Diverse Community Capital program Frequently asked questions This document is based on frequent questions we ve received since the Wells Fargo Works for Small Business : Diverse Community Capital (DCC) program launched in May 2015. For additional information, please visit https://www.wellsfargo.com/cdf or email us at diversecommunitycapital@wellsfargo.com. 1. What prompted Wells Fargo to launch the DCC program? In May 2015, Gallup released a study commissioned by Wells Fargo on lending to diverse-owned small businesses. The national study was commissioned to gain deeper insight into the attitudes, needs, and motivations of diverse small business owners related to their use of credit. Gallup conducted more than 3,000 telephone interviews covering six segments: African American, Asian, Hispanic, LGBT, veterans, and women. Among the study s fndings was that diverse small business owners were more likely than their counterparts in the general small business population to: Report having personal credit challenges and be declined for business credit, with African Americans being more likely to not reapply for credit after being declined. Have annual business revenues of less than $50,000 and to have a business in the startup and growing stages. As a result, they may not qualify for many conventional bank loan products. Be extremely or very interested in learning how to build a strong business credit application. Wells Fargo s DCC program is part of an action plan to address needs identifed in the study, with a goal of helping more diverse small businesses become credit-ready and gain access to credit.
2. What does the DCC The program includes the following components: program include? Grant Capital: Wells Fargo will make $25 million in grant funding available to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to build their fnancial, operational, and human capacity to serve diverse small businesses. CDFIs might seek funding to expand their own net worth and operational capacity, to develop a new product or products for their diverse business borrowers, or to pay for certain operational expenses. Debt Capital: Wells Fargo will make $50 million in debt capital available to CDFIs to build their lending capital to serve diverse small businesses. Senior debt typically for amounts of at least $3 million, foating market-rate interest, unsecured or secured depending on CDFI s capital structure, three- to fouryear term Subordinate debt (equity equivalent investments, or EQ2s) typically for amounts under $3 million, low fxed interest rate, unsecured, up to a 10-year term Social Capital: The program will ofer activities to build efective support networks and social infrastructure (Social Capital) among CDFIs for the purpose of increasing lending to diverse small businesses. Social Capital activities will include mentorship programs, peer learning, Knowledge Networks, and other collaborative eforts to improve and increase the capacity of CDFIs to lend to diverse business owners. Wells Fargo will ofer the Social Capital activities through Opportunity Finance Network (OFN). 3. What are the goals of the The goals of the DCC program are: DCC program? To increase lending to diverse small businesses To build the capacity of CDFIs to lend to and provide development services to small businesses To strengthen the readiness of diverse small businesses to access capital To improve and transform systems for how diverse small businesses access capital and development services 4. Can an organization indicate an interest in Debt Capital only or Grant Capital only? Yes. A CDFI may indicate interest in participating in all three program components (Debt Capital, Grant Capital, and Social Capital). We believe that DCC program goals are best met by CDFIs interested in, and with the demonstrated fnancial capacity to be awarded, all three components. These organizations will receive priority consideration; however, Wells Fargo will continue to consider Interest Forms from organizations interested in only Debt or Grant Capital because of their current capacity or structure. All awardees will be expected to participate in the Social Capital programs ofered through Opportunity Finance Network (OFN). 2
5. What is meant by diverse For the DCC program, we are defning diverse small businesses as being owned by small businesses? someone who is Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacifc Islander, Multiracial, Hispanic, Latino, female, a veteran, or LGBT. 6. What is meant by small business? 7. How can CDFIs use grant funds? Consistent with the Small Business Administration s defnition, small businesses refer to for-proft businesses ranging in size from microenterprises, with fve or fewer employees (including the proprietor), to small businesses with up to 500 employees. The purpose of the grant funding is to build CDFI capacity (capital, resources, and knowledge) and to increase and strengthen lending to diverse small businesses, particularly African American business owners. Proposed uses of grant funding include: Equity capital to increase lending capacity and manage risk, including additions to loan loss reserves Marketing, communications, and business outreach strategies and materials (including the development of online applications) targeting diverse small businesses, especially African American-owned businesses Actions and programs to create trust and establish CDFI presence in racially diverse communities Development and delivery of technical assistance and business and fnancial counseling for diverse small business owners Market research and new product development targeted at increasing lending to diverse small businesses Creation of support networks for small businesses owned by people of color for peer learning, business partnership, and business development opportunities Recruitment and training (internal and external) of staf Creation of credit underwriting policies and criteria for diverse small business borrowers Formation of business partnerships that work to expand CDFI capacity to increase capital access to diverse small businesses. Such partnerships or collaborations could involve other CDFIs, small business development centers, workforce training and development agencies, diverse chambers of commerce, and/or other local partners committed to increasing capital access for diverse business owners Strategic planning activities Impact measurement programs Replication or expansion of existing diverse small business lending strategies or programs Other operational support projects/programs designed to increase lending to diverse small businesses 3
8. How can CDFIs use the program s debt funds? 9. What are the eligibility requirements of the program? 10. Does my organization need to be certifed by the CDFI Fund in order to submit an Interest Form? 11. Is membership with Opportunity Finance Network required? 12. We are working collaboratively with other organizations to increase lending to diverse small businesses. Can our group of organizations submit an Interest Form? The debt capital is to be used for lending to diverse small businesses, particularly African American-owned businesses. Organizations must have a primary mission of community development, with a focus on serving low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities, be it a nongovernmental entity or a fnancing institution that primarily provides afordable, responsible fnancial products, and services. If the organization is part of, or controlled by another corporation(s), that corporation also must have a primary mission of community development. Organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status can also be considered if they work with a fscal sponsor with 501(c)3 tax-exempt status. A fscal sponsorship agreement between the two parties that outlines the responsibilities and oversight of the fscal sponsor must be in place and submitted with an Interest Form. Certain organizations with 501(c)(4) tax status that meet other eligibility requirements may also be eligible to apply for debt capital only. Please inquire at diversecommunitycapital@wellsfargo.com before submitting an Interest Form. Organizations must have completed at least two consecutive years of small business lending as of the date of the application. Located in and serving the U.S. No. Certifcation is not required. However, all of the eligibility requirements of the program must be met. While we are pleased to be working with OFN on this program, membership is not a requirement to be considered for funding. While we encourage collaboration, the Interest Form must be completed by a lead organization that meets program eligibility requirements. Any potential funds awarded will be granted or loaned to the lead organization. 4
13. What are the selection criteria for the program? Wells Fargo will evaluate applicants for all three program components using the following selection criteria: A compelling strategy to increase lending to diverse small businesses. Compelling strategies will be comprehensive, leveraging other resources, and resulting in meaningful and measurable impact and change. Compelling strategies may have elements of innovation (in delivery of fnancing, technical assistance, outreach, marketing, etc.), scalability, and replicability. Strategies should include specifc and credible projected outcomes and an articulation of overall community impact over a three-year period. Acceptable CDFI fnancial performance in terms of capital adequacy, assets, management capability, earnings, and liquidity. CDFIs will provide current interim fnancial statements and the last three audits. Financial analysis will cover trends in topics such as (but not limited to): Change in net assets/change in unrestricted net assets Self-sufciency Net asset ratio/unrestricted net asset ratio Pledged/unencumbered assets Liquidity (unrestricted cash, months of operating cash) Asset-liability matching Portfolio performance (past dues, nonaccruals, TDRs, charge-ofs, loan loss reserve levels) Portfolio management (policies for risk rating, borrower and overall portfolio reviews, etc.) Projections and strategic plan (especially as they relate to proposed portfolio growth) AERIS rating (if available) We will consider Interest Forms from CDFIs serving all segments of diversity (as defned in these guidelines); we will give priority consideration to strategies which increase lending to African American-owned businesses and to Interest Forms submitted by CDFIs led by people of color. 14. Do we have to submit separate Interest Forms if our organization serves multiple markets? No. The Interest Form will prompt you to describe your market(s), including the geographic scope of your work. 5
15. What is the size of the grants and loans? 16. My CDFI received a DCC award in an earlier round. Can we submit for additional capital? 17. How does a CDFI express interest in the DCC program? The size of grant and/or loan will depend on the organization s capacity, geographic scope, and strength of proposal. Loan size will also depend on Wells Fargo Community Lending & Investment s current exposure and other underwriting factors. Grants will generally range from $50,000 to $500,000 Loans will generally range from $100,000 to several million At this time, we are unable to consider funding to CDFIs that have already received capital through this program. CDFIs that are interested in one or more components of the Diverse Community Capital program will submit an Interest Form available at http://www.cybergrants.com/wellsfargo/dcc/interestform. The Interest Form will solicit responses to: The unmet needs of diverse small businesses in a CDFI s market The CDFI s strategy to increase lending and other services to diverse small business, how DCC resources would support the strategy, and the projected outcomes of the proposed strategy Which components of the DCC program the CDFI is interested in (grant, debt, and social capital) The proposed use of DCC funds and how the strategy will be sustained after the resources are exhausted The dollar and number of loans to diverse small businesses in the past three fscal years and the projected dollar and number of loans for the next three fscal years A breakdown of lending to diverse borrowers Portfolio performance information for three fscal years, including past dues, nonaccruals, restructures, and charge-ofs Other fnancial metrics for three fscal years, including self-sufciency ratio, operating cash on hand, net asset ratio, and unrestricted net asset ratio CDFIs will also be asked to upload a copy of the last three years of audited fnancial statements and the most recent interim fnancial statements. 6
18. What happens after the CDFI completes the DCC Interest Form? After reviewing the Interest Forms, Wells Fargo will invite selected CDFIs to apply for Grant and/or Debt Capital for the last round of the current DCC program. Note the timeframe for the program that follows. Wells Fargo will inform all applicants of one of the following: The applicant is invited to apply for a grant and/or debt capital in the current and the last round of the current program. The applicant is declined. Social Capital activities will be determined and organized based on needs identifed by Wells Fargo and OFN and levels of interest by program applicants. 19. For those CDFIs that are invited to apply for a grant, what additional information will they need to provide? 20. What is the next step for CDFIs that are invited to apply for Debt Capital? 21. If my organization s Interest Form is deferred or declined, will we receive any feedback about the decision? 22. How will Wells Fargo measure the impact of the DCC program? All CDFIs that have been invited by Wells Fargo to ofcially apply for a grant will need to submit an online application through the Wells Fargo Cyber Grants system. The online application will include, but not be limited to: An opportunity to more fully explain the organization s strategy for serving diverse small businesses with DCC resources Form 990 A detailed budget for the requested grant funds A borrower success story A list of board members with afliations Demographics of the individuals served Full grant applications are submitted electronically. No paper or email requests will be accepted. Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investing will supply CDFIs invited to apply for Debt Capital with an application form that requests additional information on fnancial and portfolio performance, lending policies and procedures, capital structure, and organizational and management structure and capacity. CDFIs will submit completed applications via email. Yes. Organizations can schedule an appointment to learn more about our review process and the rationale for our decision. In addition to standard fnancial reporting associated with a grant and/or loan award, CDFIs will be asked to provide: An annual report for the term of the grant and/or loan that includes data on lending and technical assistance provided to diverse small businesses. Two borrower success stories during the program period. 7
23. Does requesting or receiving DCC program resources impact our organization s ability to request standard grant support? 24. What is the timeline for the DCC program? No. You may continue to submit a request as you have in the past. Visit https://www.wellsfargo.com/donations for detailed information on Wells Fargo s corporate giving in your area. This is the fnal round of the current DCC program. The timeframe for round 6 is Round 6 program opens May 1, 2018 Interest Forms due May 21, 2018* All CDFIs informed of results of Interest Form review July 20, 2018 Full Grant and Debt Capital applications due August 10, 2018 Announcements of round 6 awardees for grant, November 2018 Debt, and Social Capital Programs *Interest Forms are due by Midnight Pacifc Time 25. Will the DCC program Yes. In December 2017, Wells Fargo announced an additional $100 million for the be extended? continuation and expansion of the DCC program. In round 6, we will distribute what remains of the original commitment of Debt and Grant Capital according to the current program guidelines and process. In 2018, we will begin to distribute an additional $100 million in Grant Capital, continuing through 2020. The plans and guidelines for the continued and expanded commitment are still being developed and will be communicated this summer. For additional information, please visit https://www.wellsfargo.com/cdf or email us at diversecommunitycapital@wellsfargo.com. 2018 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. IHA-5587101