JAX Microfinance Fund

Helping level the lending playing field for under-resourced Northeast Florida borrowers

About Us

The JAX Microfinance Fund (JMF) invests in innovative and non-predatory online platforms that will lend to small business owners and individuals in seven counties, emphasizing lending to women and people of color. Currently, the majority of women borrowers and borrowers of color are unable to or choose not to borrow from traditional lending sources and are, instead, forced to work with predatory lenders. Not only will the JMF identify and invest in platforms to connect borrowers to patient, affordable capital, it will also connect borrowers to local credit unions and CDFIs for credit repair and credit builder programs to support long-term access to affordable capital.

Our Investments

The first investment from the JMF is in Honeycomb Credit, a crowdfunding investment platform for small businesses that is now working in Northeast Florida. These entrepreneurs and small business owners have successfully raised the flexible, affordable capital needed to grow, expanding their reach in our community. Through Honeycomb Credit, we have invested in a number of entrepreneurs across the region, 100% of whom have been women entrepreneurs and/or entrepeneurs of color:

Entrepreneur inside her beauty supply store
Two entrepreneurs in front of their restaurant's sign, "Cultural Kitchen & Catering"
Entrepreneur speaking to camera about his business
Entrepreneur in front of his food truck
Two entrepreneurs wearing their restaurant's t-shirts, with the woman leaning on the man and the two of them laughing
Two entrepreneurs talking to camera at their restaurant
Entrepreneur at her libations store smiling with alcoholic beverages in the background

Press

The Community Foundation commits $250,000 for small business loans

Jacksonville Daily Record (July 7, 2023)

Jacksonville businesses receive tens of thousands from community

The Florida Times-Union (September 23, 2022)

The Community Foundation commits $250,000 for small-business loans

WJCT News (July 7, 2023)