At a glance
From its website, read 29 Oct 2026First Children's Finance is a loan fund based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its website describes child-care facility loans and small-business loans. Stated loan amounts run up to $125,000.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Lending | (612) 223-7239 source |
|---|---|
| Website | www.firstchildrensfinance.org |
| Office (official list) | 212 Third Avenue North Suite 310, Minneapolis, MN 55401 |
What their website says about applying
You can also utilize the form below.
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 29 Oct 2026| Loan | Stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans (general) | Rate stated, not as an APR: see their wording | Interest rates start at 8% and are determined during underwriting. | 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.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Loan fund |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 9 Dec 2013 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | 212 Third Avenue North Suite 310, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | www.firstchildrensfinance.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 29 Oct 2026Read from 6 pages of the lender's website on 29 Oct 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Reviewed by a person (Oct 2026). Items added later were extracted with AI help and checked automatically against the pages listed below. Confidence: medium. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child-care facility financing | — | Up to $125,000 ($50,000 max for start-ups) | source |
| Small-business loans | — | We offer innovative, sustainable, and flexible loans backed by a dedicated team that walks with you: | source |
Loan sizes
Range used for the size filter: not stated to $125,000
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.
Pages read (6)
- https://www.firstchildrensfinance.org/
- https://www.firstchildrensfinance.org/loan-fund/for-businesses
- https://www.firstchildrensfinance.org/for-businesses/financial-analysis
- https://www.firstchildrensfinance.org/articles/fcf-loans-increase-program-quality-in-iowa
- https://www.firstchildrensfinance.org/articles/loan-fund-staff-sees-the-fire-in-detroit-area-child-care-business-owner
- https://www.firstchildrensfinance.org/loan-fund
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 29 Oct 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 ($125,000) but no minimum. - 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. - 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$4.1 million in 8 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2002–2022 (CDFI Program, Financial Assistance; CDFI Program, Technical Assistance; CDFI Rapid Response Program).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $560,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $650,000 |
| 2020 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $375,000 |
| 2010 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $600,000 |
| 2009 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,000,000 |
| 2008 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $627,104 |
| 2004 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $81,500 |
| 2002 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $200,000 |
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 2024| Total assets | $15.8M |
|---|---|
| Total liabilities | $7M |
| Net assets | $8.9M |
| Total revenue | $30.3M |
| Notes and loans receivable, net (Part X line 7) | $3M |
End-of-year figures from the Form 990 this organisation filed with the IRS for the fiscal year ending June 2024 (tax year 2023; EIN 41-1694837, filed as “FIRST CHILDRENS FINANCE”), 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) | $8.2M | $5.1M | $4.1M | $1.9M |
| Jun 2022 (990) | $10.1M | $3.9M | $9.5M | $2.2M |
| Jun 2023 (990) | $15.1M | $10.1M | $29.3M | $2.5M |
| Jun 2024 (990) | $15.8M | $8.9M | $30.3M | $3M |
Total assets grew 93% from Jun 2021 to Jun 2024; notes and loans receivable rose 58%. 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 | $65,500 (22 loans) | All 7(a) lenders in Minnesota: $175,650. Larger than the median loan of 6% of the 97 other certified CDFIs with 10 or more 7(a) loans. |
| SBA approvals, FY2023–24 → FY2025–26 | 16 → 3 | Rank among the 6 certified CDFIs in Minnesota with SBA approvals in either period: 2 → 3. |
| Largest loan its website states | $125,000 | Other loan funds whose website states a maximum: median $275,000. Higher than the stated maximum of 27% of these 184. |
| Total assets, latest IRS Form 990 | $15.8M | Larger than 42% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median SBA 7(a) loan | certified CDFIs with 10+ 7(a) loans, nationwide | 97 | larger than 6% |
| SBA approvals then vs now | certified CDFIs in Minnesota with SBA approvals FY2023–2026 | 5 | rank 2 → 3 of 6 |
| Largest stated loan | other loan funds stating a maximum, nationwide | 184 | higher than 27% |
| Form 990 total assets | certified loan and venture funds with a Form 990, in Minnesota | 19 | larger than 42% |
“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 22 SBA-backed approvals for First Children's Finance in fiscal years 2020–2026 (October 2019 to September 2026):
- 22 7(a) loans as the lender: $1.8M in total (gross amount approved), median $65,500
By fiscal year: FY2020 0 · FY2021 0 · FY2022 3 · FY2023 5 · FY2024 11 · FY2025 3 · FY2026 0.
What actually happened
- Size of its 7(a) loans: half were between $50,000 and $105,000, median $65,500 (22 loans)
- Term of its 7(a) loans: median 91 months (8 years) (22 loans)
- Fixed or variable: 100% of its 7(a) loans had a fixed rate (22 loans)
- Young businesses: 86% of its 7(a) loans went to a startup or a business two years old or less (22 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) standard (14, 64%)
- 7(a) Community Advantage (8, 36%)
Borrower industries
NAICS sector, 3 or more loans.
- Health care and social assistance (22)
Where borrowers are
County of the borrower's ZIP code, 3 or more loans.
How this lender was matched in the SBA files: SBA lender ID 0527173: same name, state and city (SBA lists “First Children's Finance”).
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. First Children's Finance 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 Minneapolis and Minnesota
- 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
- Metropolitan Consortium of Community DevelopersLoan fund · Minneapolis, MNCommercial real estate loans, Credit-builder loans, Small-business loansVerified
- Metropolitan Economic Development AssociationLoan fund · Minneapolis, MNCommercial real estate loans, SBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage), Small-business loansVerified
- Mni Sota FundLoan fund · Minneapolis, MN · Native CDFICredit-builder loans, Personal / consumer loans, Small-business loansVerified
- Propel NonprofitsLoan fund · Minneapolis, MNMicroloans, Nonprofit / community facility loansVerified
- The Sunlight Loan Fund, LLCLoan fund · Minneapolis, MNChild-care facility financingVerified
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