The BIPOC Loan Fund is Honored to be selected as a Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona 2025-2026 FORGE Grantee Partner.
Community-Designed, Community-Selected Grantmaking Advances Equity Across Arizona
TUCSON, AZ – The Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona (WFSA) is honored to announce its 2025-2026 FORGE and ember grantee partners, awarding $650,000 in unrestricted funding to 21 grassroots and community-led organizations advancing racial, gender, and economic equity across Arizona. Challenging systemic inequity in our sector, FORGE prioritizes organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) and those serving BIPOC, women, and gender-expansive communities.
Community at the Core of FORGE
The Fund for Racial and Gender Equity (FORGE) is more than a transaction—it is the next iteration of WFSA’s grantmaking that is grounded in sharing power through decision-making. These 21 grants are the culmination of a process intentionally co-created by leaders of organizations that create systemic and lasting change.
The BIPOC Loan Fund, CIC, and Startup Tucson Announce BIPOC Entrepreneurs Day and FORGE Grant Award with Community Celebration
Tucson, AZ — The BIPOC Loan Fund and Community Investment Corporation (CIC) are proud to announce the one-year anniversary of BIPOC Entrepreneurs Day, officially proclaimed on May 1, 2024, by City of Tucson Mayor, Regina Romero, the Pima County Board of Supervisors, and recognized as part of the State of Arizona’s Small Business Week. This milestone marks a year of intentional recognition and support for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) business owners who continue to shape Arizona’s economic landscape with resilience and innovation.
To celebrate, the BIPOC Loan Fund, CIC, and Startup Tucson will host Startup Drinks: The BIPOC Entrepreneurs Day Edition, a free community networking event honoring BIPOC entrepreneurship on Thursday, May 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Slow Body Beer. The event will bring together entrepreneurs, supporters, and the BIPOC Loan Fund Committee for an evening of networking and celebration. Members of Southern Arizona’s BIPOC entrepreneurial community are encouraged to attend, connect, and share their journeys.
Adding to the celebration, on May 1, the BIPOC Loan Fund was honored to receive a $65,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona (FORGE Fund). This award places the BIPOC Loan Fund among 21 grassroots and community-led organizations selected for their efforts to advance racial, gender, and economic equity across the state. In challenging systemic inequities in the business and lending sectors, the FORGE Fund prioritizes organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) and those serving BIPOC, women, and gender-expansive communities. Spearheaded by an all-BIPOC Committee, businesses funded by the BIPOC Loan Fund include some of the following:
Grassrootz Bookstore (Phoenix) – Arizona’s only Black-owned bookstore, juice bar, and community hub.
Keep on Zenning (Tucson) – A BIPOC-led Art Therapy, Counseling, and Consulting business.
Old Pueblo Hemp Co. (Tucson) – A sustainability-forward business specializing in hempcrete and natural building.
Since its inception, the BIPOC Loan Fund has provided accessible capital to Arizona-based BIPOC-owned small businesses, addressing generational barriers to entrepreneurship and investment with low-interest loans, character-based applications, and support throughout the financing process.
Join us on May 22 to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and celebrate the vibrant accomplishments of Arizona’s BIPOC entrepreneurial community.
About CIC Community Investment Corporation (CIC) is a nonprofit economic development organization that helps underserved communities gain access to the capital and support they need to thrive. Through creative financing and community-centered partnerships, CIC helps build an Arizona where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
The collaboration between Community Investment Corporation (CIC) and Vantage West Credit Union is redefining community-focused financial services in Southern Arizona. Together, these organizations are creating a more inclusive, supportive ecosystem for small businesses and underserved communities.
In 2018, Vantage West Credit Union took a pivotal step toward deepening its community impact by becoming a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). This designation marked a major shift in the credit union’s mission, underscoring its commitment to serving economically disadvantaged communities across Southern Arizona.
Recognizing the need for strong partnerships to amplify their CDFI efforts, Vantage West sought out Community Investment Corporation, a leader in the community and their innovative micro-lending programs with a proven track record of supporting ‘unbankable’ businesses in Southern Arizona.
CIC’s focus on providing tailored financial solutions to the community but specifically for marginalized communities like minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses aligned perfectly with Vantage West’s goals. The collaboration leveraged CIC’s expertise in micro-lending and Vantage West’s broad financial capabilities, creating a powerful synergy.
As Jon Bruflat, VP of Community Impact at Vantage West, explains, “We’ve worked with CIC for years and have seen the impact of their alternative lending with small businesses that haven’t been able to qualify for traditional loans. Our investment in their work and ongoing partnership supports Arizona’s small business community and is adding economic horsepower to our local economy.”
In 2024, the partnership reached a new level of collaboration. The Office of Economic Opportunity, under Governor Hobbs, announced a grant initiative for community lenders requiring applicants to match the funds allotted with 3 times the amount of the distributed funds. For CIC Tucson, a 501c3 nonprofit, their grant of $350,000 from the State presented an exciting opportunity but also a financial challenge to raise the matching funds before the grant deadline.
Recognizing the potential impact of the grant and CIC’s critical work, Vantage West stepped in, offering a low-interest loan that allowed CIC to secure the matching funds and access the full grant amount. Jon expressed Vantage West’s commitment to CIC’s mission, stating, “We’re dedicated to supporting organizations that make a real difference in our community. CIC’s work aligns perfectly with our values, and we’re proud to be part of this initiative.”
Danny Knee, Executive Director of CIC Tucson, shared his perspective: “The ecosystem we’ve built – goes beyond just providing loans. It’s about offering education, resources, and access to capital for businesses that otherwise wouldn’t qualify for financing. We can’t thank John and the team at Vantage West enough for their generosity, partnership and commitment to serving our community. For Vantage West to recognize the value we bring to the financial services ecosystem and to work to create a pathway to traditional financing for our borrowers is incredibly meaningful.”
The partnership between CIC Tucson and Vantage West Credit Union marks a new era of community-focused lending in Southern Arizona. By combining their strengths and resources, they are not only providing immediate financial support but also building a roadmap for small businesses to grow and succeed. As Arizona’s small business landscape evolves, the collaboration between CIC and Vantage West serves as a model for how innovative partnerships between the banking system and the nonprofit community can drive economic growth and community empowerment.
Learn More: Arizona’s Rural Policy Forum connects rural and tribal economic development professionals, community leaders, business owners, nonprofits, and other stakeholders and advocates interested in sustaining rural and tribal communities.
Hear strategies from national experts and learn about success stories from around Arizona that will give our rural and tribal community leaders the tools, resources, and relationships they need to face current challenges.
Arizona’s Rural Policy Forum provides skills-building, networking, relationship development, and sharing of best practices and lessons learned relevant to the needs and services in Arizona’s rural and tribal communities. Activities include capacity-building sessions, networking receptions, and focused breakouts, such as the funders’ roundtable, where communities and nonprofits can connect their visionary projects and local needs to grant-makers who are potential future partners.
Moonshot - Rural AZ Pitch Competition STATE FINALS!
When: August 2, 2024
Time: 5pm – 9pm
Where: Cottonwood Community Clubhouse – 805 N Main St., Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Learn More: For the fifth consecutive year, first place winners from each of the 16 Rural AZ Pitch Competition tour stops will compete to win the title of statewide winner and crowd favorite. This year, we’re celebrating this inspiring event at the Cottonwood Community Clubhouse in beautiful downtown, Cottonwood, AZ. Learn more and register here!
Description: Admission to the event will be FREE for the entire day, allowing the whole community to enjoy the festivities occurring then. During the event, all attendees will be able to enjoy a series of family-friendly activities as well as lots of entertainment.
Where: El Rio Neighborhood Center, 1390 W. Speedway
Description: Homeownership can help build wealth and financial success. Come learn about homeownership opportunities, home maintenance and repairs, mortgage options, down payment assistance, community resources, and much more! More Information: Event Flyer Volante de informacion
