Grant Programs

Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI) creates the space for communities and people of all backgrounds to realize their unique potential through the power of entrepreneurship.

RMMFI invests in entrepreneurs’ personal and business development through a proven mix of classroom, coaching, capital, and community.

As a nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), RMMFI supports resilient entrepreneurs who are ready for business ownership but have low incomes and have faced societal barriers. RMMFI works with entrepreneurs from a variety of marginalized backgrounds across locations, ages, demographics, and industries with a focus on microbusinesses. This results in a diverse, welcoming community of entrepreneurs.

Since 2008, RMMFI has supported the launch or expansion of 565+ businesses across Colorado, 90% of which are owned by women and/or people of color. RMMFI has run 71+ cohorts of its signature Business Launch Boot Camp program and has dispersed over $1.37 million in loans and
$515,000 in grants through its capital-meets-capacity approach.

RMMFI’s model focuses on the whole entrepreneur, helping individuals build strong foundations both personally and professionally to create impact for their business, their household, and their community.

“RMMFI’s hands-on training, mentorship, and continued support have been instrumental to my success as an entrepreneur. This impactful nonprofit empowers aspiring business owners with the tools and guidance to turn their dreams into thriving enterprises. RMMFI is creating real economic opportunity in underserved communities.”

For every $1 RMMFI spends, $4.33 is returned to entrepreneurs and the community in the form of social and economic impact. In 2023, the social and economic value of RMMFI’s work exceeded $14.7 million:

• $9.5 million in anticipated long-term entrepreneur outcomes like increased financial stability, better life outcomes, and increased access to capital and investment.
• $5.2 million in community-wide outcomes like increased local economic activity and tax revenue, decreased need for emergency assistance programs, and increased public safety.

RMMFI has experienced significant growth since 2020 when the pandemic brought new attention to the importance of inclusive and comprehensive small business support. RMMFI now has programming in both English and Spanish across Colorado, working to ensure that rural and Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs have equitable access to the resources they need to thrive.

Looking forward, RMMFI is focused on the sustainability and scalability of its programs, investing deeper and wider in the communities it serves, and being a catalyst for systemic change in the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.