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Catalyst is a consortium of seven Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) in Minnesota, including:
At Catalyst, our mission is clear: to increase the quantity and quality of support available to BIPOC-owned businesses in Minnesota. Since our inception, we have worked tirelessly to strengthen the ecosystem of support for BIPOC entrepreneurs.
Through collaborative efforts with our member partners, we aim to achieve the following:
We invest in building the capacity of organizations dedicated to serving BIPOC-owned businesses, ensuring they have the resources and expertise to thrive.
By pooling capital dedicated to BIPOC-owned businesses, we unlock new opportunities for growth and sustainability within the community.
We align strategic partners to improve outcomes for BIPOC-owned businesses, fostering synergy and collective impact.
We realign resources and programs to eliminate duplication and service gaps, maximizing efficiency and effectiveness.
We establish shared intake, assessment, and service protocols, as well as standardized impact metrics, ensuring consistency and accountability across the ecosystem.
We provide incentives for ecosystem partners to participate in scalable collaborations, driving collective action and innovation.
At Catalyst, we are guided by a set of principles that inform our work and drive our decision-making process:
We prioritize the common good and effectiveness of Minnesota's BIPOC business development sector, using a collaborative ecosystem-building approach.
We pursue comprehensive and sustainable solutions that leverage the resources of all member organizations, ensuring long-term success.
We prioritize nurturing and maintaining collaborative relationships, recognizing the value of shared leadership and responsibility.
We rely on informed deliberations, data, evaluations and evidence to guide our decision-making process, ensuring clarity of purpose and goals.
We support each unique member organization in building the capacity required for ecosystem work, ensuring that all collaborating organizations benefit from our collective efforts.
We consider it essential to consider the needs and perspectives of our diverse ecosystem of stakeholders when developing strategies and making choices.
Since our inception in 2016, Catalyst has made significant strides in advancing our mission. Through collaborative efforts and dedicated leadership, we have achieved notable successes, including:
Supporting thousands of small businesses during the pandemic, saving jobs and livelihoods.
Securing grant funding and developing new sources of capital to fuel our ongoing initiatives. Catalyst currently manages the Minnesota Inclusive Growth Fund , an $18.75M public/private pooled fund, including a $14.5M loan fund to support BIPOC entrepreneurs and their businesses in MN.
Progressing on key initiatives such as shared IT platform development, market research, and joint MOU agreements.
Building trust and fostering strong relationships among our member organizations.
We remain committed to securing more financial support for the communities we serve, speeding up our processes, growing in membership, and maintaining a big vision for the future. We are mindful of the challenges ahead and are dedicated to addressing capacity issues while maintaining a realistic approach to our goals.
The work of Catalyst is made possible by the dedication and commitment of our member partners, CEOs, and stakeholders. Together, we are driving positive change and creating opportunities for BIPOC-owned entrepreneurs to thrive. Join us in our mission to build a more inclusive and equitable ecosystem for businesses in Minnesota.
For more information on how to get involved or support our initiatives, please contact us.
Please fill out the form below.
For more information on how to get involved or support our initiatives, please contact us.
info@catalystcoalitionmn.org