Federation of African Canadian Economics Coalition

What Federation of African Canadian Economics Coalition does

The Federation of African Canadian Economics Coalition (FACE Coalition) is a national, bilingual Black-led non-profit organization headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, founded in 2021 in partnership with the Government of Canada. FACE administers the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF), which provides loans of up to $250,000 to Black-owned businesses and startups across Canada, structured as a macro-loan program ($25,000-$250,000) funded by $30M from the Government of Canada and $130M from BDC, alongside a pilot micro-loan program ($10,000-$25,000) delivered with Alterna Savings and Vancity that concluded in March 2025. Cumulative loan facilitation exceeds $160M, with $12M+ disbursed in fiscal year 2024-25 alone.

FACE operates a digital member platform (members.facecoalition.com) through which entrepreneurs register and complete a 7-step loan application involving document submission, credit review, and adjudication, with loan disbursement handled by partner financial institutions. Beyond lending, the organization runs an integrated support ecosystem including the Melamoon national pitch tour (expanding to 5 cities in 2026), the TOC Podcast, a Knowledge Center, Master Classes, a Black Business Directory, and a Match with Funding Tool. Complementary programs include the TD Propelling Black Entrepreneurship grant program ($2,500-$5,000) and community engagement events.

FACE's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, acquiring members through national pitch tours, workshops, content marketing (blog, podcast, YouTube), and direct portal sign-ups. The organization is funded by government commitments and corporate partnerships with BDC, TD Bank, Interac, HubSpot, Vancity, and Alterna Savings, rather than generating profit from its lending activities. With 28,000+ registered accounts, 11-50 employees, and a board of 7 directors, FACE has positioned itself as Canada's largest Black-focused entrepreneurship support organization.

Name

Federation of African Canadian Economics Coalition

Legal name

Federation of African Canadian Economics Coalition

Website

https://facecoalition.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FACE Coalition is a national, bilingual Black-led non-profit that administers Canada's largest Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, providing loans up to $250,000, grants, and business support resources to Black-owned startups and SMBs across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Financial Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGALAJ

Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAKAC

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPADAOAB

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

SECONDARYBPAGAKAF

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

Keywords

• Small business lending
• Entrepreneur loan programs
• Nonprofit financial services
• Business support resources
• Community economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loan Fund Administration: FACE is a non-profit organization that administers the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund in partnership with the Government of Canada and BDC. As a non-profit, the organization does not generate profit but rather facilitates access to capital for Black entrepreneurs through government-backed and partner-funded loan programs.
2. Government and Partner Funding: FACE operates through funding and partnerships with the Government of Canada ($30M committed for loans $25K-$100K), BDC ($130M committed for loans $100K-$250K), and founding partners including Vancity, Alterna Savings, and Hubspot. The organization also partners with TD for grant programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FACE Coalition administers the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF), providing loans up to $250,000 to Black entrepreneurs across Canada in partnership with the Government of Canada, BDC, and private financial institutions. It also operates the TD Propelling Black Entrepreneurship Grant Program and the Melamoon national no-equity pitch tour, supported by a digital member portal, business resource center, and community engagement programming.

Product overview

FACE operates as a platform offering financial products and support services for Black entrepreneurs in Canada. The core product is the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF), which includes two loan tiers: the Micro Loan Program (pilot, $10K-$25K) and the Macro Loan Program ($25K-$250K). These are complemented by the TD Propelling Black Entrepreneurship Grant Program ($2.5K-$5K), the Melamoon pitch tour program, and educational resources including the TOC Podcast, Knowledge Center, and Master Classes. Additional services include a Black Business Directory, a Funding Matching Tool, and community engagement events. The organization serves as an aggregator of capital, knowledge, and community resources for Canada's Black entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF): Loan program offering up to $250,000 to Black entrepreneurs across Canada, administered by FACE in partnership with the Government of Canada and BDC.
• Melamoon
• TOC Podcast
• TD Propelling Black Entrepreneurship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• $12M+ disbursed in 2024-25 fiscal year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered founding and major.

• HubSpotfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHubSpot is listed as one of FACE's founding partners, supporting the organization's mission to provide resources and information to Black businesses across Canada.
• InteracmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerInterac powers the Melamoon 2026 national tour, Canada's largest Black-focused no-equity pitch tour. The partnership provides sponsorship and support for the 5-city tour across Canada.
• BLAXPOmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBLAXPO is a partner for the Melamoon 2026 tour, bringing together Black founders, community partners, judges, and supporters for events focused on opportunity, connection, and shared vision.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Major U.S. community development financial institution supporting small businesses and economic development in underserved communities. Comparable to FACE as a CDFI-style organization providing capital, technical assistance, and community-driven economic development programming.
• Grameen America: U.S. microfinance non-profit providing small loans, savings programs, and credit-building services to entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Comparable to FACE's loan-administration model and financial inclusion mission, though focused on microfinance rather than the broader Black entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Canada's primary business development bank and a core FACE partner ($130M committed). Functions as a broad incumbent in the Canadian small business lending space and serves as FACE's fulfillment agent for the larger-ticket BELF loans, making it both a partner and a broader market reference point.
• Accion International: Global non-profit focused on financial inclusion for underserved small businesses, providing capital and support. Comparable to FACE as a mission-aligned financial inclusion organization serving entrepreneurs with limited access to mainstream capital, though operating at much larger global scale.
• National Urban League: U.S. historic civil rights and economic empowerment organization supporting African American entrepreneurship and small business development. Comparable to FACE's mission of advancing Black economic empowerment through programmatic support, training, and capital access.

Direct peers

• BlackNorth Initiative: Canadian anti-racism initiative focused on removing barriers facing Black Canadians, including economic empowerment. Directly comparable mission to FACE around Black economic inclusion, though broader in scope beyond just entrepreneurship.
• Black Opportunity Fund: Canadian Black-led charitable organization investing in Black prosperity through grants and capacity-building. Directly comparable to FACE as both administer pooled capital and programming for Black Canadian communities, though Black Opportunity Fund focuses more on institutional grants.
• Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA): Canadian non-profit supporting Black business and professional development since 1983. Direct peer to FACE given shared mission of advancing Black entrepreneurship through training, mentorship, networking, and access to capital across Canada.
• Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce: National Black-led business advocacy and support organization in Canada. Direct peer to FACE Coalition given overlapping mission of supporting Black entrepreneurs and businesses across Canada through advocacy, networking, and resource provision.

Regional players

• Alterna Savings and Credit Union Limited: Canadian credit union and founding partner of FACE's Micro Loan Program. Relevant peer given direct involvement in delivering FACE's micro loans in Ontario and shared mission of community-oriented financial services for underserved entrepreneurs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@facecoalition2075
• Xx.com/1facecoalition
• Facebookfacebook.com/facecoalition
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/facecoalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Federation of African Canadian Economics Coalition