Frequently Asked Questions

We’re a team of leading nonprofit executives, philanthropists, and technologists who have come together to solve one of the biggest pain points for nonprofits – access to credit & liquidity.

B Generous has created the nation’s largest online lending marketplace dedicated exclusively to nonprofit organizations. We connect your nonprofit with a national network of mission-aligned lenders to help you secure fast, flexible, and affordable loans to fund your impact.

Click here to meet the B Generous Team

B Generous provides nonprofits and charitable organizations with access to immediate capital, so nonprofits can focus on their mission at hand and worry less about fundraising. Through our industry-leading nonprofit lending marketplace, nonprofits can secure capital quickly and efficiently. The best part is, there are no costs or fees whatsoever to apply for a loan. It is completely free to apply, and it generally takes less than 30 minutes to complete an application. Nonprofits can get approved for up to $50 Million in capital* through the B Generous lending marketplace.

*All loan requests are subject to approval.

A credit marketplace is a platform that brings together many different lenders in one place, making it easier, faster, and more efficient to find the right financing.

At B Generous, we’ve built the largest credit marketplace designed exclusively for nonprofits. That means every aspect of our platform — from the lenders we partner with to the way we evaluate applications — is tailored to the unique needs of mission-driven organizations.

Here’s how it works for your nonprofit:

1) You apply once — Nonprofits come to B Generous seeking a loan for growth, working capital, or new projects.

2) We match you with the right lenders — Our lending partners include banks, CDFIs, Credit Unions, and other mission-aligned lenders who have told us exactly what kinds of loans they want to fund.

3) We use smart technology to simplify the process — Instead of applying separately to multiple lenders, B Generous evaluates your application and automatically connects you to the lender most aligned with your loan size, repayment capacity, interest rate range, and mission.

The result? More options, better terms, and faster access to capital — without the wasted time, guesswork, or endless applications.

Since launching our Nonprofit Lending Marketplace at the start of 2024, we have received over $1 billion in loan requests from over 30,000 nonprofits, and we have already approved around $70 million in loans, and we are hard at work approving more everyday. Our loans fund a variety of amazing nonprofit programs, initiatives, and organizations, and generate real impact in the world today.

Note: not all loans approved by B Generous are originated

Through our Nonprofit Lending Marketplace, B Generous has been proud to help fund and accelerate a wide range of transformative nonprofit projects across the country. Just a few examples include:

– Expanding lifesaving access to healthcare by funding the creation of heart screening centers across America.

– Launching a groundbreaking television platform for the Black community—a station designed to create programming by and for Black audiences, serving as a cultural and educational resource dedicated to amplifying Black voices.

– Strengthening communities of faith and culture by financing the renovation and construction of many synagogues, churches, theaters, youth sports facilities, schools, and healthcare facilities.

– Investing in a healthier, more sustainable future by funding clean air initiatives, child development research programs, and green energy infrastructure projects.

– Most recently, B Generous was able to support vulnerable families by structuring a loan to an inspiring nonprofit in New York that provides newborn care packages to low-income mothers.

These are just a few of the powerful, mission-driven initiatives that have come to life thanks to the capital access made possible through B Generous. Every loan we structure helps nonprofits expand their reach, accelerate their impact, and better serve the communities that depend on them.

To learn more about the impact we are generating, see our most recent impact report HERE

Our credit marketplace gives your nonprofit access, choice, and control when it comes to financing — all in one centralized place.

• More Options: You’re not stuck with one lender.
• Faster Approvals: We streamline the process and cut out the paperwork bottlenecks.
• Better Terms: Lenders compete for your business, which can result in better rates and structures.
• Mission-Aligned Matching: Especially at B Generous, we focus on pairing nonprofits with values-driven capital providers.

Going directly to a single lender limits your options, slows you down, and often results in less favorable terms. And candidly, you will likely be rejected because most lenders don’t understand nonprofits. At B Generous, that is all we do, and we’ve built the largest credit marketplace designed exclusively for nonprofits, giving you access to a wide network of mission-aligned lenders all in one place.

Here’s why that matters:

One application, many lenders — Instead of applying separately to multiple banks and waiting weeks (or months) for responses, you apply once with B Generous. Our platform instantly evaluates your application and matches you with the most suitable lenders in two weeks or less.

Better terms, more options — Different lenders have different appetites for loan sizes, interest rates, and nonprofit missions. Our marketplace allows you to potentially get multiple offers, so you can choose the best fit for your organization.

Faster approvals — Our proprietary technology streamlines the process, cutting down the time from application to funding. Nonprofits often receive decisions in a week or two with B Generous—not several months, which is typical with a bank.

Built for nonprofits — Most traditional lenders don’t fully understand nonprofit finances. We partner only with banks, CDFIs, credit unions, and other mission-driven lenders who want to lend to nonprofits and understand your unique financial structure.

Support every step of the way — Our team works alongside you, answering questions, helping you prepare documents, and advocating for your organization with lenders.

In short: B Generous saves you time, expands your options, and increases your chances of getting approved on the best possible terms — all while working with lenders who truly understand nonprofits.

Meet the Anthony Bates Foundation, which is an Arizona based nonprofit that received funding from the B Generous marketplace three times, and using these funds they created an amazing heart screen program for children across America and they were able to save many lives. Hear directly from the CEO of the Foundation by watching this video HERE and learning about how they worked with B Generous to secure the funding they needed to launch and scale their critical heart screening programs.

Any U.S.-based nonprofit organization in good standing is eligible to apply through the B Generous lending marketplace. Most of our applicants are 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organizations.

Most lenders require that your nonprofit:

– Has been operating for at least 12 months

– Has generated a surplus in any of the last three years

– Currently has at least $50,000 in unrestricted net assets

These criteria help ensure that your organization is financially positioned to borrow responsibly and to access the most favorable loan terms. If your nonprofit is close to meeting these thresholds, we still encourage you to reach out — our team can guide you through the options and help determine eligibility.

No. Applying will not affect your personal or organizational credit score.

Typically required documents include:

– 2–3 years of financial statements
– IRS Form 990s
– Current budget and forecast
– Mission, leadership, and board info
– Loan purpose and repayment plan
– Details of existing debt or collateral

No. There are no application fees or costs whatsoever. It is completely free to apply for a loan in the B Generous lending marketplace, and you are under no obligation to accept a loan if the terms are not right for you.

We are sorry you received a rejection letter from B Generous. We try our hardest to approve every loan that comes through our marketplace, but sometimes we just aren’t able to get there due to financial constraints or other issues. With that being said, you can learn more HERE about how to make your organization more lendable and perhaps consider applying again in the future once you’ve taken the steps outlined in the article.

Of course, you can re-apply anytime, and we hope you do. We always want to support as many nonprofits as possible, so if you believe your organization now qualifies for credit, please begin your application process HERE. Also, if you simply want to learn how to make your organization more lendable, read our latest blog about that HERE.

Our lenders typically only lend to organizations that are U.S based, have been operating for at least 12 months, have at least $50,000 in net assets, and have had a surplus in any of the last three years. This is not a hard and fast rule, and some nonprofits who receive funding in our marketplace do fall outside of these guidelines, but most of our approved loans go to organizations that meet these minimum benchmarks.

We work with lenders offering:

– Term Loans
– Working Capital Loans
– Bridge Loans
– Equipment and Vehicle Financing
– Capital Campaign Loans
– Pre-development and Construction Loans
– Revenue-based Financing
– Lines of Credit
– Mortgages
– Reimbursable Grant Loans

We offer loans as low as $25,000 and go up to a maximum of $50 Million.

Most applicants complete their B Generous loan application in 30 minutes or less. It then takes our credit department between 1-2 weeks to finalize a preliminary lending decision and connect you to the lender, if approved. Once that happens, you will complete a final review with the lender and then go into the closing process, assuming there are no other issues. The whole process can be as quick as 3 weeks to receive funding if everyone moves efficiently.

Terms vary by lender and loan type, so we cannot give you exact numbers, but common terms include:

– Loan terms from 1 to 25 years
– Rates anywhere from 7% to 13% (notes: rates vary with the prime lending rate)
– Flexible repayment structures
– Loan amounts from $25,000 to $50 million

Many lenders in our network allow early repayment with no prepayment penalties, but it depends on the loan agreement. We’ll help you review the terms.

Contact your lender immediately. Some lenders offer grace periods or temporary relief for short-term funding delays. Communication is key.

In most cases, no. Our lenders understand nonprofit structures and usually do not require personal guarantees. Exceptions may apply for startups or higher-risk loans.

For all loans you will need to demonstrate that you can repay the loan somehow, or you will need to have a guarantor if you cannot demonstrate that your nonprofit has the cashflow to repay the loan by itself. With strong guarantor and strong demonstrated cash flow some lenders may offer you an unsecured loan, especially for working capital or bridge financing. However, for larger loans or capital projects, lenders will often request some form of collateral such as real estate, equipment, receivables, securities, land, endowment capital, or even pledged grants.

Acceptable collateral includes:

• Real estate or leasehold interests
• Vehicles or equipment
• Grant receivables or pledged donations
• Endowments or investment accounts

Yes. Many lenders accept philanthropic guarantees or first-loss capital from foundations or major donors, which can lower your borrowing costs.

B Generous fundamentally believes in transparency, and we are proud to stand on our record. This is why we have pictures and bios of all of our team members on our website, we list our loan terms and rates openly, and, most importantly, have a laundry list of happy nonprofit customers willing to testify on our behalf (see our testimonial page HERE).

Additionally, B Generous has been covered extensively in the press, most notably in The Washington Post, Associated Press, CBS News, NBC News, Nasdaq, AXIOS, Yahoo Finance, TheStreet, The Nonprofit Times, Nonprofit Pro, FastCompany, TechCrunch, Forbes, and more. See our press page HERE.
B Generous is also the recipient of several notable and high-profile awards, including:
– Fast Company’s World Changing Company List for 2023
– Winner of the “PayTech For Good” Award by FinTech Futures
– Named a “Startup to Watch” by The Business Journal
– “2024 Product Award Winner” by Products-That-Count
– Named an LA Rising Company and “The Future 5 of LA Tech” by Built-In-LA
– Listed in Nonprofit Hub’s “Top 2023 Trends You Need to Know”
– Listed in Inside Charity’s “Top Trends to Know”
– Listed by VentureBeat as an “Innovator to Watch”

Lastly, B Generous has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Our secure loan application portal is ISO 27001 certified, the global gold standard for information security, and that means all of your data in transit is encrypted using SSL/TLS with RSA 2048 key encryption and is backed up constantly to avoid any data loss.

Yes. Many lenders are open to refinancing existing obligations to reduce costs or improve cash flow.

Yes. Loans generally range from $25,000 to $50 million, based on your financials and project needs.

While we do not offer grant or fundraising services, we do offer Nonprofit Business Planning Services which can help your Nonprofit increase the chances of getting approved for a loan. If you are interested in this service, please reach out to applications@bgenerous.com and someone will be in touch within 48 hours.

Yes, on a case-by-case basis. The fiscal sponsor typically must agree to co-sign or guarantee the loan.

Usually our lenders request that you have been in operation for at least 12 months, have at least $50,000 in unrestricted net assets, and have generated a surplus. There can be exceptions to this if you have a confirmed grant or service contract or can provide a strong guarantor. If you are planning on starting a new nonprofit we recommend you contact our partners here.

That’s the power of a marketplace. We continue matching you with other qualified lenders. You only need to apply once.

If your nonprofit doesn’t receive a loan offer through the B Generous marketplace, don’t worry — you’re not out of options. B Generous is there to support you, not to sell to you. Most times we can tell you as soon as we review your application if you are likely to get funded. If we tell you that you are not currently qualified for funding or if you do not receive any loan offers, here’s what happens next:

We’ll Tell You Why—You’ll receive feedback on why you weren’t matched with a lender right now — whether it’s financials, documentation, or timing.

We Help You Improve—Our team will work with you to strengthen your application and prepare you to qualify in the future. That might include improving cash flow, building reserves, or updating key documents.

We Keep You in the Loop—As new lenders and programs enter our marketplace, we’ll re-evaluate your profile and let you know if new opportunities open up.

Yes. We support you every step of the way—from documentation to lender negotiations. We advocate for your success.