The people we call lenders are a private group of financiers from California making bids on a spectrum from pure loans to pure donations.  They include banks, CDFIs, impact investors, foundations, and donors.

Lenders can choose a project based on categories such as risk rating, interest rate or social cause. They can make a standard loan offer, a donation, or customize a loan+donation offer. We rank all the offers for the borrower and give priority to those that are most attractive for the borrower.

Lenders can continue to make competitive offers after a project has reached its funding goal but before the loan closes.

Lenders will remain anonymous to borrowers and other users.