What Detroit Development Fund does

Detroit Development Fund (DDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution headquartered at 3031 W Grand Blvd, Suite 505, Detroit, Michigan, founded in 1996 (originally as ShoreBank Enterprise Detroit, renamed in 2004). It provides flexible small business financing to Detroit-based businesses — particularly entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses, contractors, and developers — that lack sufficient collateral or owner equity to qualify for traditional bank financing. The product portfolio includes DDF Micro Loans ($10,000–$40,000), Small Business Loans ($50,000–$150,000), Pre-Construction and Late-Stage Pre-Development Loans ($50,000–$200,000), Contractor Lines of Credit, and the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund ($10,000–$300,000). Complementary services include Walk-In Wednesdays for one-on-one lender consultations, technical assistance referrals, and customer education.

Name

Detroit Development Fund

Legal name

Detroit Development Fund

Website

https://detroitdevelopmentfund.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Detroit Development Fund is a nonprofit CDFI providing microloans, small business loans, construction financing, and contractor lines of credit to Detroit-based small businesses, particularly BIPOC and women entrepreneurs excluded from traditional bank financing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Lending

NAICS

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522), Real Estate Credit (522292)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction & Development (C&D) Lending — Commercial/Multifamily (FSALADAH), SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Small business lending
• Community development lending
• Microfinance
• Entrepreneurs of color
• Contractor financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: Detroit Development Fund generates revenue through interest earned on small business loans, microloans, construction loans, contractor lines of credit, and pre-development loans provided to Detroit-based entrepreneurs and businesses. Interest rates range from 7% to 9% depending on factors including loan type and borrower qualifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Detroit Development Fund provides direct small business lending and consulting services to Detroit-based entrepreneurs through a portfolio of loan products, including Small Business Loans ($50,000–$150,000), DDF Micro Loans ($10,000–$40,000), Pre-Construction and Pre-Development Loans ($50,000–$200,000), and Contractor Lines of Credit. The Entrepreneurs of Color Fund sub-brand focuses financing and advisory support on BIPOC-owned businesses, and the Walk-In Wednesdays program delivers in-person lender consultations to prospective borrowers.

Product overview

Detroit Development Fund (DDF) is a certified nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering a portfolio of loan products to Detroit-based small businesses. The core offerings include Small Business Loans ($50,000-$150,000), DDF Micro Loans ($10,000-$40,000), Pre-Construction Loans ($50,000-$200,000), Late-Stage Pre-Development Loans ($50,000-$200,000), and Contractor Lines of Credit. The Entrepreneurs of Color Fund (EOCF) sub-brand specifically targets BIPOC entrepreneurs with loans from $10,000 to $300,000. Walk-In Wednesdays provides complementary consultation services. Together these products form a comprehensive lending ecosystem serving businesses at various stages from startup through real estate development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Business Loans Loan program supporting Detroit-based businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color and women that lack sufficient collateral or equity for traditional financing. Loans range from $50,000 to $150,000 with terms of 24 to 84 months.
• DDF Micro Loans Micro loan fund assisting small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park in their initial stage of development. Loans range from $10,000 to $40,000.
• Pre-Construction Loans Construction loans for developers, rehabbers, contractors, and real estate development projects that create positive social impact in Detroit neighborhoods. Loans range from $50,000 to $200,000 with terms of 6 to 24 months.
• Late-Stage Pre-Development Loans Pre-development or pre-construction loans intended to fill the gap between early soft stages of pre-development and the point at which a project can qualify for construction financing. Loans usually range from $50,000 to $200,000 with repayment terms of 12 to 48 months.
• Contractor Lines of Credit Financing for projects located in Detroit related to a specific contract or purchase order, providing contractors with access to working capital.
• Entrepreneurs of Color Fund (EOCF) Specialized fund providing financing, training, and consulting services to businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color that primarily hire people of color. Loans range from $10,000 to $300,000.
• Walk-In Wednesdays One-on-one consultation service where prospective borrowers can meet with lenders, ask questions, review requirements, and complete loan applications with expert guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• $150M+ in small business loans provided to Detroit entrepreneurs
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LiftFund: Texas-based nonprofit CDFI providing microloans and small business loans to minority and women entrepreneurs, particularly Hispanic-owned businesses. Comparable business model, product structure (micro to ~$500K), and target borrower demographics to DDF.
• DreamSpring (formerly Opportunity Fund): National nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs, including women, minority, and immigrant-owned businesses. Directly comparable in mission, product range (microloans through larger small business loans), and target segments.
• Working Solutions CDFI: San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit CDFI offering microloans and small business loans to women, minority, and immigrant entrepreneurs. Closely matches DDF's underwriting flexibility and mission-driven approach to capital access.
• TruFund Financial Services: National nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans and advisory services to underserved businesses in low- and moderate-income communities. Directly comparable mission and product structure to DDF.
• Justine PETERSEN Housing and Reinvestment Corporation: St. Louis-based nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, microloans, and housing-related financing to underserved entrepreneurs. Most directly comparable to DDF as a mission-driven Midwestern CDFI with a similar product suite and community-development focus.

Broad incumbents

• Kiva: International nonprofit crowdfunding microlending platform enabling crowdfunded 0% interest loans to underserved entrepreneurs worldwide. Adjacent mission to DDF with a different (crowdfunded) capital model.
• Accion: National/international nonprofit CDFI with a broader geographic footprint offering small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs. A larger incumbent peer operating the same mission with a more developed digital platform.
• Grameen America: National nonprofit microfinance organization providing small loans to women entrepreneurs in low-income communities. Comparable microfinance mission and borrower profile, though narrower product focus than DDF.

Regional players

• Pacific Community Ventures: California-based nonprofit CDFI providing capital and advising to small businesses in underserved communities. Regionally distinct but directly comparable mission, products, and target demographic.
• Colorado Enterprise Fund: Colorado-based nonprofit CDFI offering small business loans and lines of credit to underserved entrepreneurs. Same business model as DDF but serving a different region; useful comparison for capital deployment and impact metrics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Detroitdevelopmentfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/detroit-development-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/detroitdevelopmentfund.ddf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Detroit Development Fund