DreamSpring, an award-winning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender, is celebrating its 30th anniversary of supporting small business dreams and vitalizing communities through small business loans.
DreamSpring was launched in Albuquerque in 1994 by Anne Haines, one of a handful of women CDFI founders who has continued to lead her institution as President/CEO over the decades. In that time, DreamSpring has expanded its reach and impact from its New Mexico headquarters to thousands of communities across 27 states. To date, the nonprofit organization has issued more than 48,796 loans totaling more than $538 million, supporting an estimated 65,138 jobs.
Loans, such as DreamSpring’s SBA Community Advantage Loan and its Power Line of Credit, fill a critical gap in the banking system by providing micro-loans to entrepreneurs, credit-building loan products and coaching, and education and support to small businesses. In 2023, 93% of its loans went to small business owners from underserved and under-represented populations including people of color, women, low- to moderate-income earners, people with disabilities, and startups — results that place DreamSpring among the most impactful micro-finance organizations in the community development finance industry.
DreamSpring is inviting community members, partners, and small business owners to celebrate alongside the organization at its 30th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon. Taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, at Downtown Albuquerque’s Clyde Hotel, the event will be a shared celebration of collective impact and a recognition of the transformational influence of small businesses in New Mexico and across the country. It is also inviting donors to join the DreamUp Fund, its 30th-anniversary strategic initiative to raise funds that will further its mission to create generational change for underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs who fall outside of the financial mainstream.
Learn more about DreamSpring, access free entrepreneurial resources, or apply for a small business loan.