At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026Economic and Community Development Institute, Inc. (ECDI) is a loan fund based in Columbus, Ohio. Its website describes SBA-backed loans and small-business loans. Stated loan amounts run up to $1M. It says it considers borrowers with low or no credit history.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Toll-free | (888) 210-3039 source |
|---|---|
| Website | www.ecdi.org |
| Office (official list) | 1655 Old Leonard Ave, Columbus, OH 43219 |
What their website says about applying
A Relationship Manager (RM) will contact you and discuss your capital need, determine eligibility and send you an application.
sourceA business plan is required as part of the application process. Your plan should demonstrate how you will repay the loan.
sourceThere is a $25 application fee for each applicant.
sourceProvide a voided business check in your company’s name
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.
Rates and terms they state
Read 2 Nov 2026| Loan | Stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans (general) | Term: see their wording | Flexible repayment periods — up to 120 months | source |
As published on the lender's website on that date, not an offer or a quote. Your rate depends on the lender's review. A missing rate means the pages we read did not state one. For consumer loans we repeat a rate only when the lender states it as an APR (annual percentage rate, which includes fees); otherwise read the lender's own wording and ask for the APR.
Who qualifies, in their words
- Low or damaged credit considered
Attainable for business owners with low to average credit or ones who have been denied
source - Business plan required
A business plan is required as part of the application process. Your plan should demonstrate how you will repay the loan.
source
Only rules the lender's own pages state. Other requirements may apply.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Loan fund |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 24 Jan 2014 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | 1655 Old Leonard Ave, Columbus, OH 43219 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | www.ecdi.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. Online step is a loan inquiry; formal applications follow contact from a Relationship Manager. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage) | — | COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE (7A) | source |
| Small-business loans | — | we provide responsible, affordable small business loans through SBA and other funding sources. | source |
Loan sizes
Provides working capital financing of up to $15,000 for eligible small businesses.
sourceUp to $50,000
sourceBusinesses can borrow up to $1,000,000
source
Range used for the size filter: not stated to $1M
Service area
Not stated on the pages we read.
Borrower focus
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.
- Do you lend where I live, or where my business is?
Their website does not say which area they serve. - Is there a minimum loan amount?
Their website gives a maximum ($1M) but no minimum. - What interest rate and fees should I expect on your SBA-backed loans and small-business loans?
Their website does not state a rate for this. - Can I apply online, or do I need to call or visit?
We found no online application on their website. - Do you offer free coaching or help preparing my application?
CDFI certification requires development services, such as training or advice, alongside lending. - 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$14.9 million in 15 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2005–2024 (4 programs).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,350,000 |
| 2022 | CDFI Equitable Recovery Program | $3,718,258 |
| 2022 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $660,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $500,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $1,826,265 |
| 2020 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $650,000 |
| 2019 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $525,000 |
| 2017 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $916,905 |
| 2016 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,500,000 |
| 2012 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $653,806 |
| 2011 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,000,000 |
| 2010 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $600,000 |
| 2009 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $500,000 |
| 2008 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $481,299 |
| 2005 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $47,000 |
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 Jun 2023| Total assets | $74.4M |
|---|---|
| Total liabilities | $60.9M |
| Net assets | $13.5M |
| Total revenue | $13.8M |
| Notes and loans receivable, net (Part X line 7) | $39.8M |
End-of-year figures from the Form 990 this organisation filed with the IRS for the fiscal year ending June 2023 (tax year 2022; EIN 31-1145544, filed as “ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE INC”), 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2021 (990) | $102.7M | $8.5M | $14.3M | $69.4M |
| Jun 2022 (990) | $78.4M | $12.5M | $20M | $37.2M |
| Jun 2023 (990) | $74.4M | $13.5M | $13.8M | $39.8M |
Total assets fell 28% from Jun 2021 to Jun 2023; notes and loans receivable fell 43%. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Median SBA 7(a) loan it approved, FY2020–FY2026 | $150,000 (89 loans) | All 7(a) lenders in Ohio: $100,000. Larger than the median loan of 42% of the 97 other certified CDFIs with 10 or more 7(a) loans. |
| SBA approvals, FY2023–24 → FY2025–26 | 21 → 9 | Rank among the 6 certified CDFIs in Ohio with SBA approvals in either period: 3 → 3. |
| Largest loan its website states | $1M | Other loan funds whose website states a maximum: median $250,000. Higher than the stated maximum of 72% of these 184. |
| Total assets, latest IRS Form 990 | $74.4M | Larger than 69% of the 13 other certified loan funds and venture funds in Ohio with a matched Form 990 (median $24.6M). |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median SBA 7(a) loan | certified CDFIs with 10+ 7(a) loans, nationwide | 97 | larger than 42% |
| SBA approvals then vs now | certified CDFIs in Ohio with SBA approvals FY2023–2026 | 5 | rank 3 → 3 of 6 |
| Largest stated loan | other loan funds stating a maximum, nationwide | 184 | higher than 72% |
| Form 990 total assets | certified loan and venture funds with a Form 990, in Ohio | 13 | larger than 69% |
“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; your rate depends on the loan and on the lender's review. Peer groups and sources: methodology. SBA 7(a) & 504 FOIA data as of 30 Sep 2026. Form 990 figures: IRS annual extracts (see the Form 990 section).
SBA loans approved
SBA data as of 30 Sep 2026The SBA's public loan data lists 89 SBA-backed approvals for Economic and Community Development Institute, Inc. (ECDI) in fiscal years 2020–2026 (October 2019 to September 2026):
- 89 7(a) loans as the lender: $14.8M in total (gross amount approved), median $150,000
By fiscal year: FY2020 21 · FY2021 17 · FY2022 21 · FY2023 11 · FY2024 10 · FY2025 6 · FY2026 3.
What actually happened
- Size of its 7(a) loans: half were between $107,900 and $217,500, median $150,000 (89 loans)
- Term of its 7(a) loans: median 120 months (10 years) (89 loans)
- Fixed or variable: 83% of its 7(a) loans had a fixed rate (89 loans)
- Young businesses: 65% of its 7(a) loans went to a startup or a business two years old or less (89 loans with an answer)
Descriptive only: what the SBA file records for loans this lender approved in fiscal years 2020–2026. Each figure covers at least 10 loans; with fewer we show nothing. It is not an offer, not the rate or term you would get, and says nothing about your chance of approval.
By program
- 7(a) Community Advantage (70, 79%)
- 7(a) standard (19, 21%)
Borrower industries
NAICS sector, 3 or more loans.
- Accommodation and food services (20)
- Retail trade (14)
- Manufacturing (9)
- Health care and social assistance (9)
- Professional, scientific, and technical services (8)
Where borrowers are
County of the borrower's ZIP code, 3 or more loans.
- Franklin County, OH (35)
- Cuyahoga County, OH (10)
- Delaware County, OH (6)
- Lucas County, OH (5)
- Hamilton County, OH (4)
- Butler County, OH (3)
- Summit County, OH (3)
- Fairfield County, OH (3)
How this lender was matched in the SBA files: SBA lender ID 0443558: same organisation by name and state, checked by hand (SBA lists “Economic and Community Development Institute”).
Approved is not the same as paid out: an approved loan can be reduced or never drawn. SBA lists the lender each loan is currently assigned to, which can differ after a merger or loan sale. Economic and Community Development Institute, Inc. (ECDI) may also make loans outside SBA programs, which are not counted here, and SBA Microloans are not in these files.
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, 7(a) & 504 FOIA loan data, files as of 30 Sep 2026, downloaded 3 Nov 2026. Our counts, cancelled approvals left out. How we match lenders.
Other certified CDFIs in Columbus and Ohio
- Finance Fund Capital CorporationLoan fund · Columbus, OHOfficial list only
- FREEDOM EQUITY INC.Loan fund · Columbus, OHMicroloans, Small-business loansVerified
- Ohio Capital Finance CorporationLoan fund · Columbus, OHAffordable housing development loansVerified
- Telhio Credit Union, Inc.Credit union · Columbus, OHAuto / vehicle loans, Commercial real estate loans, Equipment loans, Home repair / improvement loans…Verified
- The Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin CountyLoan fund · Columbus, OHAffordable housing development loansVerified
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