First Southwest Community Fund
First Southwest Community Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 by First Southwest Bank that provides low-cost loans ($5,000-$250,000), free business education, and grants to underserved rural Colorado entrepreneurs and small businesses, deploying over $28 million across a portfolio of eight loan funds in its first decade.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersAlamosa, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What First Southwest Community Fund does
First Southwest Community Fund (FSWCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by First Southwest Bank, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) bank headquartered in Alamosa, Colorado. The organization provides low-cost loans, free business education, and grant funding to rural Colorado entrepreneurs and small businesses that typically cannot access traditional bank financing, with explicit focus on underserved segments including immigrant, BIPOC, and women-owned businesses.
FSWCF operates a portfolio of eight distinct loan funds with ticket sizes ranging from $5,000 microloans to $250,000 working capital loans, priced at fixed rates between 2% and 6.5% with origination fees around 1%. Products include the Northwest Catalyst Capital Microloan Fund, CLIMBER Loan Fund, Fortaleza Fund for immigrant entrepreneurs, ACF Regional Rise Fund, Colorado Nonprofit Bridge Loan Fund, Rural-Led Business Fund, Intermediary Relending Program, and Colorado Agricultural Future Loan. Underwriting relies on a character-based lending methodology evaluating borrower experience and community reputation alongside business potential. Lending is paired with bilingual (English/Spanish) educational programming including the Leading Edge workshop series and Fortaleza Business Bootcamp, and is supported by a recently upgraded online loan platform for customer account management.
The business model combines interest income from loans with foundation and government grants sourced from 25+ funders including Colorado Trust, Gates Family Foundation, USDA Rural Development, Aspen Community Foundation, and The Denver Foundation. Distribution is anchored by 40+ community partners across SBDCs, regional economic development districts, and community foundations, with geographic reach spanning San Luis Valley, Aspen-to-Parachute, and Northwest Colorado. Over a 10-year operating history, FSWCF has deployed more than $28 million, facilitated the creation of approximately 980 jobs, and retained 400 jobs across rural Colorado. The organization is currently executing a multi-year statewide expansion under Executive Director Rosy McDonough.
First Southwest Community Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Southwest Community Fund
- Legal name
- First Southwest Community Fund
- Website
- https://fswcf.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- First Southwest Community Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 by First Southwest Bank that provides low-cost loans ($5,000-$250,000), free business education, and grants to underserved rural Colorado entrepreneurs and small businesses, deploying over $28 million across a portfolio of eight loan funds in its first decade.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Southwest Community Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Financial Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
Keywords
Where First Southwest Community Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alamosa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
First Southwest Community Fund 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 Revenue: Interest income from microloans and small business loans ranging from $5,000 to $250,000. Loans offered at low fixed rates (4%-6.5%) with origination fees typically around 1%.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from private foundations (Colorado Trust, Gates Family Foundation, etc.) and government programs (USDA RMAP, IRP) to support lending programs and operational capacity.
- Program-Related Investments: Capital from impact investors and community foundations deployed as low-cost loans to target populations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Northwest Catalyst Capital Microloans: $5,000-$37,500 at 5% interest with 1% origination fee, 2-4 year terms |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | ACF Regional Rise Fund: $10,000-$50,000 at 4%-6.5% interest, 5-7 year terms |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | CLIMBER Loan Fund: Up to $250,000 for working capital and business needs |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Colorado Nonprofit Bridge Loan Fund: Up to $250,000 at 2% interest, 6-month term with renewal option |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Rural-Led Business Fund: $10,000-$75,000 with deferred payments up to 90 days |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Fortaleza Fund: $10,000-$50,000 for immigrant entrepreneurs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
First Southwest Community Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Southwest Community Fund (FSWCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides low-cost loans, program grants, and free business education to rural Colorado entrepreneurs and small business owners who lack access to traditional bank financing. The organization operates eight distinct loan funds ranging from microloans of $5,000 to working capital loans of $250,000, using a character-based lending approach that evaluates borrower experience and community reputation rather than solely credit or collateral. FSWCF pairs lending with bilingual (English/Spanish) business education workshops and technical assistance to support rural entrepreneurs, immigrants, BIPOC-owned businesses, women entrepreneurs, agricultural producers, and nonprofits across Colorado.
Product overview
First Southwest Community Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by First Southwest Bank that provides a comprehensive suite of financial products for rural Colorado entrepreneurs. The organization operates a multi-product lending portfolio including eight distinct loan funds (Northwest Catalyst Capital, CLIMBER Loan Fund, Fortaleza Fund, ACF Regional Rise Fund, Colorado Nonprofit Bridge Loan Fund, Rural-Led Business Fund, Intermediary Relending Program, and Colorado Agricultural Future Loan) ranging from microloans of $5,000 to working capital loans of $250,000. Complementing the lending products are grant programs tied to educational workshop completion, free business education workshops including the Leading Edge series and Fortaleza Business Bootcamp with Spanish-language support, and a digital loan management platform for customer account access. The organization targets rural entrepreneurs and small businesses that may not qualify for traditional bank financing, emphasizing access to capital paired with education and technical assistance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HelloBello: A mobile application partner offering childcare-related services, referenced as a partner on the FSWCF website.
Products and services
- Northwest Catalyst Capital Microloan Fund Microlending revolving loan fund for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties in northwest Colorado, offered in partnership with the Northwest Colorado Innovation Center. Character-based lending approach.
- CLIMBER Loan Fund Flexible working capital loans up to $250,000 for existing businesses across rural Colorado with 1-99 employees and 2 years of positive net income, designed to build back rural economies.
- Fortaleza Fund Funding and education program for immigrant entrepreneurs and small businesses in rural Colorado, providing loan amounts from $10,000 to $50,000 along with multilingual business education and technical assistance.
- ACF Regional Rise Fund Loan fund for small businesses and nonprofits from Aspen to Parachute, providing loans from $10,000 to $50,000 at 4%-6.5% interest rates with 5-7 year terms.
- Colorado Nonprofit Bridge Loan Fund Short-term capital loans up to $250,000 at 2% interest rate for Colorado nonprofits waiting for government reimbursements. Administered by First Southwest Bank with 6-month terms and renewal options.
- Rural-Led Business Fund Funding access for entrepreneurs and small businesses in rural Colorado through loans, education, and technical assistance. Loan amounts from $10,000 to $75,000 with deferred payments up to 90 days.
- Intermediary Relending Program Fixed rate loans to businesses in rural communities that create jobs, evaluating benefits to rural development, partner organizations, and measurable impacts.
- Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Lending program for beginning farmers and ranchers and businesses that transform, package, process, store, or grade Colorado farm or ranch products. Loans up to $250,000.
- Program Grants Grant funding provided to qualified rural Colorado entrepreneurs and small business owners who successfully complete select educational workshops. No repayment required.
- Business Education Workshops Free educational workshops for rural Colorado entrepreneurs covering business fundamentals, finance, marketing, and technology. Most workshops conducted in English with live Spanish interpretation, with select sessions offered entirely in Spanish.
- Leading Edge Workshop Series Eight-part workshop series in partnership with San Luis Valley Small Business Development Center covering business plan development, organizational structure, human resources, business economics, financial literacy, marketing, accounting, and advanced finance.
- Fortaleza Business Bootcamp 12-week Spanish language virtual education program for rural Spanish speakers covering small business operations, marketing, bookkeeping, and finance. Graduates receive $2,000 grant.
- Online Loan Platform Customer portal for loan customers to access accounts, view estatements, and manage loan information. Requires enrollment for all loan customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Created 980 jobs and retained 400 jobs over 10 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use First Southwest Community Fund
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
First Southwest Community Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
First Southwest Community Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- La Plata Economic Development AlliancecorePartnership on Early Childcare Strategic Investment Plan for La Plata County. FSWCF and First Southwest Bank operate the $10M Childcare Investment Fund and $10M Childcare Capital & Infrastructure Fund.
- Northwest Colorado Innovation Center (NCIC)corePartnership to launch Northwest Catalyst Capital microloan fund for entrepreneurs in Moffat, Routt, and Rio Blanco Counties. NCIC provides business coaching and technical assistance alongside FSWCF lending.
- Aspen Community FoundationcorePartnership to administer ACF Regional Rise Fund for small businesses and nonprofits from Aspen to Parachute.
- Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI)majorPartnership for Business Idea Lab (BIL) program and Fortaleza Fund educational programming. RMMFI provides business education to Spanish-speaking students.
- San Luis Valley Small Business Development Center (SLV SBDC)corePartnership hosting Leading Edge Spanish workshop series. Located at Adams State University, provides entrepreneurial guidance and community empowerment.
- Colorado Department of AgriculturemajorPartnership for Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program supporting beginning farmers and ranchers.
- CompanerosminorCommunity partner organization.
- Economic Development Alliance of Livermore, Ptarmigan, Pinewood, WellingtonminorRegional economic development partner.
- RCAC (Rural Community Assistance Corporation)minorRural community development partner.
- Region 10 League for Economic Assistance and PlanningminorRegional economic development organization serving western Colorado.
- Region 9 Economic Development District of SW ColoradominorRegional economic development organization.
- Small Business MajorityminorNational small business support organization.
- Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs (SCAPE)minorEntrepreneur accelerator program in southwest Colorado.
- SLV Immigrant Resource CenterminorSupport organization for immigrants in San Luis Valley.
- Upper Rio Grande Economic DevelopmentminorRegional economic development organization.
- Philanthropy ColoradominorStatewide philanthropy association.
- Durango SBDCminorSmall business development center in Durango.
- The Innovation Center (Durango)minorCommunity technology and innovation center providing facilities for hybrid Fortaleza Fund graduation.
- La Plata Food Equity CoalitionminorPartnership for bilingual Small Business Tax Education seminar.
- City of DurangominorPartnership for bilingual Small Business Tax Education seminar.
- Visit DurangominorPartnership for bilingual Small Business Tax Education seminar.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Southwest Community Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Pacific Community Ventures: Nonprofit CDFI and advisory provider that combines small business capital with pro-bono advising for underserved small businesses. Comparable capital-plus-advising bundle, with a smaller direct-lending footprint than FSWCF's.
Direct peers
- LiftFund: Texas-headquartered CDFI providing micro and small business loans to minority, immigrant, and rural entrepreneurs. Highly comparable in micro-ticket size, target borrower, and community-lender distribution.
- Impact Development Fund: CDFI deploying flexible, character-influenced capital to underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Rocky Mountain region. Directly comparable loan products, target borrower, and CDFI funding model.
- Accion: Global nonprofit microenterprise lender offering small-dollar loans and advisory to small business owners excluded from traditional banking. Closely comparable lending-plus-education stack for underserved entrepreneurs.
- DreamSpring (formerly Opportunity Fund): CDFI providing small business loans (micro to $1M) paired with business advising to underserved entrepreneurs, including immigrants, women, and BIPOC owners. Directly comparable in product, customer, and CDFI-funded model.
- Justine PETERSEN: St. Louis-based CDFI providing small business lending, housing counseling, and credit-building to underserved entrepreneurs, with strong technical assistance overlay. Comparable on product, target customer, and bundled services model.
- Grameen America: National microfinance nonprofit providing small-dollar loans, financial education, and peer support to low-income female entrepreneurs. Closest scale and methodology peer to FSWCF's character-based, education-paired microlending approach.
- CDC Small Business Finance: California-based CDFI providing SBA-guaranteed and conventional small business loans to underserved borrowers, with a focus on minority and low-income entrepreneurs. Comparable SBA/government-backed CDFI lending model.
- Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI): Rural-focused CDFI in Maine providing small business loans, technical assistance, and equity to underserved entrepreneurs and natural-resource businesses. Highly comparable rural CDFI playbook including agricultural and small-town lending.
- Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI): Colorado-based nonprofit that partners with FSWCF on the Business Idea Lab and Fortaleza Fund. Directly comparable as a microenterprise education-and-capital provider serving underserved Colorado entrepreneurs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
First Southwest Community Fund social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Southwest Community Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Southwest Community Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
First Southwest Community Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Southwest Community Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about First Southwest Community Fund
What does First Southwest Community Fund do?
First Southwest Community Fund (FSWCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides low-cost loans, program grants, and free business education to rural Colorado entrepreneurs and small business owners who lack access to traditional bank financing. The organization operates eight distinct loan funds ranging from microloans of $5,000 to working capital loans of $250,000, using a character-based lending approach that evaluates borrower experience and community reputation rather than solely credit or collateral. FSWCF pairs lending with bilingual (English/Spanish) business education workshops and technical assistance to support rural entrepreneurs, immigrants, BIPOC-owned businesses, women entrepreneurs, agricultural producers, and nonprofits across Colorado.
Is First Southwest Community Fund a public or private company?
First Southwest Community Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was First Southwest Community Fund founded?
First Southwest Community Fund was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is First Southwest Community Fund based?
First Southwest Community Fund is headquartered in Alamosa, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Southwest Community Fund make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Loan Interest Revenue is the primary driver. The others are foundation and Government Grants and program-Related Investments.
Who are First Southwest Community Fund's main competitors?
Pacific Community Ventures is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are LiftFund, Impact Development Fund, Accion, DreamSpring (formerly Opportunity Fund), Justine PETERSEN, Grameen America, CDC Small Business Finance, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) and Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI).
Does First Southwest Community Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Southwest Community Fund.
What industry is First Southwest Community Fund in?
First Southwest Community Fund's product category is Community Development Financial Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 6159.