Entrepreneurial Dreams, Realized
From Dream to Business—Let’s Make It Happen!
Fondo Adelante provides training, support, and affordable capital to help your business thrive.
Since 1973, MEDA has been empowering Bay Area small businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. Fondo Adelante CDFI continues this mission by providing culturally relevant training, business support, and access to low-interest loans—because every entrepreneur deserves the chance to thrive. Whether you’re starting out or ready to grow, we’re here to help turn your vision into reality.
Tailored for You
Low-Interest Loans with Guidance at Every Step
Fondo Adelante CDFI provides accessible, fair, and low-interest loans to small businesses that may not qualify for traditional financing. Fondo Adelante ensures that entrepreneurs—especially those historically excluded from mainstream lending—have the capital and support they need to succeed.
Serving all nine Bay Area counties, our lending program goes beyond financing. We pair every loan with expert business coaching in English and Spanish, helping small business owners launch, sustain, and grow their ventures.
How Our Loans Work:
- Loan Amounts: $5,000 – $100,000
- Uses: Startups, inventory, equipment, lease improvements, vehicles, business acquisition, debt consolidation, and working capital
- Interest Rates: 7–9% fixed
- Terms: 3 or 6 years, no prepayment penalty
- Application Fee: None
- Credit Considerations: No minimum credit score required; ITIN holders encouraged to apply
- Credit Building: All loans reported to credit bureaus
Every borrower benefits from pre- and post-loan technical assistance from MEDA’s Business Development Program. By combining fair lending with hands-on support, Fondo Adelante empowers entrepreneurs to create jobs and build wealth in lower-income communities.
Need capital and expert support? Apply today.
Support and partnership
Free Business Support to Start, Grow, and Succeed
For years, MEDA’s Business Development Program has provided free, hands-on support to San Francisco’s entrepreneurs, helping them create jobs and build wealth in low- and moderate-income communities. Our comprehensive services ensure that small business owners develop the skills and strategies needed to launch, manage, and expand their businesses.
Services are available in English and Spanish and include one-on-one coaching and workshops designed to strengthen every aspect of a business.
How We Help Entrepreneurs
Build a Strong Business Plan
A well-crafted business plan is the foundation of success. Our coaching provides guidance on operations, marketing, expansion, financing, and budgeting, helping entrepreneurs develop a clear, actionable plan that can be presented to lenders, landlords, or investors.
Start and Expand Your Business
From navigating permits and licenses to planning for growth, Fondo Adelante supports entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses. We also provide expert guidance on commercial leases, including negotiation, renewal, and resolving disputes with landlords.
Attract and Retain Customers
Through tailored marketing support, we help businesses identify their target audience, conduct market research, and develop effective strategies to reach and retain customers.
Join our free workshops and take your business to the next level
“Fondo Adelante prepared me to be a business owner, to go step by step, to structure it from the bottom up.” —Nayeli Bustamante, owner of Flor de Oaxaca
