Ascendus Deploys $15 Million to 706 Small Business Owners in 2025, Releases Annual Report

Financial coaching hours grow across the portfolio as the nonprofit lender strengthens its balance sheet and expands childcare lending into California.

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, August 25, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Ascendus, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), today released its 2025 Annual Report, reporting $15 million in capital deployed through 706 loans and lines of credit to small business owners across the United States.

The report, Support. Resilience. Trust., documents a year in which Ascendus reached more than 5,900 small business owners, delivered over 8,500 hours of pre-loan financial coaching, and doubled post-loan technical assistance to more than 3,050 hours. The average loan size was $21,000.

“Capital alone doesn’t move people forward; capital paired with coaching and time does. 2025 showed us what it looks like when we stay with entrepreneurs through the whole journey, not just the closing.” said Paul Quintero, Chief Executive Officer of Ascendus.

Lending activity spanned four regions: New York (288 loans, $6.5M+), Florida (198 loans, $4.2M+), New England (132 loans, $2.7M+), and Rising Markets (88 loans, $1.6M+). Program results included 414 small business loans ($9.6M+), 136 lines of credit ($3.4M+ available), and 138 loans through state-led and partnership lending ($3.6M+), including the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), the Small Business Catalyst Fund with Fifth Third Bank and Community Reinvestment Fund, USA, and a partnership with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

The Childcare Provider Initiative supported 86 providers with more than $1.9 million in capital and expanded into California for the first time through a partnership with the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) and Working Solutions CDFI (www.workingsolutions.org/), reaching 28 providers with $675,000 in its first year.

In October 2025, Ascendus published Building Credit for Small Business Owners: A Case Study of the Get Ready Program (www.ascendus.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Final_Building_Credit_for_Small_Business_Owners_Branded.pdf), developed with the Urban Institute (www.urban.org/) and funded by MetLife Foundation (www.metlife.com/). The study of 174 borrowers found an average credit score of 571 at entry, more than 75% of borrowers in good standing by March 2025, and 41% graduating from a $500 line of credit to $5,000 through the Get Ready program (www.ascendus.org/press/get-ready-to-ascend/). A companion webinar (www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXQ-87BUg-E) is available online.

Ascendus also strengthened its financial position, growing net assets by $1.58 million and raising its net asset ratio to 29.9% from 23% the prior year, while closing the year within 99.6% of budget.

In 2025, Ascendus was named the #1 SBA microlender in South Florida for the third consecutive year, earned Charity Navigator’s Four-Star rating (www.charitynavigator.org/ein/113317234), and received Candid’s Platinum Transparency 2026 seal (https://app.candid.org/profile/6932081/ascendus-inc-11-3317234).

The full 2025 Annual Report is available at www.ascendus.org/annual-report-2025, with a downloadable PDF edition (www.ascendus.org/wp-content/themes/ascendus/annual-report-2025/annual-report-2025.pdf). Additional tools for small business owners are available at the Ascendus Resources Hub (www.ascendus.org/resources/).

About Ascendus

Ascendus is a mission-driven, nationwide Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with over 35 years of experience empowering small business owners. We provide access to capital and personalized financial coaching to help entrepreneurs achieve financial health and ascend toward lasting success. With deep local impact and national reach, Ascendus has delivered over $435 million in financial support to more than 62,000 entrepreneurs — many from historically overlooked communities. From corner bakeries in the Bronx to beauty salons in Miami, we help build thriving businesses and vibrant neighborhoods, shaping a future of financial ascension for all. www.ascendus.org

https://www.ascendus.org/annual-report-2025/

Gustavo Banchero
Director of Communications
gbanchero@ascendus.org

Media gallery