At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026African Economic Development Solutions is a loan fund based in St Paul, Minnesota. Its website describes credit-builder loans, microloans and small-business loans. Stated loan amounts run from $300 to $100,000. Where it lends: St. Paul, Minnesota; serves African immigrant entrepreneurs.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Website | aeds-mn.org |
|---|---|
| Office (official list) | 678 Snelling Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104, St Paul, MN 55104 |
What their website says about applying
The loan process is six steps - intake, Business Development Course, application, meeting with loan officer, final decision, and closing. Reach out today to learn more.
sourceReceive a timely decision, after review of your loan application.
sourcePlease fill out the intake form below if you're looking for assistance with starting or expanding your business.
source
Phone numbers and addresses are the ones on the lender's own site and the CDFI Fund list. CDFI Atlas does not take applications.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Loan fund |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 3 Jun 2026 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | 678 Snelling Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104, St Paul, MN 55104 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | aeds-mn.org |
Head officeBranch or officeApproximate (ZIP code area)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, tiles OpenFreeMap. Head-office points: U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Loans and eligibility
Verified from lender site on 2 Nov 2026Read from 7 pages of the lender's website on 2 Nov 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Extracted with AI help from the pages listed below and checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a person. Confidence: high. The lending application page had no body text, and online application availability is not stated. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit-builder loans | $300 – $300 | African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) offers $300 interest free credit building loans. | source |
| Microloans | up to $25,000 | AEDS offers up to $25,000 for startup. Our goal is to enable passionate entrepreneurs by providing access to the capital that helps launch their businesses. | source |
| Small-business loans | up to $100,000 | African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) offers up to $100,000.00 for existing businesses seeking funding to expand its businesses. | source |
Loan sizes
African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) offers up to $100,000.00 for existing businesses seeking funding to expand its businesses.
sourceAEDS offers up to $25,000 for startup. Our goal is to enable passionate entrepreneurs by providing access to the capital that helps launch their businesses.
sourceAfrican Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) offers $300 interest free credit building loans.
source
Range used for the size filter: $300 to $100,000
Service area
St. Paul, Minnesota; serves African immigrant entrepreneurs
Since 2008, AEDS has empowered African immigrants in St. Paul to launch and grow businesses with accessible loans and financial support.
source
Borrower focus
- Immigrants
Since 2008, AEDS has empowered African immigrants in St. Paul to launch and grow businesses with accessible loans and financial support.
source
Languages
- No non-English service found on the pages we read.
Online application
No online application link found on the pages we read.
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 2 Nov 2026, and what it left out. Something missing here does not mean they don't offer it: ask.
- What is the APR, including fees, on your credit-builder loans?
Their website does not state an APR. The APR includes fees, so it is the number to compare. - What interest rate and fees should I expect on your microloans and small-business loans?
Their website does not state a rate for this. - Is there a minimum credit score, and do you consider borrowers with little or no credit history?
Their website does not say what credit history they accept. - Do you need collateral, a business plan or a minimum time in business?
Their website does not say what they require. - How long can I take to repay?
No repayment terms are stated on their website. - Can I apply online, or do I need to call or visit?
We found no online application on their website. - What documents will you need from me, and how long does a decision usually take?
Their website describes some application steps (above); ask for the full document list.
Write down the answers, who you spoke to and the date, and ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
CDFI Fund awards
CDFI Fund database, 3 Nov 2026$2.4 million in 9 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2017–2024 (4 programs).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $625,000 |
| 2022 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $325,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $300,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $540,450 |
| 2021 | Small Dollar Loan Program | $105,000 |
| 2020 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $125,000 |
| 2019 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $146,000 |
| 2018 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $125,000 |
| 2017 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $124,989 |
These are awards and investments made to the institution itself to build its capital and capacity. They are not loans to borrowers, and an award does not mean the lender has money available for a particular loan today.
Source: CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database, all 12,628 award records (1996–2025), read 3 Nov 2026. Years are the award round as the database lists it. Matched to the official CDFI list by exact name and state; see the method on the About page.
Size of the fund (IRS Form 990)
Fiscal year ending Dec 2023| Total assets | $10.1M |
|---|---|
| Total liabilities | $3.7M |
| Net assets | $6.4M |
| Total revenue | $3.9M |
| Notes and loans receivable, net (Part X line 7) | $3.5M |
End-of-year figures from the Form 990 this organisation filed with the IRS for the fiscal year ending December 2023 (tax year 2023; EIN 80-0345712, filed as “AFRICAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS”), taken from the IRS Annual Extract of Tax-Exempt Organization Financial Data (returns processed in 2024). Figures are self-reported to the IRS, not audited by us, and lag one to two years behind today. The lender’s own annual report may show newer numbers. This organisation’s filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Filings over time
| Fiscal year ending | Total assets | Net assets | Revenue | Notes and loans receivable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2021 (990) | $5.7M | $3.7M | $2.5M | $1.5M |
| Dec 2022 (990) | $6.5M | $4.4M | $3.8M | $2.3M |
| Dec 2023 (990) | $10.1M | $6.4M | $3.9M | $3.5M |
Total assets grew 79% from Dec 2021 to Dec 2023; notes and loans receivable rose 127%. One row per fiscal year in the IRS extracts of returns processed in 2022, 2023, 2024; “—” = the line was empty or zero on that return (a fund can book its loans on other lines).
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Largest loan its website states | $100,000 | Other loan funds whose website states a maximum: median $275,000. Higher than the stated maximum of 18% of these 184. |
| Total assets, latest IRS Form 990 | $10.1M | Larger than 21% of the 19 other certified loan funds and venture funds in Minnesota with a matched Form 990 (median $21.7M). |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largest stated loan | other loan funds stating a maximum, nationwide | 184 | higher than 18% |
| Form 990 total assets | certified loan and venture funds with a Form 990, in Minnesota | 19 | larger than 21% |
“Larger than X%” = the share of the peer group with a smaller value. Ranks count from the largest. Peer groups use the lender's home state when it has at least 5 peers, otherwise the whole country. Full definitions: methodology.
For comparison, not an offer and not a rating. Past records show what this lender did, not what you would be offered. Peer groups and sources: methodology. Form 990 figures: IRS annual extracts (see the Form 990 section).
Other certified CDFIs in St Paul and Minnesota
- Community Neighborhood Housing ServicesLoan fund · St Paul, MNOfficial list only
- Sunrise Banks, N.A.Bank or thrift · St Paul, MNOfficial list only
- African Development CenterLoan fund · Minneapolis, MNMicroloans, SBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage), Small-business loansVerified
- Community Reinvestment Fund, IncLoan fund · Minneapolis, MNSmall-business loansVerified
- First Children's FinanceLoan fund · Minneapolis, MNChild-care facility financing, Small-business loansVerified
- Greater Minnesota Housing FundLoan fund · St. Paul, MNAffordable housing development loansVerified
Work at African Economic Development Solutions? Link to this page
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