What The Loan Fund does

The Loan Fund, legally The New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in June 1989 and headquartered at 423 Iron Ave. SW in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The organization provides flexible, human-centered financing to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations across New Mexico that cannot qualify for traditional bank or credit union credit — including startups, microbusinesses, companies operating on tribal lands, and mission-driven nonprofits. Its primary use cases span startup financing, business expansion, equipment purchase, working capital, building purchase, and operational financing for nonprofits.

The Loan Fund's core product suite consists of three lending products — Microloans, Small Business Loans, and Nonprofit Loans — underwritten and serviced through a direct, field-based lending model with loan officers covering Northern and Southern New Mexico. These are complemented by Technical Assistance services, a Loan Calculator, a Business Resources and Educational Resource Center, and the #LoanReady borrower-prep campaign. The organization operates no proprietary technology platform; its offering is fundamentally a financial-services-plus-advisory business with light digital tooling (a referral-driven website and online application flow).

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on the managed loan portfolio, which has exceeded $130 million since inception, alongside concessional capital from institutional partners led by the New Mexico Small Business Investment Corporation (NMSBIC, $37.5 million cumulative since 2003). Distribution is referral-led: banks, credit unions, the SBA, the New Mexico SBDC Network, and community organizations route declined applicants to The Loan Fund. The organization employs roughly 12–15 staff and, following the April 2025 passing of 18-year CEO F. Leroy Pacheco, is currently led on an acting basis by CFO Conchie Searle.

Name

The Loan Fund

Legal name

The New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund

Website

https://loanfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Loan Fund is a New Mexico-based nonprofit CDFI providing microloans, small business loans, and nonprofit loans to underserved businesses, entrepreneurs, and mission-driven organizations across the state, complemented by technical assistance and lending-partner referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Lending

NAICS

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Community development lending
• Small business financing
• Nonprofit lending
• Microfinance services
• CDFI loans

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: The organization generates revenue through interest on loans provided to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits. As a CDFI nonprofit, it offers flexible financing solutions to clients who cannot secure traditional bank financing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Loan Fund provides loans, consulting, and training services to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations across New Mexico who cannot secure financing from traditional banks or credit unions. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and SBA Lender, it offers microloans, small business loans, and nonprofit loans, complemented by technical assistance including business resources and an educational resource center.

Product overview

The Loan Fund is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) offering a unified lending product suite centered on providing accessible financing to underserved small businesses and nonprofits across New Mexico. The core offerings consist of three loan products: Microloans for early-stage entrepreneurs, Small Business Loans for established businesses, and Nonprofit Loans for mission-driven organizations. These are complemented by Technical Assistance services, including a Loan Calculator, Business Resources, and an Educational Resource Center providing templates, guides, and SCORE materials. The #LoanReady Campaign is an educational initiative to help borrowers prepare for the application process. The organization does not operate a technology platform with integrations—its products are financial services combined with human advising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microloans Small-scale loans designed for entrepreneurs and micro-businesses in New Mexico who may not qualify for traditional bank financing, typically used for startups and very small businesses.
• Small Business Loans Financing solutions for established New Mexico small businesses seeking growth capital to expand operations, purchase equipment, or acquire buildings.
• Nonprofit Loans Loans and lines of credit specifically designed for nonprofit organizations in New Mexico to support their operational, programmatic, and facility financing needs.
• Technical Assistance Advisory services including business resources, educational materials, loan application guidance, and one-on-one consulting to help applicants prepare for financing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $130 million in loans managed since 1989
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Banks and Credit UnionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinancial institutions refer clients who cannot be served by traditional financing to The Loan Fund for assistance.
• Community OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity organizations throughout New Mexico refer entrepreneurs and small businesses to The Loan Fund for financing and support services.
• Central New Mexico Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAviation Technology Program partnership supported by The Loan Fund for New Mexico Aero Service scholarship program.
• New Mexico Small Business Development Center NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSBDC refers clients to The Loan Fund and provides business development support.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Grameen America: National nonprofit microfinance organization providing small-dollar loans to women entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Comparable in microloan focus and mission to serve bank-rejected borrowers.
• TruFund Financial Services: National nonprofit CDFI providing loans and equity to small businesses and nonprofits in underserved communities, with a similar mix of small business and nonprofit lending products.
• LiftFund: Texas-based nonprofit CDFI providing microloans and small business financing to underserved entrepreneurs across the Southwest. Highly comparable in target customer, loan products, and community-development mission.
• DreamSpring: Formerly known as Accion New Mexico and now DreamSpring, this is a New Mexico-headquartered CDFI providing microloans and small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs — the most directly comparable peer to The Loan Fund in terms of geography, mission, and product mix.
• Pacific Community Ventures: California-based nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans and advisory services to underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable in mission, product set, and target borrower profile.
• Justine PETERSEN: St. Louis-based nonprofit CDFI offering microloans, small business loans, and housing financing to underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses, with a comparable mission-driven lending model.

Emerging players

• Kiva: Nonprofit crowdfunding microfinance platform enabling 0% interest loans to underserved entrepreneurs globally. Comparable in microloan product, mission, and underserved-borrower focus, but operates via a digital marketplace model.

Others

• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): National CDFI consortium and intermediary that funnels capital to CDFIs including The Loan Fund. Comparable as the industry's central trade body and capital conduit for community development lenders.

Broad incumbents

• Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI): Maine-based CDFI offering small business financing, consulting, and workforce development. Comparable as an established, multi-decade community development lender with a similar loan product portfolio.

Regional players

• WESST Enterprise Center: New Mexico-based nonprofit providing small business loans, training, and consulting — a regional peer offering overlapping services in the same geography as The Loan Fund.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheLoanFund
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheLoanFund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-loan-fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 The Loan Fund