Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit

What Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit does

Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit (legal name: Hebrew Free Loan Detroit, originally incorporated as Gemilut Chasadim — Acts of Loving Kindness) is a 501(c)(3) public charitable organization founded in 1895 by ten Detroiters who each contributed $50. It provides interest-free loans to qualifying Jewish individuals, families, students, small business owners, and organizations throughout the State of Michigan, with no fees charged at any stage. The organization operates four product lines: personal loans (general purpose, medical/dental, adoption/IVF/fertility, debt consolidation, move-in Detroit, older adult care, and special needs), business loans (up to $100,000 for businesses with at least 51% Jewish ownership), education loans (William Davidson Jewish College Loan Program up to $10,000/year undergraduate and $15,000/year graduate), and Jewish organization loans (up to $100,000 in partnership with the Ravitz Foundation). The lending operation runs on an online application portal with secure server technology for donor and borrower data, supported by a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan headquarters and an 8-person staff.

The business model is donor-funded: HFL solicits charitable donations, tributes, bequests, and Evergreen Legacy Fund contributions (minimum $25,000), and reports that 99% of loans are recycled through a 98.5% payback rate, enabling the same capital base to be re-lent repeatedly. Lending decisions are made by a 49+ member volunteer Board of Directors who conduct applicant interviews in a community-led go-to-market motion. Distribution reaches borrowers through Jewish community organizations including Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Jewish Family Service, Gesher Human Services, synagogues, and word-of-mouth referrals, with strategic partnerships including the IAJFL founding membership since 1982. Multiple named-foundation partnerships (William Davidson, Danto Family, Kahn, Jewish Fund, Pitt, Barr, Schwartz, Sherman, Ravitz) fund dedicated loan verticals.

Name

Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit

Legal name

Hebrew Free Loan Detroit

Website

https://hfldetroit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1895 that provides interest-free personal, business, education, and organizational loans to Jewish residents and organizations across the State of Michigan, funded by donations with a 98.5% payback rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Lending (Nonprofit Interest-Free Loans)

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Student Loan Programs & Servicers (Public/Nonprofit) (EDADAHAE)

Keywords

• Interest-free loans
• Community lending
• Nonprofit microfinance
• Jewish community lending
• Small business loans

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomfield Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: As a 501(c)(3) public charitable organization, HFL operates entirely on donations from the Jewish community. Donations support interest-free loans and cover operational costs. Donors contributing $180 or more are acknowledged in the Detroit Jewish News and other HFL publications.
2. Loan Repayments: HFL recycles 99% of loans through repayments, allowing funds to be re-lent to help more people over time. The organization maintains a 98.5% payback rate, enabling sustainable lending operations without interest charges.
3. Evergreen Legacy Fund: Donors can establish a recycling loan fund with a minimum contribution of $25,000, payable over up to 5 years. Loan recipients repay into the fund, enabling additional loans to be distributed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit is a 501(c)(3) public charitable organization that provides interest-free loans to Jewish individuals, students, small business owners, and organizations throughout the state of Michigan. The organization operates revolving loan programs across personal, business, education, and Jewish organization categories, with a 98.5% payback rate enabling 99% of funds to be recycled into new loans. All loans are issued interest-free with no fees, and the organization is supported entirely by charitable donations from the Jewish community.

Product overview

Hebrew Free Loan is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing interest-free loans to Jewish individuals and organizations in Michigan since 1895. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of loan products across four main categories: Personal Loans (including General Personal Loans, Adoption-In Vitro-Fertility Loans, Debt Consolidation Loans, Medical/Dental Loans, Move-In Detroit Loans, Older Adult Care Loans, and Special Needs Loans); Business Loans (Personal Small Business Loans, Business Opportunity Loans, and Marvin I. Danto Small Business Loans ranging from $10,000 to $100,000); Education Loans (William Davidson Jewish College Loan Program and Personal Education Loans); and Jewish Organization Loans. All loans are interest-free with no fees, and the organization maintains a 98.5% payback rate, recycling funds to help more community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gemilut Chasadim: Acts of Loving Kindness - the original incorporation name under which Hebrew Free Loan was founded in 1895.

Products and services

• General Personal Loans Interest-free personal loans for Jewish Michigan residents covering a wide range of life expenses including healthcare, housing, home repairs, legal fees, funerals, vehicles, taxes, celebrations, gap-year programs, summer camp, and general living costs.
• Adoption - In Vitro - Fertility Loans
• Debt Consolidation Loans Interest-free loans up to $20,000 to help qualifying Jewish Michigan individuals pay down high-interest debt, supported by required financial education counseling through Gesher Human Services.
• Medical / Dental Loans Interest-free loans up to $10,000 covering co-pays, deductibles, prescriptions, hearing aids, glasses, and other medical and dental expenses for Jewish Michigan residents, supported by The Jewish Fund.
• Move-In Detroit Loans Interest-free loans for Jewish young adults aged 40 and under in Michigan to repair and update their primary residences in the City of Detroit, supported by Peggy Daitch and Peter Remington.
• Older Adult Care Loans Interest-free loans for Jewish Michigan adults aged 62 or older covering equipment, home modifications, transfers to senior housing, and other eldercare expenses, supported by the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Foundation.
• Special Needs Loans Interest-free loans up to $20,000 for Jewish Michigan families caring for loved ones with developmental, cognitive, mental, or physical disabilities, covering paraprofessionals, equipment, home modifications, treatment programs, and related services.
• Business Loans (Personal Small Business, Business Opportunity, and Marvin I. Danto) Interest-free small business loans for Jewish Michigan residents across three tiers: Personal Small Business Loans up to $10,000 for any business expense, Business Opportunity Loans of $10,000-$20,000 for startups and expansion, and Marvin I. Danto Small Business Loans of $20,000-$100,000 (requiring at least 51% Jewish ownership and a 36-48 month payback) for larger startups and expansions. Covers startup costs, equipment, inventory, cash-flow challenges, workspace, and staffing.
• William Davidson Jewish College Loan Program Interest-free college loans up to $10,000/year (undergraduate) and $15,000/year (graduate) for Jewish students at accredited Michigan institutions, with $100/year in-school payments and graduated payments over 10 years after graduation. Includes entrepreneur loan forgiveness of up to $7,500 (undergrad) or $10,000 (grad). Supported by the William Davidson Foundation.
• Jewish Organization Loans Interest-free loans up to $100,000 for qualifying Jewish organizations and synagogues across the state of Michigan, covering capital projects, capacity building, programming, and operating expenses. Offered in partnership with The Ravitz Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.5% loan payback rate enabling 99% of funds to be recycled to help more community members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• International Association of Jewish Free Loans (IAJFL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982HFL Detroit was one of the founding members of the International Association of Jewish Free Loans in 1982. Through this affiliation, HFL has been able to learn about new loan programs and best practices, and share this information with others. The association brings together Free Loan Associations from the United States, Canada, Israel, and Australia.
• Gesher Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGesher Human Services (formerly JVS Human Services) provides financial education counseling required for Debt Consolidation Loan applicants. HFL refers applicants to Gesher for three-appointment counseling sessions including credit report review and budget management.
• SCOREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFL refers small business loan applicants to the regional Small Business Administration's SCORE program for free mentorship on preparing proper business plans.
• Jewish Federation of Metropolitan DetroitmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit is a partner organization providing visibility and community connections for HFL's services to the Jewish community.
• Jewish Family ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish Family Service (JFS) serves 12,000 people annually and partners with individuals and families in the Metropolitan Detroit Jewish community, providing personalized social and mental health services.
• Jewish Senior LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit is dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults in the Jewish community through personalized, high quality programs and services.
• Tamarack CampsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTamarack Camps has enriched Jewish children since 1902 through summer camping programs that weave Jewish culture and values into daily life.
• Yad EzraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYad Ezra provides kosher food to needy Jewish families in Southeastern Michigan, serving approximately 1,600 families monthly with food, healthcare items, and household goods.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Grameen America: A large microfinance nonprofit providing small-dollar loans to entrepreneurs in underserved U.S. communities. Comparable as a nonprofit community-development lender, though broader in target demographic and at much greater scale.
• Kiva: A global nonprofit crowdfunding platform for microloans. Comparable as a community-funded interest-free or low-cost lending model, though operates via a digital crowdfunding mechanism rather than a managed loan fund.

Direct peers

• Hebrew Free Loan Society: The largest and oldest Jewish free loan association in the U.S., founded in 1892 in New York City. Directly comparable as a 501(c)(3) providing interest-free loans to Jewish community members with a multi-program structure (personal, business, education).
• Hebrew Free Loan of San Francisco: Provides interest-free loans to Jewish residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. Directly comparable in mission, target demographic, and product structure.
• Hebrew Free Loan of Baltimore: Baltimore-area Jewish interest-free loan society. Comparable as a regional direct peer in the same IAJFL network, serving a similar community footprint.
• Jewish Free Loan Association (Los Angeles): Major Jewish free loan organization serving the Los Angeles Jewish community with a similarly broad product suite (personal, business, medical, education loans). Directly comparable in mission, model, and target demographic.
• Jewish Free Loan of Miami: South Florida's Jewish interest-free loan society. Comparable as a regional IAJFL-member free loan association serving a similar demographic with overlapping loan products.
• Boston Hebrew Free Loan Society: Boston's Jewish interest-free loan association serving individuals, small businesses, and students. Directly comparable as a regional Jewish free loan society with a similar product mix.
• Hebrew Free Loan Chicago: Operated under the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, providing interest-free loans to Jewish residents of the Chicago area. Comparable in mission and structure, though backed by a larger federation.

Others

• International Association of Jewish Free Loans (IAJFL): The umbrella network of Jewish free loan associations worldwide, of which HFL Detroit is a founding member. Comparable as a coordinating body that defines best practices across this lending category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HFLDetroit
• Facebookfacebook.com/HFLDetroit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hebrew-free-loan-of-metropolitan-detroit

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit