CEDS Finance

08/25/2026

CEDS Finance has now deployed more than $20 million in loans to small business owners across Colorado. When we started this work, that number would have felt impossible. Today, it represents 818 loans, 1600 jobs created or preserved, and hundreds of entrepreneurs who got a chance that a traditional bank wouldn't give them.

If you're a client reading this, you're part of that number. Your dreams, your persistence, and your trust in us when you were building something from nothing is exactly why this work matters. This milestone is yours as much as it is ours.

If you're a lender or partner reading this, this milestone doesn't happen without you. Every dollar we've been able to put into the hands of an entrepreneur is a dollar you made possible, whether through capital, a referral, or simply believing in what character-based lending can do.

We're not slowing down. Our Vision 2028 plan sets a course to deploy another $14 million in the years ahead, expand our Murabaha financing program to reach more Muslim entrepreneurs nationally, and keep pairing capital with the kind of hands-on support that helps a loan turn into a lasting business.

Thank you for being part of the first $20 million. We're glad you're here for what's next.

08/06/2026

The Colorado Office of New Americans (ONA), part of Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, is a state agency dedicated to building access and opportunity for immigrants, refugees and their children. With these goals in mind, ONA is conducting a survey about the education and skills of immigrants in Colorado. Can you please help by participating in this survey?

Eligibility (must meet all requirements):
- Immigrant who lives in Colorado
- Associate’s degree or higher level of education from any country
- Age 18 or older
- Not retired

If you are eligible, please access the survey at: www.coronainsights.com/ona

Your response will be anonymous, and the survey should take 5-10 minutes. As a token of appreciation, you can enter to win one of five $100 Visa e-gift cards at the end of the survey. Hundreds of community members are contributing, and we hope you will too.

This survey is being conducted by Corona Insights, a trusted third-party research firm based in Denver. No personally identifiable information will be shared with ONA or any government entity.

For questions or technical assistance, contact Matt Bruce of Corona Insights at [email protected] or 303-577-2457. For questions regarding the purpose of the survey contact Anthony Cherwinski, ONA’s Global Talent Administrator at [email protected].

06/17/2026

We are honored to receive the Global Leaders Award from the City of Aurora in recognition of CEDS Finance’s commitment to supporting immigrant, refugee, and underserved entrepreneurs.

This award reflects the hard work of our team, partners, and clients who are building stronger communities through entrepreneurship. We remain dedicated to expanding access to capital, business resources, and culturally responsive support for small business owners across Colorado.

A special thank you to the City of Aurora for this meaningful recognition and for your continued partnership. Together, we are creating opportunities and empowering entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams and strengthen our local economy.

06/12/2026

We’re honored to be featured by The Denver Foundation for our work expanding access to capital and business support for Colorado entrepreneurs.

As we celebrate this story, we’re also incredibly grateful to share that The Denver Foundation recently awarded CEDS Finance a new $50,000 grant to support our mission. Their partnership has been instrumental to our growth, from providing our very first Program Related Investment (PRI) in 2015 to continuing to invest in underserved entrepreneurs today.

Thank you to The Denver Foundation for over a decade of partnership, trust, and shared commitment to creating economic opportunity across our communities.

The story of an impact investment with The Denver Foundation and CEDS Finance, making business lending more inclusive and accessible.

06/03/2026

CEDS Finance is excited to join the panel at the Innovation Unlimited 2026 African Business Conference on June 27 in Aurora. We’ll be discussing access to capital and how entrepreneurs can grow and sustain their businesses. Hope to see you there!

05/25/2026

In FY25, CEDS Finance closed its first out-of-state murabaha loans in Minnesota, a milestone 14 years in the making. Since 2011, we have deployed $8.2 million through murabaha financing with a 1% lifetime default rate. When your financing respects your faith, you show up differently.

Read the full story in our FY25 Impact Report at https://bit.ly/3PjWEdN

05/21/2026

A loan without support is just debt. In FY25, our team put in 3,252 hours of one-on-one coaching alongside 108 loans, because we invest in the whole entrepreneur, not just the transaction.

Read more in our FY25 Impact Report at https://bit.ly/3PjWEdN

05/18/2026

The gap between 98% and 75% is not luck. It is what happens when capital comes with coaching, relationship, and real support. In FY25, CEDS Finance served 108 small business owners across Colorado, and nearly every single one is still standing.

Read our FY25 Impact Report at https://bit.ly/3PjWEdN

05/15/2026

Ana Cristina Temu Otting started Corazon Printing with $1,000 and two printers from Facebook Marketplace.

Banks turned her away. One refused to let her open a checking account. Traditional lenders would not take the risk on her mailing automation equipment.

CEDS Finance stepped in.

"The loan from CEDS is the reason we were able to automate mailing. It opened us up to more business and changed the game for an integral part of our operation."

In its first ten months, Corazon Printing hit $1 million in revenue. Today, large corporate banks that once turned Ana away are competing to finance her growth.

This is what access to capital actually does. Read her full story in our FY25 Impact Report at https://bit.ly/3PjWEdN

05/13/2026

Our FY25 Impact Report is here.

This year, CEDS Finance deployed $3.5 million to 108 small business owners across Colorado, supporting 254 jobs and serving entrepreneurs from 53 countries.

98% of our clients are still in business. The Colorado average for startups in their first year is 75%.

That gap is not an accident. It is what happens when capital meets coaching and when access is designed around the entrepreneur.

Read the full report at https://bit.ly/3PjWEdN