Financing Small Businesses
Business Loans
Small and mid-sized businesses are engines of economic opportunity and growth.
Too many entrepreneurs with good ideas and strong businesses don’t qualify for traditional bank financing – that’s why Craft3 is here.
Personal
We take the time to get to know you and understand your business.
Accessible
You don’t need perfect credit or full collateral to be approved.
Different
As a nonprofit mission-driven lender, we’re focused on what’s best for our customers and communities.
LOANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
What makes Craft3 different?
We’re a community development financial institution (CDFI) – not a bank. We use capital and financial tools to enable entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses so they can build a better future.
Community Crafted Lending
We’re a nonprofit mission-driven lender focused on doing what’s best for our customers and communities.
Customer-Focused
We don’t push products. Instead, we take the time to get to know you and understand your situation.
More Than A Lender
We empower our customers by providing resources and advice, in addition to capital.
GROW AND DEVELOP YOUR BUSINESS
General Business Loans
To start and grow a business, you’ll likely need capital and a trusted financing partner. Our business loans can empower you to take advantage of opportunities. From start-up capital, to equipment purchases, and even to business acquisitions, we’re here to help turn your ideas into reality.
Finance a funding gap for my nonprofit
Bridge Loans
Craft3 offers bridge financing, typically for capital campaigns and grants. We specialize in working with nonprofits to help them get started on projects before a capital campaign is complete or grant funding has been received.
Buy a building or other real estate
Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate Loans
Owning your building can be a game-changer. It can be a buffer against gentrification and economic downturns, as well as an enduring asset. Traditional capital and equity requirements put real estate purchases out of reach for too many. We aim to change that.
BUILD OR IMPROVE A BUILDING
Construction Loans
A construction loan can let you finance a building project or tenant improvements. Our lenders and underwriters are experienced at structuring and executing construction loans and they can help you navigate the entire process.
Shari’a-Compliant Financing
Shari’a-Compliant Financing
Muslims who seek to live in accordance with Shari’a principles are unable to access conventional debt capital because of Islam’s prohibition against charging or paying interest. To better serve the growing Muslim community in the Pacific Northwest, Craft3 has worked with key partners to develop two types of Shari’a-compliant financing.
CREATING CHANGE
Serving Entrepreneurs
Since 1994, Craft3 has provided nearly 1,000 loans to entrepreneurs of color, and indigenous-, woman-, immigrant-, and veteran-owned businesses.
Customer Stories
A Permanent Home for Tattoo 34
A Craft3 loan helped Tattoo 34 purchase a commercial building with a 10 percent down payment. They plan to use the one-bedroom apartment above the shop to host tattoo artists from around the world. Owning their building is also a buffer against gentrification.
Featured Resources
Tips and Tricks
For Businesses
Glossary of Finance and Business Terms
If you’re interested in starting or expanding a business, you’ll likely encounter lots of terms and acronyms. This glossary will hopefully help you make sense of unfamiliar words and equip you for your business journey.
For Businesses
The Definitive Guide to Getting Loan Ready
We want to make the loan process as clear and transparent as possible. Here are some resources to support business preparation and growth.
For Businesses
Your Business Journey
We hope this business journey worksheet helps you think about your next steps and anticipate potential setbacks.
Our Team
"Small businesses are heart of our local economies. Entrepreneurship for immigrants and folks of color can be difficult through no fault of their own. My life’s work revolves around empowering underserved communities, and helping people reimagine what the future can hold."
Aldo Medina Martinez
Commercial Lending Team Manager, VP
