At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026Womenventure is a loan fund based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Its website describes small-business loans. Stated loan amounts run up to $100,000. Where it lends: Minnesota and the Midwest, including rural and urban communities. 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
| lending@womenventure.org source | |
| Website | womenventure.org |
| Office (official list) | 165 WESTERN AVE N STE 8, Saint Paul, MN 55102 |
What their website says about applying
Submit your Lending Eligibility Questionnaire to Get Started
sourceMost recent 2 years of personal and/or business federal signed tax returns. Please include ALL pages, all schedules, 1099s, K-1s, and W-2s
sourceMost recent 3 months of personal and/or business bank statements
sourceIdentification (state issued ID, driver’s license, passport)
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.
Who qualifies, in their words
- Minimum credit score: 500
The minimum credit score accepted is 500, subject to underwriting approval.
source - Low or damaged credit considered
WomenVenture welcomes individuals with all credit scores to apply so that we can discuss your unique situation.
source - Collateral required
WomenVenture does not offer unsecured loans
source - Business plan required
You must have a business plan
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) | 17 Sep 2013 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | 165 WESTERN AVE N STE 8, Saint Paul, MN 55102 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | womenventure.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. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-business loans | up to $100,000 | Our lending program offers small business loans up to $100,000 to qualified applicants. | source |
Loan sizes
Our lending program offers small business loans up to $100,000 to qualified applicants.
source
Range used for the size filter: not stated to $100,000
Service area
Minnesota and the Midwest, including rural and urban communities
provide low-interest business loans and lines of credit to entrepreneurs across Minnesota and throughout the Midwest
source
Borrower focus
- Low- and moderate-income / underserved
Our goal is to ensure that at least 60% of our loans support low- to moderate-income business owners.
source - Startups
We welcome loan applications from start-up businesses.
source - Women
WomenVenture focuses on serving women because women face greater barriers in accessing financing from traditional lenders.
source
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 (7)
- https://www.womenventure.org/
- https://www.womenventure.org/services/lending/
- https://www.womenventure.org/services/lending/preparing-your-loan-application/
- https://www.womenventure.org/about/annual-reports-financials/
- https://www.womenventure.org/services/child-care-business-services/
- https://www.womenventure.org/about/women-mean-business/
- https://www.womenventure.org/services/training/startup-toolkit/
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 ($100,000) but no minimum. - What interest rate and fees should I expect on your small-business loans?
Their website does not state a rate for this. - 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$7.1 million in 15 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2001–2022 (5 programs).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | CDFI Equitable Recovery Program | $500,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $300,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $1,826,265 |
| 2021 | Small Dollar Loan Program | $117,500 |
| 2018 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $300,000 |
| 2017 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $670,000 |
| 2015 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $700,000 |
| 2014 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $500,000 |
| 2013 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $600,000 |
| 2012 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $600,000 |
| 2008 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $585,406 |
| 2007 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $61,293 |
| 2005 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $200,000 |
| 2005 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $64,600 |
| 2001 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $25,000 |
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.
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. |
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% |
“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.
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Work at Womenventure? Link to this page
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