Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Access to capital for entrepreneurs (ace) provides the following program services to small businesses: 1.) lending: ace is committed to deploying capital to high-potential small business owners who are often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. Through a thorough and experienced review process, these entrepreneurs demonstrate strong potential and represent sound, mission aligned investments. Ace's track record shows that combining capital with coaching and connections is an effective and sustainable approach to supporting small business growth. Ace offers smaller loans that may not be sufficiently profitable for banks but are critically important to many emerging small businesses. Indeed, the organization typically provides loans ranging from $15,000 up to $1 million. In cases where a business cannot qualify for traditional financing and the proposed project has significant community impact, ace can facilitate access to capital in excess of $1 million. Additionally, the save and sustain program provides low interest loans to businesses implementing energy-efficiency improvements. 2.) credit enhancements: to expand access to affordable capital, ace employs interest rate buydowns and loan guarantees as strategic tools to support small business borrowers. A.) loan guarantees: ace uses an in-house loan guarantee to deploy capital to small business owners who have less net worth and fewer assets to provide the equity or collateral needed to secure their loans. In these circumstances the guarantee will backstop the loans and serve as the clients' collateral. B.) interest rate buydowns: ace utilizes interest rate buydowns to reduce the interest rate of loans to business borrowers struggling to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, inflation, and other economic pressures, and in need of capital to increase sustainability. Concessionary terms may be lower interest rates and a longer payback period, so the businesses have more cash to grow their businesses. 3.) support services for small business owners: ace offers comprehensive services designed to support small business owners in achieving their entrepreneurial goals. Focused on potential and established borrowers, these services are integral to ace's mission of helping small businesses grow by removing barriers to accessing capital and providing the necessary tools for success. Key small business support programs offered by ace include: a.) training and workshops: ace hosts a range of training sessions and workshops on critical business topics, including financial literacy, business development, marketing, and operational efficiency. These sessions are designed to give entrepreneurs the knowledge and skills needed to manage and grow their businesses effectively. B.) webinars: to increase accessibility and reach a wider audience, ace offers webinars on timely and relevant business topics. These virtual sessions allow entrepreneurs to learn from subject matter experts and engage in discussions without leaving their home or office. C.) networking opportunities: ace facilitates networking events that bring entrepreneurs together to share experiences, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. These opportunities foster collaboration, support peer learning, and help build a strong community of business owners. By providing high-touch, personalized services, ace seeks to ensure that entrepreneurs have access to the coaching, training, and connections they need to succeed. 4.) business advisory services: ace's business advisory services model is widely recognized as a leading practice within the cdfi ecosystem, known for its client-centered, data-informed, and impact-driven approach. At the core of the model is the intentional development of strong personal relationships with each small business in ace's portfolio. These trusted connections enable ace to proactively identify and address challenges, often before clients recognize them, while tailoring support to mee

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 71.6%; rating input score 72
• Program expense ratio: 83.6%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.7 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 17.4%; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 8.77; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.55; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.5%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 18.1% per year; rating input score 100; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 15.4% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 17.7% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings