Equitable Access Program

The Equitable Access Program is an initiative of the Global Entrepreneurship Network and Hello Alice to ensure that every entrepreneur can access the capital they need to create the kind of sustainable small businesses that power local communities—and ultimately, our global economy.

Nine out of ten small business owners rely heavily on their personal credit score when applying for financing. US Veterans and women who have been in the care economy also tend to lack credit history that allows them to apply for traditional financing. This partnership is focused on empowering small business owners to improve their business health with expanded access to financial education, financing opportunities, and personalized resources for continued growth.

There is an estimated $1 trillion in unmet financing demand from all small businesses nationally each year. The Equitable Access Program, including the Business Health Score and Equitable Access Fund, was created in direct response to this need.

This is a massive financial and social impact opportunity.

The Equitable Access Program, inclusive of the Business Health Score and Equitable Access Fund, provides financial health technical assistance, education, and increased access to credit for high-potential but credit-challenged small business owners.

The Equitable Access Fund is a philanthropic fund providing credit enhancements that allow small business owners to access capital they wouldn’t be able to otherwise. These entrepreneurs will be provided with personalized credit-building education and resources to help them improve and build their credit history and financial health.

The $70 million Equitable Access Fund fund, managed by GEN with early support from multiple donors including corporations and foundations, will unlock $1 billion in credit access for thousands of underserved small business owners across the United States.

Entrepreneurs can review their holistic Business Health Score, designed to encourage improved financial performance and long-term success with the support of a real-time recommendation engine.

Providing financial institutions with a measurement of an entrepreneur’s potential beyond a regular credit score, this new dataset aims to build a comprehensive understanding of what’s possible for small business growth.