RSF provides values-aligned capital to support ventures that offer organic, natural, regeneratively produced or environmentally sustainable consumer packaged goods and healthy food products.
We seek to partner with natural food and fiber companies as well as mission-driven producers of natural skincare products, organic and sustainable clothing, and other consumer packaged goods that have a business model and ethos grounded in positive impact. We support enterprises that are committed to fair trade and consider the well-being of the communities and ecosystems throughout their supply chain.
RSF offers a variety of loans including mortgage loans, construction loans, equipment loans, and working capital lines of credit to social enterprises that produce sustainable consumer packaged goods and healthy food products.
Complete our simple loan application to get the process started.
Apply todayThe types of natural product ventures that are eligible for financing from RSF are incorporated in the U.S. or Canada and must be able to show a demonstrated commitment to creating positive change. General criteria for borrowers includes:
Annual revenue of at least $750,000
Excellent history of repayment on debt
Two or more years of operating history
Ability to provide collateral (which may include pledges or guarantees)
Operating cash flow positive or can demonstrate a path to an operating cash flow surplus in 12-24 months
Needs ranging from $200,000 to $5 million
Borrowing from RSF will be a different experience as we take a relationship-based approach with all of our clients. We work exclusively with impact-focused organizations and impact investors are our capital source. Our loans have supported the sustainability, development and scale of ventures that demonstrate a deep commitment to transparency, relationships and fairness throughout their supply chains.
We also know it takes more than capital to scale impact. Aside from loans, RSF’s integrated capital approach means we also provide network connections, advisory support and other forms of non-financial and resources.
RSF prioritizes lending to organizations that demonstrate broad, meaningful community benefits. We seek to partner with ventures that are committed to serving historically marginalized people of color, women, indigenous communities, and rural and low-income regions.
Timing and steps to receive a loan
Learn moreNo we do not require certification, but we do seek to understand each business and how they compare to peers within the industry. Our lending team will ask questions to help us understand an organization’s sourcing strategies because we think there’s a lot of benefit that comes from direct or fair trade supply chains and we will ask companies what tools or certifications they use to verify information.
We care a lot about healthy food and the role it has in nourishing communities. RSF’s funding specifically supports social enterprise so we want to understand how organizations are building impact into their business model before approving funding. We will seek to understand how a company sources ingredients; how a company treats and supports its employees; who has access to the food they produce; and how the company is creating impact relative to its peers.
RSF is only able to work with companies that are based in the United States and we can only finance the U.S. based assets of the mission-driven ventures and organizations we serve.
Yes, RSF uses the RSF Impact Assessment (RIA) to collect qualitative and quantitative impact information from borrower partners. The RIA is part of a multi-year effort to gather impact information which will be used to inform RSF management decisions, report RSF’s community impact in aggregate, and support individual borrower impact goals. The assessment seeks to embed Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) principles throughout the assessment as a priority focus on understanding borrower impact in communities.
RIA questions fall into six categories: Impact Model, Community and Field Building, Organizational Structure and Employee Experience, Resource Management and Supply Chain, Leadership and Organizational Culture, and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI).
The assessment survey takes about an hour to complete and we ask that it be updated annually so we can track and support progress over time.
Ali Robinson
Senior Manager, Social Enterprise Lending
ali.robinson@rsfsocialfinance.org
415-561-6194