Our Mission

Working Solutions is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) whose mission is to provide microentrepreneurs with the access to capital and resources they need to start or grow a successful business. We prioritize serving low-income individuals, women, and minorities. We support microenterprise growth as a strategy to strengthen the local economy, create jobs, and build strong communities.  

J Style at Home

J Style at Home

Our Path

  • Funding entrepreneurs with loans from $5,000 to $50,000 in all 9 Bay Area Counties
  • Providing every business with 5 years of business coaching, mentorship, and resources
 RGB Gallery

 RGB Gallery

Our Results

Capital

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  • 12 million disbursed

  • 500 loans funded

  • 188 startups created

  • 240 businesses expanded

  • 96% repayment rate

  • $24,654 average loan size

  • $1.2 million in grants made to 124 small businesses

  • $11 million in loans and equity successfully obtained by our clients who graduated to traditional financing

Consulting

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  • 13,000+ entrepreneurs educated

  • 2,500+ entrepreneurs provided with pre-loan technical assistance

  • 1,000+ hours of post-loan technical assistance

  • 160+ businesses connected with mentors

  • 55+ businesses provided pro bono legal services

Community

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  • 1,900 jobs created/retrained

  • 59% women-owned 

  • 45% minority-owned 

  • 86% low- or moderate income 

  • 50% startups and 50% early stage existing business

Click here for more information about our community impact.

Our History

Working Solutions began in 1999 as a workforce development program under the auspices of TMC Financing. By 2004, the organization had commenced its own micro-lending program. Since then, Working Solutions has perfected our holistic approach to community economic development, blending our lending services with business coaching and mentoring programs. Emily Gasner, Working Solutions' founder and CEO, was honored with the 2008 Financial Services Champion of the Year Award by the San Francisco Small Business Administration. In 2009, Working Solutions was designated a United States Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).  

We follow fair, responsible, and transparent lending practices, and are a signatory of the:


Working Solutions is a proud member of: