LiftFund — CDFI Small Business Loans
LiftFund
$500–$1,000,000
CDFI loans for underserved southern & southwestern SMBs
LiftFund is one of the largest CDFI microlenders in the United States, serving small and micro businesses across 14 states primarily in the South and Southwest. LiftFund provides loans from $500 to $1 million at competitive rates with flexible underwriting — prioritizing women, minorities, veterans, and entrepreneurs in low-income communities who lack access to traditional bank financing. LiftFund has deployed over $450 million in loans since 1994 and is a certified SBA microlender as well as a Treasury-certified CDFI.
- Funding type
- Loan
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $500 – $1,000,000
- Realistic amount
- Most LiftFund borrowers receive microloans of $10,000–$50,000. Larger business loans of $100,000–$500,000 are available…
- Deadline
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round with no intake cycles.
- Status
- active
- States
- AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NM, OK, SC, TN, TX, AL
- Payment model
- loan
Who qualifies
- Business must be located in one of LiftFund's 14 operating states: AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NM, OK, SC, TN, TX, or AL
- For-profit businesses only (LiftFund does not lend to nonprofits)
- Minimum 6 months in business for most loan products (some pre-revenue exceptions for microloans under $10,000 with strong business plan)
- Business must demonstrate ability to repay based on cash flow — no published minimum credit score, but LiftFund reviews credit history
- Owner must be at least 18 years of age
- Priority given to women, minorities, veterans, and entrepreneurs in low-to-moderate income communities, though all for-profit businesses are eligible
- SBA Microloan (up to $50,000): must not exceed SBA small business size standards for the industry
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Working capital and day-to-day operating expenses
- Equipment and machinery
- Inventory and supplies
- Leasehold improvements
- Marketing and advertising
- Payroll and hiring
- Technology and software
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses
- Speculative investments
- Refinancing of federal debt
- Nonprofit operations
- Real estate speculation
How to apply
-
1
Submit pre-qualification application online
Complete LiftFund's online pre-qualification form at liftfund.com/apply. Provide business type, industry, years in operation, monthly revenue, loan amount requested, and loan purpose. Takes approximately 20–30 minutes. A LiftFund loan officer will follow up within 1–3 business days.
~0.5 hrs
-
2
Provide financial documentation
LiftFund's loan officer requests documentation based on loan size. Typical requirements: 3–6 months business bank statements, most recent 1–2 years of business tax returns (or YTD financials if <2 years), and a brief description of loan use. Larger loans may require business plan and projections.
~4 hrs
-
3
Loan review and underwriting
LiftFund underwrites using cash flow analysis, business stability, and character evaluation. Credit is reviewed but not the sole determinant. Decisions typically issued within 5–15 business days of a complete file. Loan officer may contact you for clarification.
~0.5 hrs
-
4
Receive funds and access business services
Approved borrowers sign loan documents and receive funds via ACH within 3–5 business days. LiftFund provides access to free business coaching, financial education, and technical assistance resources as part of borrower support.
~1 hrs
LiftFund is an SBA-certified microlender — loans up to $50,000 carry SBA backing and are often easier to qualify for than bank SBA loans. If your bank denied you for an SBA 7(a), LiftFund may approve a microloan using the same SBA guarantee but with CDFI-flexible underwriting.
Deadline & timing
LiftFund accepts applications on a rolling basis with no specific intake windows. Loan decisions typically take 5–15 business days depending on loan size and completeness of documentation.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.