strengthen long-term energy security.
Quantifiable outcome
- $6.1M+ total investment deployed across Business and Client Services ($1M), Sustainable Southeast Partnership ($2.1M), and Loan Services ($2.9M)
Companies that use Spruce Root
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Spruce Root technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Spruce Root partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SealaskacoreSealaska, a Native corporation, hosts Spruce Root at their downtown Juneau event space (Sealaska Plaza) and shares organizational alignment around Indigenous economic development. Sealaska is a key regional partner in Southeast Alaska's economic ecosystem.
- Rain Coast DataminorPartner from Master Class for Entrepreneurs, providing economic data and analysis for Southeast Alaska. Presented on regional economic trends during the workshop.
- Alaska Small Business Development CentercoreRegional partner providing small business expertise and resources. Co-facilitated lectures and conversations during Spruce Root's Master Class for Entrepreneurs.
- Rural Community Assistance CorpminorPartner from Master Class, providing expertise in rural community development and assistance.
- Alaska Climate Research CenterminorPartner from Master Class focused on climate science and adaptation research relevant to Southeast Alaska.
- Information InsightscorePrimary partner in the POWER (Prince of Wales Energy Reliability) initiative, working with Spruce Root and regional energy experts to increase heat pump affordability for Tribally owned homes.
- Tongass ElectricalminorWorkforce development partner for the POWER initiative, providing three-day introductory training on heat pump installation, electrical, or mechanical careers.
- Schmolck MechanicalminorWorkforce development partner for the POWER initiative, co-hosting training workshops for heat pump installation careers.
- Reos InstitutecorePartnered with Spruce Root to develop the Future Scenarios planning tool, providing expertise in scenario planning methodology that was adapted for Southeast Alaska's unique context.
- Alaska Mariculture AlliancecoreIndustry association for Alaska mariculture; Spruce Root connects clients with this network and participates in their events and marketing programs.
- GreenWaveminorNational kelp farming organization; their State of the Industry Report is referenced as a resource for Spruce Root's mariculture clients.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Spruce Root competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Oweesta Corporation: Native CDFI intermediary that provides capital, training, and technical assistance to Indigenous CDFIs and Native communities across the U.S. Most directly comparable to Spruce Root given the shared Indigenous-led CDFI model.
- Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI): Maine-based CDFI providing loans, equity investments, and business advisory services to underserved entrepreneurs and communities. Comparable as a regional CDFI bundling capital with non-financial business support.
- Rural Community Assistance Corporation: Community development organization providing loans, training, and technical assistance to rural communities across the Western U.S. Comparable in mission to serve underserved rural communities with capital and capacity-building services; also an existing partner of Spruce Root.
- Potlatch Fund: Native-led nonprofit foundation that supports Northwest Indigenous communities through grantmaking, leadership development, and cultural preservation. Comparable in Indigenous-led, regionally-anchored nonprofit capital deployment.
- Capital Impact Partners: National CDFI providing capital and capacity-building services to under-resourced communities, with focus on equitable economic development. Comparable as a community development lender combining financing with technical assistance.
- First Nations Development Institute: National Native-led nonprofit that strengthens economic conditions of Native communities through grantmaking, lending support, and capacity building. Comparable in mission to Spruce Root's Indigenous-led community development and financial inclusion work.
Broad incumbents
- Calvert Impact Capital: Large national impact-investing CDFI raising capital from institutional investors to deploy into community development financial institutions and projects. Comparable as a CDFI operating at much larger scale across multiple regions.
Others
- Opportunity Finance Network: National membership association for CDFIs, providing capital, policy advocacy, and industry infrastructure. Comparable as the sector umbrella organization supporting CDFIs like Spruce Root.
Regional players
- Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska: Central Council serving Tlingit and Haida tribes in Southeast Alaska, operating economic, housing, and social programs for tribal citizens. Comparable as a regional Southeast Alaska Indigenous-led organization with overlapping community development footprint.
- Cook Inlet Lending Center (part of Cook Inlet Tribal Council): Alaska-based lending program operated by the Cook Inlet Tribal Council serving Alaska Native and other underserved borrowers with business and consumer loans. Comparable as an Alaska-focused tribal CDFI lending institution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Spruce Root social profiles
Digital presenceSpruce Root compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Spruce Root financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spruce Root leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Spruce Root funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spruce Root M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Spruce Root
What does Spruce Root do?
Spruce Root is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that provides business loans, business coaching, financial wellness workshops and one-on-one coaching to small business owners and residents in Southeast Alaska. Its offerings are delivered through on-the-ground community programs including Business Basics courses, the Path to Prosperity business competition, and the Future Scenarios regional planning tool, complemented by the POWER heat pump initiative and the Sustainable Southeast Partnership collaborative.
Is Spruce Root a public or private company?
Spruce Root is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Spruce Root founded?
Spruce Root was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Spruce Root based?
Spruce Root is headquartered in Juneau, United States, in the North America region.
How does Spruce Root make money?
One revenue line is on record: loan Services.
Who are Spruce Root's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Oweesta Corporation, Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI), Rural Community Assistance Corporation, Potlatch Fund, Capital Impact Partners and First Nations Development Institute. Calvert Impact Capital is listed as a broad incumbent. Opportunity Finance Network is listed as an others. Regional players are Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and Cook Inlet Lending Center (part of Cook Inlet Tribal Council).
Does Spruce Root have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spruce Root.
What industry is Spruce Root in?
Spruce Root's product category is Community Development Financial Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations. Its NAICS code is 115310 and its SIC code is 800.