The ACCION USA Loan Fund is a vehicle for socially responsible investors—both individual and institutional—to strengthen small businesses and the communities where they operate. An investment in or loan to the Fund increases the availability of business loans to hardworking women and men who otherwise have few credit options. The Fund uses loans from investors to:

• Lend directly to microentrepreneurs via ACCION USA's lending offices and Online Small Business Loan Application;
  
  
• Make direct loans to ACCION USA's licensee programs to provide loan funds for their microlending activities; and
  
  
• Provide guarantees to local banks in order to secure business financing for ACCION USA's licensee programs.

At present, the Loan Fund is seeking long-term, low-interest loans (minimum $2,000) to capitalize a projected $15 million loan pool.

Why Invest in the ACCION USA Loan Fund?

There are lots of ways to invest your money responsibly, so why invest with us? Here are just a few excellent reasons:

• Scope — As the only loan fund with a national scope, the ACCION USA Loan Fund enables socially responsible investors to help provide desperately needed small business loans to low- and moderate-income individuals working and living in marginalized communities across the United States.
  
  
• Impact — Since 1991, the U.S. ACCION Network has lent almost $150 million to over 15,000 small business owners with an average loan size of $5,700. Historically, 86 percent of our borrowers are minorities, 55 percent are low-income and 44 percent are female. Microentrepreneurs who have taken out just two consecutive loans with ACCION show an average 38 percent increase in monthly take-home income.
  
  
• Security — We put time and care into the administration of the Fund, and it shows. Since its inception in 1994, no investor has ever lost money in the ACCION USA Loan Fund.

Below are the Fund's interest rates as of September 1, 2005. Interest rates for notes greater than $100,000 are separately negotiated between the Fund and the lender.

Per annum interest rates as of September 1, 2005:

To Invest in the ACCION USA Loan Fund

Please contact Erika Eurkus at (617) 625-7080 ext. 1265, or email loanfund@accion.org.