Catalyst Fund

Working Capital for Small Nonprofits

Welcome to the Catalyst Fund

The Catalyst Fund is a program of Charitable Ventures and is designed to provide working capital to small nonprofits who need short-term, flexible loans to address cash-flow gaps due to delayed reimbursements, contract timing, or growth.

We understand that small nonprofits are best positioned to bring innovative solutions into our most vulnerable communities. But we also know that smaller nonprofits struggle to get bank loans or lines to support their work. That’s where the Catalyst Fund comes into play.

This is a loan program, not a grant. The underwriting process has been designed with nonprofits in mind. Loan decisions are made by a community advisory committee with lending experience. Loans are paired with financial coaching and technical assistance to support repayment and strengthen long-term financial stability.

Who This Fund Is For

This fund may be a good fit if your organization:

Is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or fiscally sponsored project
Primarily serves Orange County
Has annual revenue of $1.5 million or less
Has identified future revenue (contracts, grants, reimbursements)
Is experiencing a short-term cash-flow gap
Is prepared to take on and repay a loan

Loan Snapshot

Loan Amounts: $10,000 to $100,000
Terms: 6 to 24 months
Interest Rate: 3% to 6%
Repayment: Monthly payments, no prepayment penalty

The Process

Apply

Submit your application and documents

Review

Meet with our team to review your request

Decision

Loan Committee makes a decision

Support

Approved borrowers receive customized technical assistance as indicated

* Applicants who are not yet in a position to borrow funds may still receive coaching and support.

Get Ready to Apply

To complete your application, you will need to upload the following:

Financial Documents

Three years of operating budgets
Current year-to-date budget to actual
Most recent financial statements (audited if available) or IRS Form 990
Current balance sheet and cash flow statement

Banking & Debt

Three months of bank statements
Two months of statements for any existing debt

Organizational & Governance

Signed W-9
Board roster with affiliations
Leadership staff bios or resumes

Planning (if available)

Financial projections
Cash flow forecasts

What to Know Before Applying

Applications must be complete to be reviewed
Not all applications are approved
Some approvals may include conditions
You may want to prepare your responses and documents in advance as application cannot be saved.

Tip: Ensure that you have all attachments available before completing application. If you do not have some of these documents, you may still submit your application.

Questions?

Reach out to Susan Johnson at susan.johnson@cvforgood.org