What BBIF does

BBIF (Black Business Investment Fund, Inc.) is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 1986 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with a regional office in Miami. The organization provides small business loans, microfinance, business coaching, and financial education to historically underserved entrepreneurs — particularly BIPOC business owners — operating across Florida and Georgia. Its product suite spans Micro-loans, SOAR Loan Fund, Working Capital Loans, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financing for larger community development projects, supported by business advisory services and a Resource Hub of educational content.

The company generates revenue through three primary streams: loan interest income on its small business loan portfolio (including sizable NMTC financings ranging from $6.75 million to $12.5 million per project), fees and program income from NMTC allocations administered via the U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund, and donations and grants from foundations and government programs. BBIF does not charge subscription or SaaS pricing; loan terms are tailored to individual borrower circumstances and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven — direct outreach through offices in Orlando and Miami, the self-serve BBIF Connect loan portal, community events, and a referral network of partner organizations including the SBA, Opportunity Finance Network, African American Alliance, Enterprising Black Orlando, and banking partners such as Fifth Third Bank, Northern Trust, and US Bank.

BBIF has operated for 39 years, deployed $819 million in cumulative community investment, and delivered over 10,000 coaching hours. The organization is currently led by CEO Ray Gilley (appointed December 2024), received a fresh NMTC allocation from the U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund in December 2025, and joined the CDFI Loan Participation Collaborative the same month. It is governed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity without traditional ownership or equity securities.

Name

BBIF

Legal name

Black Business Investment Fund, Inc.

Website

https://bbif.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BBIF (Black Business Investment Fund) is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution founded in 1986, providing small business loans, microfinance, NMTC financing, and business coaching to underserved BIPOC entrepreneurs and community development projects across Florida and Georgia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Finance (CDFI Lending)

NAICS

Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Community development finance
• Small business lending
• Microfinance services
• New markets tax credits
• Business coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: BBIF generates revenue through interest earned on small business loans provided to borrowers. As a CDFI, loans are offered at affordable rates to serve community development goals.
2. NMTC Financing Programs: BBIF participates in New Markets Tax Credit programs, providing financing for community-serving projects and attracting private investment to underserved areas.
3. Donations and Grants: As a non-profit organization, BBIF receives donations and grants from foundations and government programs to support its mission of expanding access to capital.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BBIF is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business loans, microloans, PPP loans, working capital loans, SOAR loans, and New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financing to historically underserved and BIPOC-owned small businesses in Florida and Georgia. Its offerings are bundled with free business coaching, technical assistance, and a financial education Resource Hub, providing a holistic model of capital plus advisory support for borrowers that lack access to mainstream bank financing.

Product overview

BBIF operates as a pioneering non-profit CDFI offering a comprehensive suite of financial products and services. The core offering includes Small Business Loans supported by various specialized loan programs: SOAR Loan Fund for BIPOC entrepreneurs, Micro-loans for startups, PPP Loans for pandemic relief, Working Capital Loans for operational needs, and NMTC Financing for community development projects. These lending products are complemented by Business Support and Coaching services providing technical assistance, and a Resource Hub offering financial education content through blog posts and webinars. Together, these products form an integrated approach to expanding access to capital and supporting small business growth in Florida and Georgia communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Business Loans BBIF's primary lending product, providing financing solutions to small business owners in Florida and Georgia, including microfinance and strategic investment options for borrowers that lack access to mainstream bank financing.
• SOAR Loan Fund A specialized loan program designed to support small businesses, particularly BIPOC entrepreneurs, providing capital for working capital, staff training, equipment, remodeling, marketing, and growth initiatives.
• Micro-loans Small-dollar loans designed for early-stage and startup businesses that may not qualify for traditional financing, providing essential capital for initial operations, working capital, FF&E purchases, and expansion.
• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans Federal COVID-19 relief loans distributed by BBIF as an SBA-affiliated lender, designed to help businesses retain employees during the pandemic by covering payroll and certain other expenses.
• Working Capital Loans Financing to support day-to-day business operations, cash flow management, and operational expenses for established businesses experiencing growth or needing liquidity.
• NMTC (New Markets Tax Credits) Financing Strategic investment financing through New Markets Tax Credits to support community-serving projects, real estate acquisition, construction/renovation, and large-scale development initiatives in underserved areas across Florida and Georgia.
• Business Support and Coaching Expert guidance and technical assistance including business planning, financial management training, marketing strategy, cash flow/margin training, and operational support provided to BBIF borrowers to help their businesses succeed.
• Resource Hub and Financial Education Online educational resources including blog posts and guides covering topics such as marketing, business operations, productivity, branding, pricing strategies, cash flow management, and business growth, provided to BBIF borrowers and the broader small business community.

Quantifiable outcome

• $819 Million Invested in community strengthening
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• African American AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization supporting economic development initiatives for African American communities in Central Florida.
• Enterprising Black OrlandocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurship in the Orlando area through collaborative economic development efforts.
• Opportunity Finance NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of CDFIs that BBIF participates in, providing access to resources, best practices, and community development finance expertise.
• Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association supporting microbusinesses and entrepreneurs, BBIF participates as a member CDFI.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TruFund Financial Services: TruFund is a national CDFI providing capital and technical assistance to small businesses and nonprofits in underserved communities. It is a direct peer as BBIF explicitly partnered with TruFund on the Caring for Others financing, reflecting overlapping CDFI business models.
• Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE): ACE is a Georgia-based CDFI offering small business loans and advisory services to underserved entrepreneurs. It is a direct peer of BBIF—both operate in Georgia, target similar BIPOC and underserved segments, and BBIF named ACE as a collaborative financing partner.
• LiftFund: LiftFund is a non-profit CDFI providing small business loans and coaching to underserved entrepreneurs across multiple states. It is a direct peer to BBIF, sharing the same CDFI micro/small business lending model and integrated coaching approach.
• DreamSpring: DreamSpring is a CDFI providing micro-loans and small business financing to underserved entrepreneurs, with a similar focus on BIPOC and women-owned businesses. Comparable to BBIF in loan products, target market, and integrated technical assistance.
• Grameen America: Grameen America provides microfinance to women entrepreneurs in underserved U.S. communities. While it focuses on consumer-level micro-lending rather than BBIF's SMB focus, the CDFI-style microlending model and target population overlap make it a direct peer.
• Pacific Community Ventures: Pacific Community Ventures is a CDFI providing loans and advisory to small businesses in underserved California communities. Comparable to BBIF in mission, integrated coaching-plus-capital model, and CDFI certification.
• Justine PETERSEN: Justine PETERSEN is a St. Louis-based CDFI providing micro-loans, small business financing, and coaching to underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable to BBIF in CDFI focus, micro-lending products, and integrated technical assistance for BIPOC and low-income entrepreneurs.

Emerging players

• Kiva: Kiva is a non-profit crowdfunding platform providing zero-interest loans to underserved entrepreneurs globally. Comparable to BBIF in mission and micro-loan focus, though Kiva uses a crowd-funded model versus BBIF's traditional CDFI balance sheet approach.

Others

• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): OFN is the national network of CDFIs and an industry association that BBIF participates in. While not a direct competitor, OFN provides peer benchmarking, advocacy, and capital deployment infrastructure highly relevant to BBIF's operating model.
• Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO): AEO is a national membership association supporting microbusinesses and the CDFIs serving them. BBIF is a member CDFI. As an industry body, AEO is ecosystem-relevant rather than a direct competitor, but operates in the same community-development finance space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bbifflorida
• Facebookfacebook.com/bbifflorida
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bbif
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearebbif

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 BBIF