Forward Community Investments

This Women’s History Month, Forward Community Investments is proud to spotlight the strength and resilience of women-and family-owned businesses in our community. Our March blog features a deeper look into the story of one of our newest borrowers, Namgyal Ponsar, owner and operator of Tendrel Foods, Inc., the family-run business behind Madison’s own Little Tibet Madison. You may recall our recent post celebrating the closing of their loan with FCI supporting their latest venture, Little Tibet Market & Café. Now, we invite you to learn more about the journey that led to this exciting milestone. More than two years in the making, this project reflects not only Ponsar’s entrepreneurial drive but also the power of flexible financing and community support. FCI is honored to be among the funders helping bring this vision to life, which include City of Madison, WI and Madison Development Corporation. ??Read the full story and get inspired by Namgyal’s journey in our March blog: https://lnkd.in/dQeCFGyX

With CDFIs recently making national headlines, it's more important than ever to highlight the unique role they play in strengthening our financial ecosystem. That’s why, in the next installment of our CDFI 101 series, we’re answering a key question: What makes CDFIs different from traditional banks? While traditional banks are structured to maximize returns for shareholders, CDFIs are structured to maximize impact for communities & borrowers. Instead of making lending decisions based solely on credit scores or collateral, CDFIs take a mission-first approach, offering flexible financing, customized support, and access to resources designed to help organizations and individuals grow and thrive. They expand access to capital, support job growth and wealth creation, and uplift communities that are often challenged to access financing through mainstream lenders. ?? How FCI Embodies the CDFI Difference ? Expanding access by rethinking risk – FCI provides fair, flexible, responsible capital to organizations and projects that strengthen communities, even when they don’t fit the more rigid requirements of traditional financial institutions. ? Hands-on Borrower Support – Our borrowers receive ongoing 1-on-1 financial guidance, technical assistance, and connections to resources that help them scale their impact through our unique Borrower Support Program. ? A bridge to long-term financial stability – We expand access to capital for communities that have been historically faced barriers to traditional lending, empowering our borrowers to build lasting financial security. ??Bottom line? CDFIs like FCI don’t just provide funding, we build relationships. We walk alongside our borrowers, equipping them with the tools to succeed well beyond the loan approval process. FCIs goal is not to be a long-term lender, but to help our borrowers strengthen their financial position so they can successfully access capital through traditional financial institutions in the future. Learn more about how CDFIs strengthen communities at https://lnkd.in/gFkB-TQT Today, the future of the CDFI Fund is uncertain. Encourage your elected officials to protect CDFI Fund by using the digital tools from Opportunity Finance Network's Policy Action Center to make calls and send letters of support: https://lnkd.in/eHzV6sP3

Earlier this week, FCI Senior Community Lender Fausto E. Rivera had the privilege of speaking on a panel at Funding Forward: Navigating Financial Growth and Wellness, hosted by the UW-Madison Extension Community Economic Development Program in Milwaukee. This impactful event brought together local business owners and nonprofit leaders to explore key financial strategies for sustainable growth and resilience, covering topics like cash flow management, accessing capital, tax planning, and retirement savings. At FCI, we’re always excited to engage with and support the entrepreneurs and community leaders working tirelessly to expand social and economic opportunity across Wisconsin. Thank you for having us! ?? ?? Looking for funding to grow your business or nonprofit? Learn more about our loan products and connect with Fausto or a member of our Lending Team today! ?? www.forwardci.org/lending

?? Exciting News! ?? Forward Community Investments is thrilled to welcome Darrell (DJ) Hines II to our Board of Directors! As a respected leader in Milwaukee’s nonprofit, faith, and business communities, DJ brings a wealth of experience in community engagement and economic empowerment. His leadership will be instrumental as we set our sights on expanding FCI’s community impact in Milwaukee and beyond. Please join us in welcoming DJ to the FCI family! You can read more about DJ in the full press release featured on Urban Milwaukee, Inc. ?? https://lnkd.in/gbgZ6NJJ

Last week, FCI staff and board members gathered for our annual Staff and Board Dinner at Dotty Dumpling's Dowry, one of Madison's favorite venues. It was a special evening to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate the incredible work we do together. As a small but mighty team, we take pride in the significant impact we create—investing in communities, supporting small businesses, and creating economic opportunity across Wisconsin. Our shared commitment fuels everything we do, and moments like these remind us of the power of collaboration and purpose.?? Thank you, dedicated staff and board members (listed below), for your passion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to making a difference! Michael Flynn Jasmine Mercado, MBA Pamela Guthman Paul Fehrenbach, MBA Raynetta H. Christopher Laurent, MASL Jeff Mack Fern Orie Wally Orzechowski

At Forward Community Investments (FCI), we’re proud to be a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), but what does that really mean? Over the next few weeks, we’re launching our CDFI 101 Series to break it down and highlight how mission-driven lending strengthens communities. So, let’s start with the basics: What is a CDFI? CDFIs are U.S. Department of Treasury-certified financial institutions committed to expanding economic opportunity in communities that traditional finance often overlooks. With more than 1,400 CDFIs nationwide managing over $222 billion, these institutions—including banks, credit unions, loan funds, and venture capital firms—focus on providing fair, responsible financing where it’s needed most. As a Community Development Loan Fund, FCI delivers flexible capital and financial support to mission-aligned nonprofits, small businesses, and emerging developers across Wisconsin. But we are more than just a lender. Through our Borrower Support Program, we provide hands-on, customized technical assistance and financial guidance for each of our borrowers, equipping them with the tools to build long-term financial stability. And we don’t do it alone. Collaboration is at the heart of our impact, allowing us to expand our reach, strengthen local economies, and create lasting change. Together, we’re building a more just, equitable, and sustainable Wisconsin. Learn more about our work and the partners making an impact: https://lnkd.in/gng5kez8 ?? Stay tuned for the rest of our CDFI 101 Series as we dive deeper into the world of mission-driven finance!

FCI is thrilled to announce the loan closing for our newest small business borrower, Rasta Barista! Opening in the new Business HUB on South Park Street, Rasta Barista is more than just a coffee shop—it's a community-driven space dedicated to economic empowerment, sustainability, and cultural connection on Madison’s South Side. Owners Sei Kidau and Melissa Kidau are committed to building a better future by creating local jobs, sourcing fair-trade coffee, and prioritizing eco-friendly practices like compostable packaging. Their menu goes beyond exceptional coffee, featuring teas, pastries, Caribbean-inspired bites like jerk chicken panini, Jamaican-style beverages, and West African-influenced dishes. Rasta Barista also plans to host art exhibitions, events, and programs to foster community engagement, creating a welcoming space for dialogue, creativity, and collaboration. We’re honored to support Rasta Barista’s journey with a loan through our Small Business Lending Program, which was made possible with support from the Wisconsin Philanthropy Network. Read more about Rasta Barista in @The Cap Times: https://lnkd.in/gyf-wSNv Want to learn more about our Small Business Lending Program? Visit www.forwardci.org/lending/ #SmallBusiness #CommunityInvestment #EconomicEmpowerment

The impact investing market is on a robust trajectory—projected to grow from $548 billion in 2024 to over $631 billion this year, with a nearly 20% annual growth rate through the decade. By 2029, it could surpass $1.3 trillion, driven by millennials' increasing demand for socially responsible and sustainable investments. A recent Equities.com article highlights key trends shaping the future of impact investing, including collaboration and partnerships—a principle central to FCI’s approach to impact investing. At Forward Community Investments, we provide individual investors the opportunity to align their capital with their values while leveraging strategic partnerships to develop innovative impact investment initiatives tailored for institutional and philanthropic funders. Through our unique impact investing collaborations with organizations like Hispanic Collaborative, Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, and Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, we are expanding access to capital, amplifying impact, and unlocking the potential of small businesses, nonprofits, and emerging developers across Wisconsin. More than ever, now is the time to invest with purpose. Join us in building a more equitable Wisconsin by putting your investment where your values are. Visit our website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gPfzBtt6 Read the full @Equities.com article: https://bit.ly/3D63NbD #ImpactInvesting #FCI #InvestWithPurpose #WisconsinForward #SustainableGrowth

FCI is a proud supporter of Milwaukee-based non-profit?Safe & Sound, Inc.?Our NMTC program supported their purchase of a beautiful former church converted into the organization's two-story headquarters in the heart of Milwaukee. "A safe neighborhood for everyone in Milwaukee" is the vision that Safe & Sound has been dedicated to in its initiatives to improve neighborhood safety since 1998. They operate in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods to foster a sense of ownership and bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community. Their three-part approach mission combines community organizing, youth development, and public safety to build safe and empowered neighborhoods. Organized activities continually improve and impact collective efficacy (the strength of the social fabric ), which heavily influences the level of safety in communities. Thank you to everyone at Safe & Sound for your incredible work and dedication. We are honored to be on this mission with you. Visit our websites to learn more about their community work and FCI's lending programs. https://safesound.org/ https://lnkd.in/gA_mrqzF

Exciting news for local food lovers! Forward Community Investments is proud to support Tendrel Foods, the family behind Little Tibet Restaurant, as they take their next big step, Little Tibet Market & Café! From a food cart to a restaurant and now a market & café, Namgyal Ponsar and her family (pictured) continue to inspire us with their dedication and entrepreneurial spirit. Earlier this week, Fausto E. Rivera (pictured on the right) and the FCI team closed a loan to help bring their vision to life! With funding from FCI, in collaboration with Madison Development Corporation, Little Tibet Market & Café will soon open on Madison’s North Side, offering a specialty ethnic grocery store (featuring Indian & Southeast Asian goods), a production space for their famous momo dumplings, and a restaurant with takeout, delivery, and a juice bar. At FCI, we’re committed to supporting small business owners like Namgyal through our Small Business Lending Program. If you're looking for funding to grow your business, learn more about our loan products at www.forwardci.org/lending. ?? Read more about their journey here: https://lnkd.in/gqhVtRdU #localbusiness #foodbusiness #communityimpact #TendrelFoods #LittleTibet