Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Texas is a state of enormous extremes. The two fastest growing cities in the United States are Dallas, growing at a rate of 345 new residents daily, and Austin growing at a rate of 158 new residents daily. By all measures, Texas has a robust economy. Yet, on the other end of the spectrum, Texas is also home to 1.4 million undocumented immigrants, 16,606 homeless veterans, and 314,079 high school dropouts. As Texas develops, poverty rates and unemployment for women and minorities continue to rise as small businesses fight to keep pace with the city's rising costs. Currently, more than 83,300 small businesses (99.88% of all businesses) open their doors in Travis County, and an additional 1.16 million in Dallas and Houston. These entrepreneurs desperately need loan capital and business education to survive. PeopleFund is committed to elevating the underserved with the capital and education to make nonprofits, small businesses, and start-ups flourish.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Small Business and Nonprofit Lending
PeopleFund supports small businesses, start up ventures, and nonprofit organizations with capital necessary to survive, grow, and flourish. Special considerations are made for job creation, community impact, environmental impact, and type of ownership.
PeopleStart
PeopleStart supports small business owners and entrepreneurs with fewer than 2 years experience in running a businesses. Generally small businesses face the most obstacles during the start up phase of operation, and this program seeks to guide them through the initial phases of growing a business
PeopleTalk
PeopleTalk is an entrepreneur education series designed to educate and inspire small business owners and those considering creating their own venture. Successful entrepreneurs share their experiences and provide testimony for the audience
PeopleSpring
PeopleSpring is a one-day networking, leadership, and women’s luncheon event, designed to help women meet fellow female entrepreneurs. Our PeopleSpring program is an interactive lunch and learn opportunity to meet, mingle, and marry business ideas with fellow women entrepreneurs.
Where we work
Accreditations
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the United States Department of the Treasury 2003
Awards
2012 Outstanding Lender 2012
Dallas Small Business Development Corporation
2011 Finalist - Innovative Practices and Nonprofit 2011
Austin Chamber of Commerce
2010 Nonprofit Innovation Award 2010
Greenlights for Nonprofit Success
SBA 7A Community Advantage and Microlender 2012
Small Business Administration
Entrepreneur of the Year 2004
Ernst & Young
Austinite of the Year 2003
Austin Chamber of Commerce
Best Loan Arrangers 2009
Austin Chronicle
External reviews

Photos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goal is to become the premier lender in Texas and follow our values of integrity, service, and respect to support our clients. We seek to create innovative financial and business education programs that are delivered free of charge in a comfortable and judgement-free zone. We provide the lowest rates and fees of any community lender in the state, offering affordable small business loans that empower communities, create jobs, and drive economic development. We want to create responsible programs and services that cater to the needs of women, veterans, minorities, and low income entrepreneurs in rural and urban communities across Texas. We want to leverage financial and human capital to create social and economic justice for populations disenfranchised by a restrictive banking system and elevate Texans so they can build wealth and work for themselves.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
PeopleFund implemented a statewide expansion plan in 2010 under new leadership, professionalized the staff and implemented new infrastructure systems and operations to grow our programs and services. Under experienced leadership, the staff expanded programs and services, catering to the specific needs of our clients based on industry, geography, background, and business expertise. PeopleFund has since opened offices in Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and is moving into rural areas. We've created a national veteran collaborative so community lenders like us can learn from one another and serve veterans better. We've created safe spaces for women to work and grow professionally, and we've expanded our lending and education teams so we can provide dedicated attention to each person who walks through our doors. We've built a diverse and inclusive staff, board, and volunteer base committed to our mission and passionate about driving our goals forward.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Forging strategic partnerships, professional and experienced staff, reliable and secure infrastructure and operational procedures, multiple offices designed to reduce burdens of travel on clients, inclusion of technology and online resources, passionate team with community development focus, support from funders, partners, and volunteers.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Entering our 25th year, PeopleFund has program metrics we can be proud of. We've created 1,631 child care slots so parents can have affordable childcare as they return to the workforce, delivered 96,000 of free financial education and technical assistance, created 5,678 jobs, lent $75 million to underserved Texans, renovated or rehabilitated 516,000 sq.ft. of property, and funded 1,312 small businesses with capital to grow.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
PeopleFund
Board of directorsas of 06/09/2021
Ms. Yolanda Davila
BBVA Compass
Term: 2019 -
Donna Normandin
Frost Bank
Nina Nelms
Bank of America
Eric Bustos
Capital Metro Transportation Authority
Brian Hall
Traverse Legal PLC
Mike Perrine
Baker Tilly Capital LLC
Larry Conley
Former VP, J.P. Morgan Chase
Yoly Davila
BBVA
Cecilia Castelo
Woodforest National Bank
Anna Sanchez
Wells Fargo
Larry Miller
L. Miller & Associates
Gustavo Lasala
PeopleFund
Luther Branham
Fiserv
Jack Nelson
Skimmer, Inc.
John Burer
Regions Bank
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data