At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026FREEDOM EQUITY INC. is a loan fund based in Columbus, Ohio. Its website describes microloans and small-business loans. Stated loan amounts run up to $50,000. Where it lends: Central Ohio region, with a focus on Franklin County and the City of Columbus. The business loan rate it states is 5%.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| contact@freedomequity.org source | |
| Website | freedomequity.org |
| Office (official list) | 341 S 3rd St Ste 301, Columbus, OH 43215 |
What their website says about applying
All prospective borrowers start their relationship with us by attending an Info Session.
sourceReceive an invitation to work with our Business Development and/or apply for a loan.
sourceComplete our short lead form to start the conversation.
sourceYou’ll need your Business Plan, Business Financials (last 3 years or time in business), and business and personal tax returns
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) | Rate stated, not as an APR: see their wording | Our rates vary from 4.00% to 6.75%. | source |
| Microloans | Rate: 5% | Funding available up to $50,000 for five years at 5% interest | source |
| Loans (general) | Term: see their wording | The term of your loan, up to 60 months, is determined by the specific loan product and other factors. | source |
| Microloans | Term: up to 5 yr | Funding available up to $50,000 for five years at 5% interest | 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
- Minimum credit score: 550
business owner must have a minimum credit score of 550.
source - Business plan required
You’ll need your Business Plan, Business Financials (last 3 years or time in business)
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) | 11 Jul 2025 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | 341 S 3rd St Ste 301, Columbus, OH 43215 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | freedomequity.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 6 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: medium. Partner products such as Lendistry and ROK Financial were excluded because they are offered by other lenders; all borrowers begin with an Info Session. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microloans | up to $50,000 | Funding available up to $50,000 for five years at 5% interest | source |
| Small-business loans | — | Our loan products and services are built for businesses that have had to work harder to access capital. | source |
Loan sizes
Funding available up to $50,000 for five years at 5% interest
sourceGenerally, Freedom Equity makes loans up to $50,000
source
Range used for the size filter: not stated to $50,000
Service area
Central Ohio region, with a focus on Franklin County and the City of Columbus
Freedom Equity serves the Central Ohio region with a focus on Franklin County and the City of Columbus.
source
Counties this matches: Franklin County, OH
Borrower focus
- Startups
new and start-up businesses are encouraged to inquire
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.
- Is there a minimum loan amount?
Their website gives a maximum ($50,000) but no minimum. - 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.
Size of the fund (IRS Form 990)
Fiscal year ending Dec 2023| Total assets | $2.4M |
|---|---|
| Total liabilities | $2.1M |
| Net assets | $310,508 |
| Total revenue | $1.1M |
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 88-2726911, filed as “FREEDOM EQUITY 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 filing shows no amount on the notes-and-loans line; a loan fund can report its loans on other balance-sheet lines, so this is not a loan figure. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2022 (990) | $167,650 | $167,650 | $335,686 |
| Dec 2023 (990) | $2.4M | $310,508 | $1.1M |
Total assets grew 1356% from Dec 2022 to Dec 2023. 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 | $50,000 | Other loan funds whose website states a maximum: median $275,000. Higher than the stated maximum of 7% of these 184. |
| Total assets, latest IRS Form 990 | $2.4M | Larger than 8% of the 13 other certified loan funds and venture funds in Ohio with a matched Form 990 (median $44.6M). |
| Business loan rate its website stated (2 Nov 2026) | 5.00% | Prime rate that day: 7.00% (FRED DPRIME), so the lowest stated rate is 2 pts below prime. For an SBA 7(a) variable-rate loan the legal maximum is prime plus 3 to 6.5 points, by loan size. |
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 7% |
| Form 990 total assets | certified loan and venture funds with a Form 990, in Ohio | 13 | larger than 8% |
“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. Form 990 figures: IRS annual extracts (see the Form 990 section). Prime rate: FRED DPRIME.
Other certified CDFIs in Columbus and Ohio
- Economic and Community Development Institute, Inc. (ECDI)Loan fund · Columbus, OHSBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage), Small-business loansVerified
- Finance Fund Capital CorporationLoan fund · Columbus, OHOfficial list only
- 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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