Prgram Guidelines Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business : Diverse Cmmunity Capital Nvember 2015 2015 Wells Farg Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.
Table f cntents Backgrund Overview Parameters and Guidelines Ptential Grant Capital Uses Debt Capital Uses Scial Capital Activities Prgram Eligibility Requirements Prgram Selectin Criteria Grant and Lan Parameters Prgram Applicatin Prcess Reprting Questins and Additinal Infrmatin Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital 1
Backgrund In May 2015, Gallup released a study cmmissined by Wells Farg n lending t diverse-wned small businesses. The natinal study was cmmissined t gain deeper insight int the attitudes, needs, and mtivatins f diverse small business wners related t their use f credit. Gallup cnducted mre than 3,000 telephne interviews cvering six segments: African-American, Asian, Hispanic, LGBT, veterans, and wmen-wned businesses. Amng the study s findings was that diverse small business wners were mre likely than their cunterparts in the general small business ppulatin t: Reprt having persnal credit challenges and be declined fr business credit, with African Americans being mre likely t nt reapply fr credit after being declined. Have annual business revenues f less than $50,000 and t have a business in the startup and grwing stages. As a result they may nt qualify fr many cnventinal bank lan prducts. Be extremely r very interested in learning hw t build a strng business credit applicatin. Wells Farg develped an actin plan t address needs identified in the study, with a gal f helping mre diverse small businesses becme credit-ready and gain access t credit. The fur pint plan A credit caching prgram ffering expanded supprt t business wners wh have been declined business credit. The prgram helps business wners understand why they were declined and ffers resurces that can help the business strengthen its credit prfile and imprve the likelihd f being apprved fr business credit in the future. It assists small business wners wh apply fr Wells Farg Business Direct credit prducts (primarily credit prducts under $100,000.) A Wells Farg supprted Chamber Training Institute that trains leaders f diverse-segment chambers f cmmerce n key business and leadership tpics fr their members, such as hw t access business credit and craft strng business plans. A natinwide referral netwrk t help ensure business wners are aware f and accessing the full range f financing ptins available t them. Wells Farg recently established referral relatinships with mre than 20 nnprfits and ther lenders that are participating in the U.S. Small Business Administratin s (SBA) Cmmunity Advantage prgram in cities acrss the cuntry. The SBA s prgram specializes in prviding hands-n guidance t small businesses and ffering credit t qualifying businesses in underserved markets. The Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital (DCC) prgram, fcused n distributing $50 millin in debt (lending) capital and $25 millin in grant capital ver three years t Cmmunity Develpment Financial Institutins (CDFIs) that serve diverse small businesses. Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital 2
Overview The Diverse Cmmunity Capital prgram is Wells Farg s cmmitment ver three years t supprt Cmmunity Develpment Financial Institutins (CDFIs) serving diverse small businesses. Wells Farg is making available $75 millin in capital fr CDFIs t increase CDFI lending t diverse small businesses, with initial fcus n increasing lending t African-American-wned businesses, based n the study findings earlier this year. T that end, Wells Farg will prvide: 1) $25 millin in grant capital 2) $50 millin in debt capital, and 3) the pprtunity t participate in activities that build Scial Capital in the CDFI industry with the bjective f creating greater capital access fr diverse small businesses. Fr purpses f the Diverse Cmmunity Capital prgram, we define diverse small businesses as being wned by smene wh is Black r African American, Asian, American Indian r Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian r Other Pacific Islander, Multiracial, Hispanic, Latin, female, a veteran, r LGBT. Small businesses refer t fr-prfit businesses ranging in size frm micrenterprises, with five r fewer emplyees (including prprietr), t small businesses with up t 500 emplyees (as defined by the SBA). Prgram Cmpnents Grant Capital - Wells Farg will make $25 millin in grant funding available t CDFIs t build their financial, peratinal, and human capacity t serve diverse small businesses. CDFIs might seek funding t expand their wn net wrth and peratinal capacity, t develp a new prduct r prducts fr their diverse business brrwers, r t pay fr certain peratinal expenses. Debt Capital - Wells Farg will make $50 millin in debt capital available t CDFIs t build their lending capital t serve diverse small businesses. Senir debt typically fr amunts f at least $3 millin, flating market-rate interest, unsecured r secured depending n CDFI s capital structure, 3- t 4-year term Subrdinate debt (equity equivalent investments, r EQ2s) typically fr amunts under $3 millin, lw fixed interest rate, unsecured, up t a 10-year term Scial Capital - The prgram will ffer activities t build effective supprt netwrks and scial infrastructure (Scial Capital) amng CDFIs fr the purpse f increasing lending t diverse small businesses. Scial Capital activities will include mentrship prgrams, peer learning, Knwledge Netwrks, and ther cllabrative effrts t imprve and increase the capacity f CDFIs t lend t diverse business wners. Wells Farg will ffer the Scial Capital activities thrugh Opprtunity Finance Netwrk (OFN). Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital 3
Parameters and Guidelines Ptential Grant Capital Uses The purpse f the grant funding is t build CDFI capacity (capital, resurces, and knwledge) t increase and strengthen lending t diverse small businesses. Prpsed uses f grant funding include: Equity capital t increase lending capacity and manage risk, including additins t lan lss reserves Marketing, cmmunicatins, and business utreach strategies and materials (including the develpment f nline applicatins) targeting diverse small businesses Actins and prgrams t create trust and establish CDFI presence in racially diverse cmmunities Develpment and delivery f technical assistance and business and financial cunseling fr diverse small business wners Market research and new prduct develpment targeted at increasing lending t diverse small businesses Creatin f supprt netwrks fr small businesses wned by peple f clr fr peer learning, business partnership, and business develpment pprtunities Recruitment and training (internal and external) f staff Creatin f credit underwriting plicies and criteria fr diverse small business brrwers Frmatin f business partnerships that wrk t expand CDFI capacity t increase capital access t diverse small businesses. Such partnerships r cllabratins culd invlve ther CDFIs, small business develpment centers, wrkfrce training and develpment agencies, diverse chambers f cmmerce, and/r ther lcal partners cmmitted t increasing capital access fr diverse business wners Strategic planning activities Impact measurement prgrams Replicatin r expansin f existing diverse small business lending strategies r prgrams Other peratinal supprt prjects/prgrams designed t increase lending t diverse small businesses Debt Capital Uses The Debt Capital is t be used fr lending t diverse small businesses. Scial Capital Activities The activities envisined t help build Scial Capital fr CDFIs include mentrship prgrams, Knwledge Netwrks, cnsulting, and ther cllabrative effrts t further increase capacity f CDFIs t lend t diverse business wners. Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital 4
Activities fr Scial Capital include participatin in: Knwledge Netwrks with ther CDFIs t share best practices, learn frm thers, and explre pprtunities fr cllabratin. Knwledge Netwrks includes varius peer learning pprtunities including in-persn meetings, webinars, mentred wrking grups, and nline cmmunities. Knwledge Netwrks will bring in utside expertise as needed and determined by the grup. All Awardees will be required t participate in a Knwledge Netwrk. Wrking grups t develp replicable strategies (prducts, custmer acquisitin, delivering technical assistance, credit standards, etc.) fr increasing lending t diverse small businesses. Tw types f mentrship pprtunities t: Build capacity t expand lending t diverse small business (where leaders f CDFIs interested in expanding lending t diverse small businesses learn frm CDFIs and ther experts utside f the CDFI industry that are recgnized fr their success in lending t diverse small businesses). Build CDFI peratinal capacity s they are in a better psitin t expand their lending t diverse small businesses (where small and emerging-cdfi leaders learn frm leaders at larger, mre established CDFIs and ther experts utside the CDFI industry). Cnsulting pprtunities t build peratinal capacity and capacity t lend t diverse small business. Prgram Eligibility Requirements Organizatins must have a primary missin f cmmunity develpment with a fcus n serving lw-incme, lwwealth, and ther disadvantaged peple and cmmunities; be a nn-gvernmental entity; and be primarily a financing institutin that prvides affrdable, respnsible financial prducts and services. If the rganizatin is part f r cntrlled by anther crpratin(s), that crpratin als must have a primary missin f cmmunity develpment. Organizatins with tax-exempt status under Sectin 501(c)(3) f the U.S. Internal Revenue Cde. Organizatins withut 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status can als be cnsidered if they wrk with a fiscal spnsr with 501(c)(3) taxexempt status. Organizatins must have cmpleted at least 2 cnsecutive years f small business lending as f the date f the applicatin. Lcated in and serving the United States. Prgram Selectin Criteria Wells Farg will evaluate applicants fr all three prgram cmpnents using the fllwing selectin criteria: A cmpelling strategy t increase lending t diverse small businesses. Cmpelling strategies will be cmprehensive, leverage ther resurces, and result in meaningful and measurable impact and change. Cmpelling strategies may have elements f innvatin (in delivery f financing, technical assistance, utreach, marketing, etc.), scalability, and replicability. Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital 5
A strategic (as ppsed t transactinal) use f grant and lan prceeds t supprt the CDFI s diverse small business prgram Specific and credible prjected utcmes and an articulatin f verall cmmunity impact ver a three year perid Acceptable CDFI financial perfrmance in terms f peratins, capital, prtfli perfrmance, and management In evaluating applicants against the abve criteria, pririty will be given t the fllwing: Strategies which increase lending t African-American wned businesses CDFIs led by peple f clr CDFIs lcated in and serving the US with a pririty n rganizatins lcated in and serving custmers in states where Wells Farg has a retail bank presence: AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY A CDFI may indicate interest in participating in all three prgram cmpnents (lending capital, grant capital, and Scial Capital). The evaluatin prcess fr the awarding f prgram cmpnents will be crdinated. Grant and Lan Parameters Size f grant and/r lan will depend n the rganizatin s capacity, gegraphic scpe, and strength f prpsal Grants will generally range frm $50,000 t $2 millin Lans will range frm $100,000 t $5 millin Multi-year grants will be cnsidered Cntinued n next page. Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital 6
Prgram Applicatin Prcess Interest Frm CDFIs that are interested in ne r mre cmpnents f the Diverse Cmmunity Capital Prgram will submit an Interest Frm lcated at http://www.cybergrants.cm/wellsfarg/dcc/interestfrm. The Interest Frm will slicit respnses t: 1. The unmet needs f diverse small businesses in a CDFI s market. 2. The CDFI s strategy t increase lending and ther services t diverse small businesses and the prjected utcmes f the CDFI s prpsed strategy. 3. The dllar and number f lans t diverse small businesses in the past three fiscal years. 4. The prjected dllar and number f lans t diverse small businesses fr the next three fiscal years with the benefit f Diverse Cmmunity Capital resurces. 5. Which cmpnents f the Diverse Cmmunity Capital prgram the CDFI is interested in and hw the Diverse Cmmunity Capital resurces wuld help the CDFI implement its strategy. Interested CDFIs will als be asked t uplad a cpy f their mst recent audited financial statement, mst recent interim financial statements, and a reprt f past due (delinquent) lans fr the past tw years. Invitatin t Apply After reviewing the Interest Frms, Wells Farg will invite selected CDFIs t apply fr grant and/r debt capital. Wells Farg will infrm all applicants f ne f the fllwing: The applicant is invited t apply fr a grant and/r debt capital in the current rund. The applicant is deferred t be reviewed in the next rund f the prgram. There will be a minimum f tw runds f awards each year fr three years. The applicant is declined. Scial Capital activities will be determined and rganized based n needs identified by Wells Farg and OFN and levels f interest by prgram applicants. Grant Applicatin/Prcess All CDFIs that have been invited by Wells Farg t fficially apply fr a grant will need t submit an nline applicatin thrugh the Wells Farg Cyber Grants system. The nline applicatin will include, but nt be limited t: The rganizatin s gal and accmplishments. A prpsal that utlines the unmet market need f diverse small businesses, the rganizatin s strategy arund serving diverse small businesses, the prjected utcmes f the strategy ver a three year perid, hw the requested grant funds will supprt the strategy, and the rganizatin s effectiveness and perating sustainability. Frm 990. Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital 7
A detailed budget fr the requested grant funds. A list f bard members with affiliatins. Management bigraphies. Demgraphics f the individuals served. Full grant applicatins are submitted electrnically. N paper r email requests will be accepted. Debt Applicatin/Prcess Wells Farg Cmmunity Lending and Investment will supply CDFIs invited t apply fr debt capital with an applicatin frm that requests additinal infrmatin n financial and prtfli perfrmance, lending plicies and prcedures, capital structure, and rganizatinal and management structure and capacity. CDFIs will submit cmpleted applicatins via e- mail. Timeframe There will be 2 runds f Awards fr the Diverse Cmmunity Capital prgram in 2016. Wells Farg will publish the number f runds and timeframes fr 2017 and 2018 at a later date. Rund 1 Prgram Opens Nvember 2, 2015 Interest Frms Due December 1, 2015 Wells Farg Invites CDFIs t apply fr Debt and/r Grant Capital January 19, 2016 Full Grant and Debt Capital Applicatins Due February 5, 2016 Selectin f Awardees fr Grant, Debt, and Scial Capital Prgrams April 15, 2016 Rund 2 Prgram Opens May 2, 2016 Interest Frms Due June 1, 2016 Wells Farg Invites CDFIs t apply fr Debt and/r Grant Capital July 18, 2016 Full Grant and Debt Capital Applicatins Due August 5, 2016 Selectin f Awardees fr Grant, Debt, and Scial Capital Prgrams Octber 14, 2016 Reprting In additin t standard financial reprting assciated with a grant and/r lan award, CDFIs will need t prvide: An annual reprt fr the term f the grant and/r lan which includes data n lending and technical assistance prvided t diverse small businesses. Infrmatin n a number f metrics frm diverse small business brrwers related t the capacity and financial perfrmance f the small business (e.g. jbs, revenue). One brrwer success stry within ne year f receiving a grant and/r lan. Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital 8
Questins and Additinal Infrmatin CDFIs can als send an email with questins t diversecmmunitycapital@wellsfarg.cm. Wells Farg Wrks fr Small Business: Diverse Cmmunity Capital 9