National Development Council
National Development Council, now branded as Grow America, is a U.S. nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution providing small business and nonprofit lending, community development investment, advisory services, and professional training to local governments, nonprofits, developers, and small businesses nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What National Development Council does
National Development Council, operating today under the brand Grow America, is a U.S.-based nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) headquartered at 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY. The organization was established in the 1990s and has operated for more than thirty years providing community development financing, small business and nonprofit lending, advisory services, and professional training in economic and housing development finance. Its stated mission is to invest capital to craft equitable, vibrant futures, and it serves local governments, public agencies, nonprofits, developers, and small businesses across the United States.
Grow America's service model is organized around four interconnected core programs: Investments in Housing and Community Development, Lending and Entrepreneurial Support, Advisory Support for Community and Economic Development, and Training and Professional Education. It directly originates loans to small businesses and nonprofits, with a recently launched online application portal, and operates an EPA-supported Technical Assistance for Brownfields program. The training program, which the organization describes as the first of its kind in the field, has trained more than 85,000 professionals in development finance. The organization is federally certified as a CDFI and is governed as a non-profit entity without a parent company.
Revenue mechanics derive from a mix of federal CDFI and likely other grant funding, interest income from a small business and nonprofit loan portfolio, advisory fees, and training program revenue. The organization received $3,532,345 in funding from the U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund in April 2023 and rebranded from NDC to Grow America around 2023. No proprietary technology stack, AI/ML capabilities, or enterprise customer concentrations were disclosed in available sources.
National Development Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Development Council
- Legal name
- Grow America
- Website
- https://ndconline.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- National Development Council, now branded as Grow America, is a U.S. nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution providing small business and nonprofit lending, community development investment, advisory services, and professional training to local governments, nonprofits, developers, and small businesses nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Development Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Finance
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)
Keywords
Where National Development Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
National Development Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
National Development Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grow America (formerly National Development Council) is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that deploys capital, technical assistance, and training to support equitable community development. It offers direct small business and nonprofit lending, investments and structured financing for housing and community development projects, customized advisory services, and a development-finance professional training program. Its clients are local governments, public agencies, nonprofits, developers, and small businesses working in underserved U.S. communities.
Product overview
Grow America (formerly National Development Council) is a community development financial institution (CDFI) offering a unified suite of community and economic development services. The organization operates four interconnected core programs: Investments in Housing and Community Development, Lending and Entrepreneurial Support, Advisory Support for Community and Economic Development, and Training and Professional Education. These programs work together to provide capital, technical assistance, and professional development to local governments, nonprofits, developers, and small businesses, helping them structure financing, build capacity, and create equitable community outcomes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Investments in Housing and Community Development Invests capital to help local governments, public agencies, nonprofits, and developers structure financing and build technical capacity for community development initiatives, with expertise spanning housing and broader community development.
- Lending and Entrepreneurial Support Provides small business loans and nonprofit lending with more than thirty years of experience, helping borrowers develop equity, create jobs, and build their communities from within.
- Advisory Support for Community and Economic Development Provides customized advisory services that combine Grow America services with deep expertise and contacts to help clients understand their goals and challenges and develop plans to achieve their objectives.
- Training and Professional Education Professional development program in development finance that builds capacity for professionals working in economic, housing, and community development sectors; has trained over 85,000 people.
- Small Business Lending (Online Application) Online small business loan application platform providing access to capital for small businesses seeking financing.
Companies that use National Development Council
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles3 records
National Development Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
National Development Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Asia Silicon Valley Development AgencycoreAsia Silicon Valley Development Agency participated in a forum hosted by Taiwan's National Development Council discussing AI implementation across industries including semiconductor, defense, healthcare, and consumer technology.
- AiseedcoreAiseed participated in a forum hosted by Taiwan's National Development Council on AI implementation, showcasing applications in semiconductor, defense, healthcare, and consumer technology sectors.
- HumetricscoreHumetrics participated in a forum hosted by Taiwan's National Development Council discussing practical AI application across industries.
- OptiqbcoreOptiqb participated in a forum hosted by Taiwan's National Development Council on AI implementation across Taiwan's industries.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
National Development Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Association of Development Companies (NADCO): NADCO represents the SBA 504 development company industry and provides training and certification to development finance professionals. It is comparable to Grow America's Training and Professional Education line, both serving the same professional development finance audience.
- Reinvestment Fund: Reinvestment Fund is a CDFI that finances housing, community facilities, and small businesses, and is known for policy data analytics. It is a direct peer to Grow America across lending, community development investments, and data-informed advisory.
- Capital Impact Partners: Capital Impact Partners is a CDFI delivering loans, investments, and capacity building to underserved communities in housing, health, and small business. Closely comparable to Grow America's integrated lending + advisory + capacity-building model.
- Grameen America: Grameen America is a nonprofit microfinance organization providing small business loans to low-income entrepreneurs, often women. Directly comparable to Grow America's small business lending program in target borrower, mission orientation, and nonprofit structure.
- Accion U.S. Accion is a nonprofit small business lender and advisor focused on inclusive finance. Overlaps with Grow America's lending and entrepreneurial support and advisory programs serving similar underserved small business borrowers.
- LiftFund: LiftFund is a nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans and business development services across the southern U.S. Comparable to Grow America's small business lending plus advisory offerings, with a similarly mission-driven, regional orientation.
Broad incumbents
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is one of the largest U.S. CDFIs, providing financing, capacity building, and policy advocacy for community development. It is comparable as a broad incumbent operating across lending, investments, and advisory in the same communities Grow America serves, but at materially greater scale.
- Enterprise Community Partners: Enterprise is a national nonprofit focused on affordable housing and community development financing, alongside advisory and policy work. It overlaps directly with Grow America's housing/community development investments and advisory practices, with a much larger footprint and balance sheet.
Others
- Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): OFN is the national membership/advocacy organization for CDFIs, providing capital, training, and peer learning. Comparable to Grow America as a peer/ecosystem participant in CDFI training and capacity-building, though it operates as a trade intermediary rather than a direct lender.
Emerging players
- ICIC (Initiative for a Competitive Inner City): ICIC is a nonprofit research and advisory organization focused on urban economic development and inner-city business growth. Comparable to Grow America's advisory and economic development mission, though it leans more on research/consulting than direct lending.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
National Development Council social profiles
Digital presenceNational Development Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Development Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
National Development Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Development Council 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 National Development Council
What does National Development Council do?
Grow America (formerly National Development Council) is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that deploys capital, technical assistance, and training to support equitable community development. It offers direct small business and nonprofit lending, investments and structured financing for housing and community development projects, customized advisory services, and a development-finance professional training program. Its clients are local governments, public agencies, nonprofits, developers, and small businesses working in underserved U.S. communities.
Is National Development Council a public or private company?
National Development Council is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was National Development Council founded?
National Development Council was founded in 1994. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is National Development Council based?
National Development Council is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
Who are National Development Council's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Association of Development Companies (NADCO), Reinvestment Fund, Capital Impact Partners, Grameen America, Accion U.S. and LiftFund. Broad incumbents are Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Enterprise Community Partners. Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is listed as an others. ICIC (Initiative for a Competitive Inner City) is listed as an emerging player.
Does National Development Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Development Council.
What industry is National Development Council in?
National Development Council's product category is Community Development Finance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAE, Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives), with a secondary code of BPAIACAN, Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local). Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8200.