ACT!
ACT! is a nonprofit CDFI and SBA micro-loan intermediary serving 38 counties in southwestern Georgia, providing small business loans ($500-$250,000), coaching, and connections to underserved entrepreneurs lacking access to traditional banking.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersAlbany, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ACT! does
ACT! (Albany Community Together Inc.) is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and U.S. Small Business Administration micro-loan intermediary headquartered in Albany, Georgia. Founded in 1997 and originating from a 1994 post-flood revolving loan fund established by four local banks and the City of Albany, the organization deploys a "3C Model" — Capital, Coaching, and Connections — to deliver small business loans and business development services to underserved entrepreneurs across a 38-county region of southwestern Georgia.
The product suite comprises five core lending facilities: a Small Business Revolving Loan Fund (up to $50,000, fully collateralized, gap or sole-source financing), a Working Capital Loan (fixed-payment up to 5 years or renewable line of credit, up to 3 years), a Contractor Working Capital Loan (up to $20,000 or 20% of contract value), the tiered Micro Business Accelerated Loan Program (steps from $2,000 up to $10,000), and the Working Capital Flex Program (revenue-based financing delivered through partner platform Ned). Pricing takes the form of per-loan units with terms from 3 to 72 months at rates tied to market and risk, plus a $125 non-refundable application fee and varied collateral requirements. Underwriting permits character-based eligibility and accepts banks that have rejected the applicant, with a minimum 600 credit score preferred and SBA small-business eligibility (≤500 employees; <$7.5M gross receipts). Loan servicing runs through the Portfol client portal; RBF onboarding and repayments run through Ned's platform.
Revenue flows from three streams: net interest income on the loan portfolio, $125 loan application fees, and contributions/grants from public and private sources — including the U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund (e.g., $898,331 award, April 2023) and the State Small Business Credit Initiative (contracted 2012). The organization is led by Dr. Thelma Adams Johnson (President/CEO since 2002) supported by a 6-person leadership and lending team, with a board drawn from Georgia's Own Credit Union, Ameris Bank, Wells Fargo Advisors, AB&T, and community partners. To date ACT! reports $13.87M in direct loans, $31.4M in leveraged private funds, 236 businesses served, 1,449 jobs created/retained, and 20,000 hours of technical assistance, with strategic partnerships spanning SWGAP, Phoebe Health System, Innovate Hub, The Launch Room, O'Neal's Consulting & Training Services, and The Microbusiness Enterprise Center.
ACT! firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ACT!
- Legal name
- Albany Community Together Inc.
- Website
- https://albanycommunitytogether.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ACT! is a nonprofit CDFI and SBA micro-loan intermediary serving 38 counties in southwestern Georgia, providing small business loans ($500-$250,000), coaching, and connections to underserved entrepreneurs lacking access to traditional banking.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ACT! industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Finance / Small Business Lending
- NAICS
- Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation (52229)
- SIC
- Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB)
Keywords
Where ACT! is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albany
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ACT! business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Loan Interest Income: ACT! generates revenue primarily through interest on loans provided to small business borrowers. Interest rates vary based on market rate and loan risk. Terms range from 3 months to 72 months depending on loan amount.
- Loan Application Fees: $125 non-refundable application fee charged for processing loan applications.
- Contributions and Grants: ACT! relies on contributions to offer affordable business support services such as money mentors, financial education and networking opportunities. Funding sources include both private and public sources.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Small Business Revolving Loan Fund - up to $50,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Working Capital Loan - flexible amounts |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Contractor Working Capital Loan - up to $20,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Micro Business Accelerated Loan Program - up to $10,000 in stepped increments |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Basic Loan - $500 to $250,000 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
ACT! product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ACT! is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that provides small business loans ranging from $500 to $250,000, business coaching, and connection-building services to underserved entrepreneurs across 38 counties in southwestern Georgia. Its suite of loan products includes the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund (up to $50,000), Working Capital Loan, Contractor Working Capital Loan (up to $20,000), Micro Business Accelerated Loan Program (stepped micro-lending up to $10,000), and a Working Capital Flex Program delivered through partner platform Ned. All offerings are anchored by the 3C Model (Capital, Coaching, Connections) and delivered in partnership with local banks to close the financing gap for businesses that cannot access traditional credit.
Product overview
ACT! operates as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing a suite of small business loan products primarily across 38 counties in southwestern Georgia. The core offering includes five distinct loan programs: the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund (up to $50,000 for equipment, real estate, and renovations), Working Capital Loan (short-term operational needs with fixed or credit line options), Contractor Working Capital Loan (contract-specific financing up to $20,000), Micro Business Accelerated Loan Program (progressive micro-lending up to $10,000 through a stepped qualification process), and the Working Capital Flex Program (revenue-based financing via Ned partnership). All products are complemented by business development services including coaching, technical assistance, and connection to banking partners, forming the 3C Model of Capital, Coaching, and Connections.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Small Business Revolving Loan Fund Gap financing and sole source financing product for purchasing furnishings, equipment, real estate, and renovations. Loans up to $50,000 with full collateralization requirement, primarily for small business owners in southwestern Georgia who cannot access traditional bank financing.
- Working Capital Loan
Quantifiable outcome
- $13,869,412.58 in total loans to 236 businesses, creating 1,449 jobs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ACT!
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ACT! technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
ACT! partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Southwest Georgia Project (SWGAP)flagshipACT partnered with SWGAP to create The Table of Southwest Georgia, a food and community hub in an old 46,000 square foot grocery store. ACT focuses on wealth through entrepreneurship by managing a culinary business incubator with financing, technical help, and development services. SWGAP handles food by creating a fresh produce center for Black farmers and a farmer's market.
- Phoebe Health SystemcorePhoebe Health System collaborates on the Health Equity Institute as part of The Table of Southwest Georgia initiative, addressing local healthcare needs and interventions alongside ACT's entrepreneurship focus.
- NedcorePartnership with Ned, an innovative revenue-based financing platform, to expand ACT's small business financing capabilities. Ned provides end-to-end technology platform for revenue-based financing including automated repayments. ACT helps Georgia small businesses access capital with flexible repayment terms.
- Innovate HubcoreStrategic partnership for Entrepreneur's Night recurring networking and resource-driven events designed to foster connection, collaboration, and economic growth across Southwest Georgia.
- The Launch RoomcoreStrategic partnership for Entrepreneur's Night recurring networking and resource-driven events designed to foster connection, collaboration, and economic growth across Southwest Georgia.
- O'Neal's Consulting & Training ServicescoreStrategic partnership for Entrepreneur's Night and CEO Success Summit events, hosting venue and collaborating on business resource events across Southwest Georgia.
- The Microbusiness Enterprise CentercoreStrategic partnership for Entrepreneur's Night recurring networking and resource-driven events designed to foster connection, collaboration, and economic growth across Southwest Georgia.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
ACT! competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Grameen America: Grameen America is a nonprofit microfinance organization providing small business loans to low-income entrepreneurs, similar to ACT!'s mission of serving underbanked borrowers. Both share the small-dollar, character-based lending model with coaching/technical assistance components, though Grameen focuses more on individual women entrepreneurs in urban areas while ACT! focuses on SMBs in rural Georgia.
- LiftFund: LiftFund is a CDFI and SBA micro-lender providing small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs across the South and Southwest. Direct comparable to ACT! in products (micro-loans, SBA programs), target market (minority and low-income SMBs), and structure (nonprofit CDFI with coaching services).
- Justine PETERSEN: Justine PETERSEN is a St. Louis-based CDFI providing small business loans, housing counseling, and credit-building services to underbanked borrowers. Direct peer to ACT! in mission, structure (nonprofit CDFI), and product mix (small-dollar loans with coaching).
- Accion Opportunity Fund: Accion Opportunity Fund (formerly Opportunity Fund) is a CDFI providing small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs in California and beyond. Comparable to ACT! in target borrower profile, micro-loan offerings, SBA intermediary status, and nonprofit structure with technical assistance.
- Kiva US: Kiva is a nonprofit that crowdfunds 0% interest loans for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including underserved borrowers in the U.S. Comparable to ACT! in target market (underbanked SMBs) and loan size (micro-loans), though Kiva uses a crowdfunding model rather than direct origination.
Regional players
- South Carolina Community Loan Fund: SC Community Loan Fund is a nonprofit CDFI providing small business and community facility loans in South Carolina. Regional peer to ACT! with similar products (SBA micro-lender, small business loans) and comparable organizational scale, serving a different geography.
Others
- Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): OFN is the national membership association for CDFIs including ACT!. Not a direct lender/competitor but the trade body and capital intermediary that channels federal CDFI Fund allocations to members like ACT!; critical ecosystem participant and indirect peer.
Emerging players
- Ned (Helps): Ned is a revenue-based financing platform providing flexible capital to SMBs. ACT! partners with Ned to offer the Working Capital Flex Program. Emergent fintech peer that complements ACT!'s traditional CDFI lending with tech-enabled RBF products.
Broad incumbents
- Self-Help Credit Union: Self-Help Credit Union is a CDFI credit union providing consumer and small business lending across the Southeast, including Georgia. Comparable to ACT! in mission (community development finance) but operates as a regulated depository institution with a much larger balance sheet and broader product set.
- Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF): CRF is a national nonprofit CDFI providing capital and financing to underserved SMBs and developers across the U.S. A larger, more diversified peer of ACT! with broader geographic reach but overlapping product categories (SMB loans, SBA programs).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ACT! compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
ACT! financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ACT! leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
ACT! funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ACT! 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 ACT!
What does ACT! do?
ACT! is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that provides small business loans ranging from $500 to $250,000, business coaching, and connection-building services to underserved entrepreneurs across 38 counties in southwestern Georgia. Its suite of loan products includes the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund (up to $50,000), Working Capital Loan, Contractor Working Capital Loan (up to $20,000), Micro Business Accelerated Loan Program (stepped micro-lending up to $10,000), and a Working Capital Flex Program delivered through partner platform Ned. All offerings are anchored by the 3C Model (Capital, Coaching, Connections) and delivered in partnership with local banks to close the financing gap for businesses that cannot access traditional credit.
Is ACT! a public or private company?
ACT! is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ACT! founded?
ACT! was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ACT! based?
ACT! is headquartered in Albany, United States, in the North America region.
How does ACT! make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Loan Interest Income is the primary driver. The others are loan Application Fees and contributions and Grants.
Who are ACT!'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Grameen America, LiftFund, Justine PETERSEN, Accion Opportunity Fund and Kiva US. South Carolina Community Loan Fund is listed as a regional player. Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is listed as an others. Ned (Helps) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Self-Help Credit Union and Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF).
Does ACT! have an API?
No public API is recorded for ACT!.
What industry is ACT! in?
ACT!'s product category is Community Development Finance / Small Business Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans, with a secondary code of FSAKAGAB, SME Term Loans & Growth Capital. Its NAICS code is 52229 and its SIC code is 6153.