Blog

June Client Spotlight: Ana Poe and 'Opportunity Funded' Paco Collars

Posted on Jun 24, 2013 by

Ana Poe started Paco Collars while serving as head trainer in a dog day care facility, where she worked with Paco, a certified therapy dog and the inspiration behind her custom-made leather dog collars. Ana wanted a leather collar for Paco that wasn't decked out in spikes or chains. Seeing a gap in the market for high-quality, fashionable leather goods for pets, Paco Collars was born.While Ana possessed…

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How the Farm Bill Affects Kids in California

Posted on Jun 17, 2013 by Gwendy Donaker Brown

This week, Congress is debating the farm bill, which proposes massive cuts to the SNAP nutrition program - by $20.5 billion over 10 years. The House bill would cause 2 million people to lose their SNAP benefits entirely, 210,000 children to lose free school meals, and 850,000 households to see their benefits cut by an average $90 per month. Of particular concern to Opportunity Fund, this bill would reverse a law in California (and in 35 other states) that allows people to qualify for food benefits even if they have a savings account (called “eliminating the asset test”).

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Brewing the American Dream for ‘Opportunity Funded’ Entrepreneurs

Posted on Jun 12, 2013 by

Last night's event brought together local food and beverage entrepreneurs with Bay Area business experts.

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Building the Dream: Shelter in Downtown LA

Posted on Jun 05, 2013 by Gwendy Donaker Brown

The Dream Center’s rallying cry is “Find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it.” Also known as the Church that Never Sleeps, we provide services to over 50,000 low income individuals and families each month in the areas of homelessness, hunger relief, medical care and education. We are deeply thankful that the New Markets Tax Credit program, and investors such as Opportunity Fund for making the dream of safe housing possible for many more families here in Los Angeles.

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Charting a 'macro' legacy in 'micro' lending

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Caitlin McShane

Mark and Debra Leslie - longtime donors and ambassadors for Opportunity Fund - cross the $1 Million mark in their support for Opportunity Fund to build pathways to economic opportunity through entrepreneurship and education for thousands of hard working Californians.

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Pushing for reform and investment in all communities

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Gwendy Donaker Brown

Opportunity Fund is supporting reforms to the Community Reinvestment Act, legislation critical to our small business microlending.

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Opportunity Fund gets to the 'yes'

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

April was a record month at Opportunity Fund. We made 104 loans to small business owners throughout California, lending a total of $1,559,424. To put that in perspective, during the entire year of 2009 we made 151 loans and lent out $1,093,307.

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$30 Million from CDFI Fund in New Markets Tax Credit award!

Posted on Apr 26, 2013 by Caitlin McShane

Opportunity Fund is pleased to announce we have been awarded a new $30 million allocation under the U.S. Treasury Department's New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program. NMTC was created to increase economic opportunity in distressed areas of the nation. A total of $3.5 billion in NMTC allocations were awarded this week, to 85 organizations nationwide, through a highly competitive application process.

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Center for Financial Services Innovation profiles Opportunity Fund's Start2Save microsavings initiative

Posted on Apr 22, 2013 by Gwendy Donaker Brown

Center for Financial Services Innovation profiles Opportunity Fund's Start2Save microsavings initiative

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Opportunity Fund is Expanding to Greater Los Angeles!

Posted on Apr 10, 2013 by Eric Weaver

Opportunity Fund is expanding our microlending to Greater Los Angeles! In the coming year, Opportunity Fund plans to lend $4 million to help more than 600 entrepreneurs in Greater Los Angeles to grow their business, boost their income, and hire new employees. This is an ambitious plan for growth. Combined with our plans to continue to scale lending operations in Northern California, Opportunity Fund is poised to lend $12 million in 2013, helping twelve hundred California entrepreneurs get the affordable financing they need, providing a path to economic prosperity for them and their families, and helping to rebuild our economy.

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