Non-profit and community lenders are one option for obtaining loans. Many of these lenders are mission-driven, meaning they have community or social goals to support low-income communities, and therefore may have fewer restrictions than traditional banks when making lending decisions. Examples of community lenders include community development finance institutions (CDFIs) and some credit unions.

These loans are usually smaller or have fixed interest rates so that borrowers are less likely to default (fail to repay their loan). In addition to providing loans, many of these lenders also provide services like training or technical assistance.