Addressing a growing small business financing gap

Our mission

Our secondary market is a tool that empowers CDFIs to close the small business financing gap that disproportionately affects very small businesses and entrepreneurs of color. 

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the driving force behind job creation, particularly during times of economic recovery. With more than 10.5 million new business applications in 2021 and 2022, women and people of color are leading the way in this historic small business boom. However, a growing small business financing gap threatens to derail this progress. 

A history of inequity

This financing gap reflects a long-standing pattern of disinvestment and discrimination by the financial system toward entrepreneurs of color. Despite controlling for factors like business performance and credit scores, Black and Latino entrepreneurs are routinely denied funding at higher rates than White business owners. These discrepancies entrench the racial wealth gap, leaving entrepreneurial potential untapped and exacerbating existing inequities.

Additionally, entrepreneurs of color are more likely to apply for small-dollar loans of less than $100,000. The market for these loans has all but evaporated since the Great Recession because they are not cost-efficient for banks compared to larger loans – meaning CDFIs are in many cases the only affordable financing option for very small and underbanked businesses.

Empowering CDFIs

CDFIs play a critical role in closing the small business capital gap and creating a more equitable small business financing system for the long-term. However, their resources are constrained, which affects their ability to expand their lending. This is where Scale Link's approach comes in. By providing consistent, unrestricted, and long-term funding to CDFIs through a viable secondary market, Scale Link can help power the resiliency and expansion of the CDFI industry in the coming years.

Board of Directors

Fund Management

Brett Simmons

Jonathan Brereton

Managing Director & Principal

Revolve Principal

Laura Pich

Chelsea Probus

Financial Operations Manager

Relationship Manager

Director of Capital Markets

Data Analyst

Amirah Hewitt

Cassandra Archbold

Our partners

Working with us

Scale Link is intentionally designed as a lean, narrowly focused non-profit, intent on being agile and responding to CDFI microlender capital needs, whether there is a pandemic or 3% unemployment. It has no direct staff, instead relying on expert third parties properly incentivized to deliver results. The fund manager for Scale Link is Revolve Asset Management. Revolve is led by Brett Simmons and Jonathan Brereton. You can learn more about Revolve here.

Career openings

  • Organization Overview and Position Description:

    Revolve Asset Management (RAM) is a financial management firm that creates sustainable collaborations between banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) with the express purpose of expanding access to small business capital for women, people of color, and low- income entrepreneurs. RAM believes that this access, coupled with the support CDFIs provide, creates upward mobility and economic opportunity. RAM specializes in how the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) can be leveraged to increase capital access.

    In 2020, RAM helped found, and now manages, Scale Link. Scale Link is the first of its kind non-profit that creates and manages a secondary market for CDFI originated microloans. RAM and Scale Link are start-ups in the impact and investing space trying to create unique and innovative methods for delivering more capital to entrepreneurs in need.

    The Analyst will primarily support loan portfolio management and transaction closings associated with loan purchases from CDFI partners and loan sales to bank partners.

    Position will be remote.

    Position Summary:

    We are seeking a detail-oriented individual who will manage data, documents, and analysis to support Scale Link’s core business objectives: buying, selling, and managing microloans. The analyst will meet monthly deadlines for loan processing and will support business development activities by creating final data and documentation for loan purchases and sales. The analyst will contribute to developing best practices and process improvement for data management and loan purchase and sale procedures.

    Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

    Manage the final data analysis to support loan purchases and sales.

    Confirm and review booking data for Scale Link’s final loan portfolio purchase approvals.

    Support all aspects of the monthly portfolio management process.

    Prepare quarterly reports for funders and investors on loans purchased and sold.

    Additional responsibilities as needed for a growing team.

    Required and Qualifications and Skills:

    Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

    Strong analytical skills

    Attention to detail.

    Ability to see the end goal of a process and improve it over time

    Effective communication, writing, problem solving and interpersonal skills.

    Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.

    Current knowledge, or willingness to develop, an in-depth understanding of CDFI and bank loan servicing and data management

    Ability to travel on a limited basis (less than 10%).

    Reporting Relationship:

    This position reports to the Financial Operations Manager

    Compensation:

    Compensation package commensurate with experience. Healthcare, dental, vision, and retirement match provided.

    How to Apply

    Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter declaring their interest and qualifications to brett@scalelink.org. Revolve is an equal opportunity employer.

Our funders