activities · 16
what they do
direct service · 10
- Kiva Loan Facilitation Small Business Grant & Loan ProgramsFacilitates nearly $1 million in Kiva loans to almost 100 small businesses through the Kiva Tucson Hub.
- Kiva Tucson Hub Facilitation Small Business Grant & Loan ProgramsFacilitated nearly $1 million in Kiva loans to nearly 100 small businesses through the Kiva Tucson Hub.
- Managed Loan Fund Program Microfinance and Business Training for EntrepreneursManages nearly $2.6 million in alternative and environmental lending through a Managed Loan Fund program in partnership with the City of Avondale, City of Tucson, and Cochise County.
- Managed Loan Fund Programs Microfinance and Business Training for EntrepreneursManages nearly $2.6 million in alternative and environmental lending through Managed Loan Fund programs in partnership with the City of Avondale, City of Tucson, and Cochise County.
- Small Business and Nonprofit Lending Small Business Term Loan ProgramsProvides small business loans and growth-stage financing, including microloans, to small businesses and nonprofits in Arizona, with a focus on those facing barriers to traditional capital. Loans range from $10,000 to $35,000 with a fixed interest rate of 8.5%.
- Small Business and Nonprofit Lending Small Business Grant & Loan ProgramsProvides small business loans, including microloans and growth-stage financing, to help businesses and nonprofits grow, hire, and create community impact. They have invested over $10 million in loans, delivered capital to 156 borrowers, and surpassed $2 million in outstanding loans in FY24.
- Small Business and Nonprofit Lending Small Business Term Loan ProgramsProvides small business loans ranging from $10,000 to $35,000 through programs like the Spark Small Business Program and SPARK, offering flexible, character-based financing with an 8.5% fixed interest rate, 3% origination fee, and $11.00 filing fee. Has invested over $10 million in responsible lending to support small businesses and nonprofits in Arizona.
- Spark Small Business Program Small Business Term Loan ProgramsOperates the Spark Small Business Program, a character-based lending program that provides flexible loans ranging from $10,000 to $35,000 and technical assistance to entrepreneurs, specifically supporting Avondale-based small businesses.
- Technical Assistance and Direct Support Employment & Case Management SupportProvides over 700 hours of direct support and informal technical assistance to nearly 500 clients, primarily in CDFI target markets, to help them with their business needs and loan applications.
- Technical Assistance and Strategic SupportProvides technical assistance and strategic financing to entrepreneurs and nonprofits, including support for rebranding initiatives such as that of Catalina Council’s Scouting America.
capacity building · 6
- Business Capital Readiness and Financial Education Small Business Capacity Building ProgramOffers a 7-week cohort-style program to help small businesses become capital ready, provides a Capital Compass Assessment to understand capital readiness, and hosts workshops to improve financial knowledge and business strength for local business owners.
- Capital Readiness and Business Capacity Building Small Business Capacity Building ProgramOperates a 7-week cohort-style program and hosts workshops to improve financial knowledge and business strength, helping entrepreneurs become capital-ready. Offers the Capital Compass Assessment to evaluate and guide business growth preparedness.
- Direct Support and Technical Assistance to Clients Employment & Case Management SupportProvides over 700 hours of direct support and informal technical assistance to nearly 500 clients, with 92% in CDFI target markets, including support for rebranding strategies and underwriting.
- Small Business Capital Readiness Programs Small Business Capacity Building ProgramOperates a 7-week cohort-style program and offers a Capital Compass Assessment to help small businesses improve financial knowledge, understand their capital readiness, and prepare for growth.
- Support for Televerde Foundation PATHS Programs Reentry Job Training for WomenSupports the Televerde Foundation PATHS programs, which provide training and employment opportunities for formerly and currently incarcerated women.
- Support for Televerde Foundation PATHS programs Reentry Job Training for WomenSupports the Televerde Foundation PATHS programs for formerly and currently incarcerated women, which has seen 650 women graduate with high employment rates and low recidivism.
strategies · 11
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Character-Based Lending for Underserved Communities character_based_lendingThe organization employs a character-based lending model that evaluates entrepreneurs based on their potential, experience, determination, and vision, rather than solely relying on traditional financial metrics like credit scores. This strategy is specifically designed to expand access to capital for underserved communities and bridge racial wealth gaps by looking beyond conventional qualifications.
- Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Model cdfiOperating as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), GROWTH PARTNERS ARIZONA is committed to fostering economic development and community empowerment. This model enables the organization to provide inclusive and equitable financial solutions, including non-traditional and traditional lending programs, to underserved communities.
- Community-Centered Development through Strategic Partnerships community_development_financial_institutionGROWTH PARTNERS ARIZONA fosters economic development and community empowerment by operating as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and engaging in collaborative, community-centered partnerships. This approach leverages collective resources and expertise to create an inclusive economy and ensure that underrepresented communities can build and sustain wealth.
- Experiential Learning for Business Growth experiential_business_trainingGROWTH PARTNERS ARIZONA utilizes scenario-based learning in a low-pressure environment to help business owners practice critical decisions and build confidence. This experiential approach is designed to foster practical skills and readiness for managing business growth effectively.
- Holistic Financial Empowerment Ecosystem financial_empowerment_ecosystemGROWTH PARTNERS ARIZONA provides a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates accessible, fair, and flexible capital with financial education, coaching, and technical assistance. This approach aims to build financial confidence and skills, strengthen financial systems, and support better decision-making for long-term business growth and sustainability, particularly for underserved businesses and nonprofits.
- Holistic Financial Empowerment Ecosystem financial_empowerment_ecosystemGROWTH PARTNERS ARIZONA provides a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates accessible, fair, and responsible capital with financial education, coaching, and technical assistance. This approach aims to build financial confidence and skills, enabling entrepreneurs and small businesses to make informed decisions, manage growth, and achieve long-term sustainability, particularly for those outside the economic mainstream.
- Holistic Financial Empowerment Ecosystem financial_empowerment_ecosystemGROWTH PARTNERS ARIZONA creates a comprehensive ecosystem that combines accessible capital with financial education, coaching, and tailored support to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses to build stronger financial systems, make informed decisions, and achieve sustainable growth. This approach recognizes that access to capital alone is insufficient and must be paired with capacity building.
- Inclusive and Character-Based Lending character_based_lendingThe organization expands access to capital for underserved small businesses and nonprofits by operating as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and employing a character-based lending model. This approach evaluates entrepreneurs based on potential, experience, and vision rather than solely traditional financial metrics, complementing traditional lenders and bridging funding gaps for those often overlooked by the mainstream financial system.
- Inclusive and Character-Based Lending character_based_lendingThe organization expands access to fair and flexible financing for underserved small businesses and nonprofits by employing a character-based lending model. This approach evaluates entrepreneurs based on their potential, experience, and vision, rather than solely traditional financial metrics, thereby bridging funding gaps and fostering economic development in communities often overlooked by conventional lenders.
- Racial Equity and Community-Centered Economic Development racial_equity_focusGROWTH PARTNERS ARIZONA is committed to bridging the racial wealth gap and fostering economic development through a collaborative, community-centered approach. By providing inclusive and equitable financial solutions and engaging with investors, partners, and community leaders, the organization aims to empower underrepresented communities to create and sustain wealth, contributing to a more inclusive economy.
- Specialized Green Loan Fund repayment_based_on_utility_savingsThe organization offers a unique Green Loan Fund where repayment is directly tied to the monthly utility savings achieved from equipment upgrades. This innovative financing mechanism incentivizes and facilitates environmentally sustainable improvements for businesses.
named programs · 3
what they call their work
Capital Compass
A learning and support ecosystem designed to help entrepreneurs understand their operations, build financial confidence, and choose learning pathways that match their goals.
Kiva Tucson Hub
Assists small businesses in accessing nearly $1 million in Kiva loans, providing alternative financing options.
Spark Small Business Program
A character-based lending program for small businesses in Avondale, AZ, focusing on the unique potential and vision of each entrepreneur.
relationships · 11
who they work with
- ASU E+I Institute Partner — Partnered to design CORE+, a three-tier digital learning experience.
- Business Development Finance Corporation (BDFC) Partner — Partnered to provide loan operations support.
- Catalina Council Scouting America Partner — Provided support and financing for their rebranding strategy.
- City of Avondale Partner — Partnered to launch the Managed Loan Fund program for alternative and environmental lending.
- City of Tucson Partner — Partnered to launch the Managed Loan Fund program for alternative and environmental lending.
- Cochise County Partner — Partnered to launch the Managed Loan Fund program for alternative and environmental lending.
- Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) Partner — Became a supporting organization of CFSA and received back-office support.
- Community Investment Corporation Partner — Lending partner for accessible, low-interest financing to entrepreneurs.
- Local First Arizona Partner — Collaborated on the Green Loan Fund to help low-income small businesses reduce utility costs through equipment upgrades.
- Moonshot AZ Partner — Collaborative partnership to foster economic growth and prosperity in Northern Arizona.
- Televerde Foundation Partner — Supported PATHS programs since 2020 to help formerly and currently incarcerated women achieve employment and reduce recidivism.