Project Prosper
Project Prosper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that provides free financial education, 0% interest micro-loans, and financial coaching to recent immigrants and refugees in the Tampa Bay area across four Florida counties.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersClearwater, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Project Prosper does
Project Prosper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, that delivers financial empowerment services to recent immigrants and refugees in the Tampa Bay area (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Manatee counties). Its core offerings form a four-program platform: a Financial Education Program with 13 classes in English and Spanish delivered in-person at partner host sites; Project Prosper On Demand, a self-paced online e-learning platform; a Loan Program providing 0% interest micro-loans of up to $2,500 over 36-month terms, paired with matched savings and credit-bureau reporting to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion; and one-on-one Financial Coaching with volunteer advisors. Underlying technology is minimal — a WordPress-based public website and an online learning portal — with no proprietary software, API surface, or AI components disclosed.
The organization is volunteer-driven, with volunteers serving as financial literacy instructors, financial advisors, loan committee members, and board members, supported by a small paid staff of 11–50 led by Executive Director Faye Steinhauser (appointed December 2018 as the first Executive Director via a grant from the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg). The revenue model is donation- and grant-based (501(c)(3) contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations including United Way Suncoast and Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg), supplemented nominally by a self-savings component in the loan program in which participants deposit 10% (typically $250) that is returned upon loan completion. All services are provided free of charge to clients. The 2023 cost mix is 75% program expenses, 20% fundraising, and 5% administration.
Go-to-market is community-led: Project Prosper acquires participants through referral partnerships with churches, community centers, and social service agencies, plus its membership in the Tampa Bay Refugee Task Force. Distribution is both in-person (host-site classes with a minimum of 5 participants, one-on-one coaching) and online (Project Prosper On Demand, online and paper loan applications). The organization reports serving a majority of low-to-moderate-income individuals in a Tampa Bay addressable market of approximately 453,100 immigrants and 4.6 million foreign-born Florida residents.
Project Prosper firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project Prosper
- Legal name
- Project Prosper, Inc.
- Website
- https://projectprosper.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Project Prosper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that provides free financial education, 0% interest micro-loans, and financial coaching to recent immigrants and refugees in the Tampa Bay area across four Florida counties.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project Prosper industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Services / Financial Education & Inclusion
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Saving & Emergency Funds (EDAAAJAB), Scholarship, Financial Aid & FAFSA Support (EDAMAKAF), Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE)
Keywords
Where Project Prosper is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clearwater
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Project Prosper business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Project Prosper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. EIN: 20-8936475.
- Grant Funding: Receives grant funding from community foundations and organizations such as United Way Suncoast ($10,000) and Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg (grant to fund Executive Director position).
- Loan Program Revenue: Zero-interest micro-loans (up to $2,500) with 36-month terms. Participants pay 10% in 'self-savings' ($250 typically) which is returned upon completion. Matched savings provided upon successful loan repayment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free services for immigrants and refugees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Project Prosper product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project Prosper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free financial education classes (13 topics, English/Spanish), a 0% interest micro-loan program (up to $2,500, 36-month terms) with matched savings and credit-bureau reporting, and personalized financial coaching to immigrants and refugees in the Tampa Bay area. Services are delivered in-person at partner host sites and online through the Project Prosper On Demand e-learning platform.
Product overview
Project Prosper is a nonprofit financial empowerment organization serving refugees and immigrants in the Tampa Bay area (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Manatee counties). The organization operates a platform of four interconnected programs: the Financial Education Program (offering 13 classes in English/Spanish, both in-person and online), Project Prosper On Demand (e-learning platform), the Loan Program (0% interest loans up to $2,500 with matched savings and credit reporting), and Financial Coaching (one-on-one personalized financial guidance). These programs work together to provide comprehensive financial literacy, credit building, and integration services for immigrants and refugees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Financial Education Program A comprehensive financial literacy education program offering 13 classes from basic to advanced topics, delivered in English or Spanish, available in-person or online, with flexible scheduling for organizations and individuals serving immigrants and refugees.
- Project Prosper On Demand An online e-learning platform offering fully online financial education classes, designed to expand client base and serve beginner-level English language learners.
- Loan Program A four-pronged approach loan program providing small no-interest loans (up to $2,500 over 36-month terms), matched savings upon successful repayment, financial coaching, and credit-bureau reporting to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, for immigrants and refugees building credit.
- Financial Coaching Personalized financial education service pairing immigrant and refugee clients with volunteer advisors who provide customized one-on-one guidance based on individual interests and needs, available in-person or online.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 7,200 hours of financial education delivered to date
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Project Prosper
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Project Prosper technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Project Prosper partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tampa Bay Refugee Task ForcecoreProject Prosper is a proud member of the Tampa Bay Refugee Task Force, a group which aims to help refugees settle, integrate, and thrive. Each year the Task Force selects individuals and organizations for recognition based on outstanding work fulfilling the group's mission.
- U.S. Committee for Refugees and ImmigrantsminorReference organization from Executive Director's prior work experience. Not a current partnership.
- International Rescue CommitteeminorReference organization from Executive Director's prior work experience. Not a current partnership.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Project Prosper competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Rescue Committee: One of the largest global refugee resettlement and integration agencies; operates financial literacy, micro-enterprise, and employment programs for refugees/immigrants. Highly comparable client population and partially overlapping service mix to Project Prosper, but operates at vastly larger scale across many geographies.
- U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants: National nonprofit providing resettlement, economic empowerment, and financial education services to refugees and immigrants. Overlapping mission and target demographic; Project Prosper's Executive Director previously worked at USCRI, signaling strong program familiarity.
- UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza): Large Latino civil rights and advocacy organization that runs financial empowerment and education programs through affiliate network. Comparable financial-literacy-for-immigrants mission with bilingual (English/Spanish) delivery similar to Project Prosper.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI and community development organization providing financial coaching, lending, and asset-building programs for low-income individuals. Overlaps with Project Prosper on the credit-building and financial coaching pillars at a much larger institutional scale.
- Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS): Jewish American refugee resettlement agency offering integration services including economic empowerment for refugees and immigrants. Comparable target population and resettlement-plus-financial-services model.
- Catholic Charities USA: Federated network providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and financial assistance across U.S. dioceses. Comparable immigrant-services mission and church-based delivery model that mirrors Project Prosper's partner-host approach.
Direct peers
- Grameen America: Microfinance nonprofit providing small loans, financial education, and credit-building to low-income women entrepreneurs, including immigrants. Directly comparable on the micro-lending plus financial education model targeting underserved populations.
- Operation HOPE: Nonprofit providing financial literacy coaching, credit-building, and small-dollar lending to underserved communities including immigrants. Closest direct peer in combining financial education, coaching, and credit-building — the same four-pillar approach Project Prosper uses.
Regional players
- Refugee Services of Texas: Texas-based refugee resettlement and integration agency providing case management, employment, and financial education services. Highly comparable service mix to Project Prosper but operating in a different geography.
- International Institute of Tampa Bay: Local Tampa Bay refugee resettlement and integration agency providing case management, employment, and education services to newcomers. Same geographic footprint as Project Prosper with significant overlap in target population and partner ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Project Prosper social profiles
Digital presenceProject Prosper compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Project Prosper financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project Prosper leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Project Prosper funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Project Prosper 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 Project Prosper
What does Project Prosper do?
Project Prosper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free financial education classes (13 topics, English/Spanish), a 0% interest micro-loan program (up to $2,500, 36-month terms) with matched savings and credit-bureau reporting, and personalized financial coaching to immigrants and refugees in the Tampa Bay area. Services are delivered in-person at partner host sites and online through the Project Prosper On Demand e-learning platform.
Is Project Prosper a public or private company?
Project Prosper is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project Prosper founded?
Project Prosper was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Project Prosper based?
Project Prosper is headquartered in Clearwater, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project Prosper make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are grant Funding and loan Program Revenue.
Who are Project Prosper's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Rescue Committee, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and Catholic Charities USA. Direct peers are Grameen America and Operation HOPE. Regional players are Refugee Services of Texas and International Institute of Tampa Bay.
Does Project Prosper have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project Prosper.
What industry is Project Prosper in?
Project Prosper's product category is Social Services / Financial Education & Inclusion. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries, with a secondary code of EDAAAJAB, Saving & Emergency Funds. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8300.