emergency loan fund

Loans are available to nonprofit organizations located in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties.

The ELF loans to all types of nonprofit organizations (except arts organizations that are eligible for the Arts Loan Fund). Loan funds can be used to support a variety of projects.

the nitty gritty

• Applicants must be a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, or be fiscally sponsored by one, with an operating history of at least two years.
• Applicants need to be located in one of the five Bay Area counties this program serves.
• Applicants need to demonstrate they have no available credit from any other source.
• Collateral is required, usually in the form of an approved grant not yet paid or other guaranteed income that can be verified. Pledges or guarantees from individuals cannot be used as collateral.
• Interest will accrue on the loan at the rate of 3%.
• The loan amount has to be between $5,000 and $50,000.
• The loan needs to be paid back within six months or when collateral is received, whichever is sooner.
• One loan at a time, and a six-month rest in between the final payment of a loan and the application for another.