Frequently Asked Questions About Cascadia
What is Cascadia Revolving Fund?
Cascadia is a nonprofit community development financial institution serving Washington and Oregon. We provide loans and technical assistance to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that are unable to access support from traditional sources such as banks.
Cascadia’s goal is to help entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses, in an effort to bring much needed jobs and economic prosperity to
distressed urban and rural communities in the Northwest.
Loans are made to:
- businesses owned by low-income people, women, minorities, and immigrants
- child care businesses
- businesses that create family-wage jobs in low-income communities
- businesses in rural communities
- nonprofit community building organizations
- cooperatives
- businesses that work to preserve or restore the environment.
Cascadia relies both on donations and investments from the public to accomplish its work. To learn more
about supporting Cascadia with a donation, click here.
How successful is Cascadia?
Over its eighteen year history, Cascadia’s scope and impact have grown significantly, responding to the needs of the people and communities we serve.
The numbers below give a brief snapshot of our impact.
Loan activity: 1985 - 2005
| Total dollars lent |
$35 million |
| Total number of loans |
494 |
| Loans to low-income people |
235 |
| Loans to women |
161 |
| Loans to minorities |
77 |
| Loans to nonprofit organizations |
66 |
| Loans to rural borrowers |
257 |
| Jobs maintained |
1715 |
To mitigate the risk associated with community development lending, Cascadia provides intensive technical assistance to each borrower. We closely monitor
borrowers throughout the life of the loans to detect and solve potential problems before they become insurmountable. Pro bono legal counsel and other specialized
technical assistance from qualified professionals supplement the technical assistance Cascadia’s loan officers and in-house business consultants provide. This helps
ensure that Cascadia borrowers are offered every opportunity to succeed.
Its hard work and success have helped Cascadia become a national leader in the field of community development lending, molding national policy as an
active board member of National Community Capital Association and providing advice to loan funds around the U.S. and the world.
Where does Cascadia get its money?
Cascadia’s loan capital comes from approximately 245 investors, 80% of whom are individuals. It is important to note that a significant portion of our loan capital
comes from private, rather than public, sources. Cascadia appeals to a broad spectrum of individuals and institutions, all of who are committed to using their money
to effect change in the Pacific Northwest that allows people to reach their full potential.
The bulk of Cascadia’s income for operations is earned from loan interest and fees. However, the organization depends on individual donations and grants in order
to provide borrowers with intensive technical assistance and to develop high-impact programs like our Child Care Fund.
Many local and national banks have made significant investments in Cascadia as well as large donations. These institutions are essential partners in addressing
our communities’ needs.
Cascadia also receives support from the U.S. Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Overall, Cascadia has been awarded $1.27 million
in grants and $2.5 million in investments from the CDFI Fund.
Click here to donate.
Does Cascadia have a typical borrower?
Cascadia’s current portfolio includes about 115 borrowers. These entrepreneurs work in a multitude of retail, service, and manufacturing industries. Our median
loan size is approximately $28,000. The maximum we lend is $500,000. Loans are most often used for working capital, equipment, and fixed assets. Our borrowers
live and work throughout Washington and Oregon, with approximately half located in rural areas. In Cascadia’s 20 years of lending, 53% of its borrowers have been
low-income, 37% women, and 18% people of color.
Read examples of Cascadia’s work in the Northwest, or visit our borrowers on the web.
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