Foodshed Capital

What Foodshed Capital does

Foodshed Capital is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit loan fund and farm business accelerator headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, founded in 2018 as Slow Money Central Virginia and CDFI-certified in 2020. It provides affordable credit to small- and mid-scale regenerative farmers, food hubs, distributors, and food-system non-profits who are poorly served by conventional agricultural lenders due to limited collateral, thin credit history, or values mismatch. Core products include Standard Loans of $5,000 to $150,000 at 0% to 6.75% interest with 3-7 year terms and an optional 3-month grace period, and Bridge Loans up to $150,000 structured to grant reimbursement timelines for grant-recipient farmers and non-profits. Borrowers receive free business advising throughout the application process and (from 2026) free or sliding-scale bookkeeping services, distinguishing the offering from pure financial products.

The underlying technology is the LenderFiT loan application and servicing platform, which supports a five-step intake-to-disbursement workflow including auto-draft repayment setup; bookkeeping runs on QuickBooks. There is no public API, mobile app, or proprietary AI component, and operations are supported by a team of fewer than 10 staff. The business model combines below-market loan interest (average 1.88% in 2024), charitable donations from individuals, foundations, donor advised funds, and family trusts, and an Investment Note Program offering accredited investors a 2% annual return over a 7-year term with a $25,000 minimum. By October 2025, the organization had deployed roughly $6.47M across 187 loans in 19 states plus DC and Puerto Rico, with a reported 99.31% loan repayment rate, 80% of funding directed to low-income operations, and 15,202 regenerative acres supported.

Name

Foodshed Capital

Legal name

Foodshed Capital

Website

https://foodcap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Foodshed Capital is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit loan fund and farm business accelerator that provides low-interest loans ($5K-$150K, 0%-6.75%) plus free business advising and bookkeeping to regenerative farmers, food hubs, and food entrepreneurs across 19 US states, DC, and Puerto Rico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Finance (Agricultural Lending)

NAICS

Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB), Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA), SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Agricultural lending
• Nonprofit loan fund
• Regenerative farm finance
• Community development lending
• CDFI small business loans

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest: Foodshed Capital provides loans ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 at interest rates between 0% and 6.75%. Average interest rate in 2024 was 1.88%. Half-point rate reduction available for borrowers enrolled in auto-pay.
2. Donations and Charitable Support: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Foodshed Capital receives donations from individuals, major donors, donor advised funds, foundations, family trusts, and stock donations. IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions accepted.
3. Investment Notes: Impact-first investment note program with 2% annual interest rate, 7-year term, redemption option after 24 months, and $25,000 minimum investment. Accredited investors only. Proceeds capitalize the revolving loan fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Foodshed Capital is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit loan fund and farm business accelerator that provides affordable, flexible loans of $5,000 to $150,000 at interest rates between 0% and 6.75% to regenerative farmers, food hubs, and food entrepreneurs across 19 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. The organization pairs these loans with free high-touch Business Advising throughout the application process, with no credit scores, no fees, and limited collateral requirements. As a Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), it capitalizes its revolving loan fund through interest income, charitable donations, foundations, and a $25,000-minimum Investment Note Program for accredited impact investors.

Product overview

Foodshed Capital operates as a non-profit loan fund offering financial products centered on two core offerings: lending (Standard Loans and Bridge Loans) and business support services (Business Advising and All-Purpose Bookkeeping). Additionally, they operate an Investment Note Program for accredited impact investors. The Standard and Bridge Loans provide affordable capital ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 at rates between 0% and 6.75%, while the complementary Business Advising and All-Purpose Bookkeeping services help borrowers prepare for and manage loans successfully.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standard Loans Affordable, flexible loans of up to $150,000 for farms and food businesses, with interest rates between 0% and 6.75% (average 1.88% in 2024), 3-7 year terms, an optional 3-month grace period, no credit scores, no fees, and limited collateral requirements. Designed for equipment, infrastructure, working capital, transition to regenerative practices, and hiring farm staff.
• Bridge Loans Up-front capital of up to $150,000 for farmers or non-profit organizations that have received reimbursable grant funding. Repayments are structured to the grant reimbursement timeline, with the loan typically payable in full upon project completion.
• Business Advising Free, high-touch support provided throughout the loan application process, including help understanding debt capacity, identifying sustainable repayment plans, and planning for the future. Available to all borrowers of Standard Loans and Bridge Loans.
• Investment Note Program Impact-first investment opportunity for mission-driven accredited investors seeking both return of and return on capital. Features a 2% annual interest rate, a 7-year term, a redemption option after 24 months, a $25,000 minimum investment, and is open to accredited investors only. Proceeds capitalize the revolving loan fund; current investments range from $25,000 to $500,000 across 11 states.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.31% loan repayment rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, major and supporting.

• National Farm Advocacy OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with national farm advocacy organizations to expand geographic footprint and reach underserved farmers.
• Regional Farm Service ProviderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlace-based regional farm service providers who help refer eligible borrowers and expand Foodshed Capital's reach.
• Adirondack North Country AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ANCA to provide financing support to regional farmers like Reber Rock Farm.
• Essex County Soil & Water Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation cost-share contract partnership supporting Reber Rock Farm's compost program.
• The Conservation Fund's Working Farms FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to help farms like Rustic Road Farm acquire and conserve farmland through a 10-year purchase model with permanent conservation easement.
• Realize ImpactsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enabling DAF (Donor Advised Fund) investments in Foodshed Capital's investment note program.
• Delta Harvest (formerly Foodwise Farms)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory relationship with The Produce Tribe owner. Foodshed Capital also serves as advisor to Delta Harvest's agricultural renaissance initiative.
• World Wildlife FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Wildlife's Next California initiative partner through Delta Harvest, centering Black and women-led farm operations.
• Southern SAREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education for community trainings at Blue Heron Urban Farms.
• University of Georgia Center for Urban AgricultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community trainings focused on green careers and hands-on farming skills.
• Agrarian TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-investment in 5.12-acre urban farm outside Richmond, VA through Central Virginia Agrarian Commons, providing farmers with 99-year lease and permanent land protection.
• Central Virginia Agrarian CommonsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand trust model providing farmers with 99-year lease while ensuring land remains protected for regeneratively managed food production.
• Virginia Cooperative ExtensionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the urban farm land purchase initiative in Petersburg, VA.
• Catawba Sustainability Center at Virginia TechsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the urban farm land purchase initiative.
• Petersburg Healthy Opportunities ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the urban farm land purchase initiative.
• Petersburg League of Urban GrowerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the urban farm land purchase initiative.
• Sankofa Community OrchardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the urban farm land purchase initiative in Petersburg, VA.
• The Conservation FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking Farms Fund program helping Blue Heron Urban Farms expand from 12 to 74 acres.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Steward: Steward is the most direct comparable: a mission-driven lending platform focused exclusively on regenerative agriculture, originating small-dollar loans to small farms with a partner-distribution model similar to Foodshed Capital's.
• Kiva: Kiva is a nonprofit crowdfunding microlender offering 0% interest loans to underserved borrowers including farmers globally. Its nonprofit microloan model, 0% pricing, and reliance on crowdfunded capital closely mirror Foodshed's structure and economics.
• Craft3: Craft3 is a Pacific Northwest CDFI providing small-dollar loans and business advising to food, farm, and forestry entrepreneurs, including regenerative operations. It is highly comparable in target borrower, products, and integrated advising approach.
• Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI): CEI is a Maine-based nonprofit CDFI with a long-standing food and agriculture lending program serving small farms and food businesses. It shares Foodshed's nonprofit CDFI model, mission-driven borrower focus, and integrated business support services.
• RSF Social Finance: RSF Social Finance is a values-aligned financial nonprofit offering loans, investments, and grants with a specific focus on food and agriculture systems. Its structure of raising capital from mission-aligned investors to lend into regenerative enterprises parallels Foodshed's investment note program.

Broad incumbents

• Self-Help Credit Union: Self-Help is a large, established CDFI credit union providing community development lending across multiple asset classes. A Foodshed board member is affiliated with Self-Help, indicating direct overlap in networks. It is broader in scope than Foodshed but shares CDFI mission and small-business focus.
• Beneficial State Bank: Beneficial State Bank is a federally chartered CDFI bank serving mission-driven borrowers including small farms, food enterprises, and nonprofits. It is a broader incumbent with a deposit-funded, full-service banking model but shares Foodshed's social-finance ethos and small-business focus.

Others

• Slow Money: Slow Money is the national movement and network that inspired Foodshed's original founding as Slow Money Central Virginia. It is thematically central—connecting local food systems with patient capital—though it does not directly lend like Foodshed.

Emerging players

• Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT: Iroquois Valley is a farmland investment vehicle financing organic and regenerative farmers through real estate-secured capital. It overlaps with Foodshed on the regenerative agriculture borrower segment but addresses land access rather than working capital and equipment.
• Dirt Capital Partners: Dirt Capital Partners is an impact investment firm providing land financing and patient capital to sustainable farmers. It shares Foodshed's regenerative agriculture focus but is a for-profit fund model and emphasizes farm real estate rather than working capital loans.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FoodshedCapital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foodshedcapital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Foodshed Capital