To finance larger investments, non-profits can also take out loans with banks or other financial institutions.
For example, a loan could be used to purchase equipment, organise an event, renovate or refurbish premises, buy real estate, etc. It is also possible to apply for a cash loan if you need to pre-finance an expense that will be (partially) reimbursed by a subsidy once the invoice has been paid.
Finance&invest.brussels
To benefit from one of finance&invest.brussels' products, the registered office of your non-profit organisation (NPO) may be in Brussels, Flanders or Wallonia, but the business unit receiving the investment must be located in Brussels.
Proxi loan
Ever considered tapping into private savings? A Proxi loan does exactly that.
There are specific requirements:
- lenders can't have family ties with your NPO
- your organisation must have its base in Brussels
- your lenders must be Brussels residents.
What's in it for lenders? They receive tax benefits since Finance.brussels passes this information on to the FPS Finance. The interest rates are compelling: 4% for the first three years, followed by 2.4% thereafter. Lenders can deduct 30% of the remaining debt from their taxable income if your organisation faces bankruptcy.
The CITIZ US Loan
Need access to substantial funding with support? The CITIZ US Loan offers up to €100,000 at a 4% interest rate, plus support services. It's specifically designed for companies and non-profits creating societal impact.
Guarantees and subordinated loans
Finance&invest.brussels also provides guarantees and subordinated loans if your NPO:
- Regularly engages in economic activity
- Has no more than 25% of voting rights held by public bodies
- Is not majority-owned (over 50%) by public investment corporations, venture capital firms, universities, or local authorities
Such a guarantee can be leveraged to obtain a bank loan, functioning like an insurance policy. It comes into effect only if you can no longer repay your business loan and the bank cancels your loans, demanding full repayment of the outstanding balance. These guarantees are particularly useful during dissolution or when ceasing operations.
⚠️ Facing temporary cash flow problems? It is advisable to negotiate a "grace period" with your bank immediately. This pause in monthly instalments provides you with breathing room until revenue starts flowing again. The important thing for the bank is spreading the risk among several parties.
microStart
microStart offers microloans up to €25,000 for NPOs and entrepreneurs—even those typically excluded from conventional banking. Their mission is to finance creation, expansion, or revival of small businesses.
Interest rates range between 11% and 13% depending on the loan type. For those with cultural, religious, or ethical concerns, microStart offers interest-free loan options (specific conditions apply).
Beyond just money, they provide free personalised coaching, practical advice, training, and follow-up tailored to your entrepreneurial needs.
Crédal
Social relevance matters to Crédal. This microloan organization developed a solidarity loan system specifically for non-profits, with your project's social impact serving as a prerequisite for obtaining funding.
Their offerings include:
- Cash loans (3 to 12 months)
- Working capital loans (1 to 5 years)
- Investment loans (3 to 20 years)
Amounts range from €2,500 to €1,000,000, with interest rates varying based on your project, term length, and loan type.
Triodos
Does your non-profit create a positive environmental, social, or cultural impact? Triodos Bank specialises in financing such organizations. They evaluate loan applications using both financial and non-financial criteria, examining your social, cultural, or environmental contributions.
They grant investment, cash flow, and working capital loans starting from €50,000.
Citizenfund
Think of Citizenfund as a collective investment vehicle. This investment cooperative pools money from individuals and legal entities, then channels these funds into businesses and non-profits generating positive societal impact through low-interest loans.
ST'ART
Working in the cultural and creative sector? ST'ART focuses on supporting the development of the creative economy in Wallonia and Brussels by providing direct financing solutions to businesses and non-profits.
Their financing options include:
- Loans (starting from €20,000)
- Guarantees
- Calls for projects specifically for the cultural and creative sector
F’in Common
Looking to supplement existing financing? F'in Common provides matching funds under identical conditions as those offered by partnering financial institutions (Brusoc, Credal, Triodos, etc.). They effectively double your loan capacity by complementing funds granted by other institutions.
Crowdlending
Have you considered the power of many small investors? Crowdlending—a form of crowdfunding—connects private individuals willing to lend money (with or without interest) to non-profits or companies with projects needing support.
Several platforms specialize in different sectors:
- MiiMOSA: A participatory financing platform offering both loans and donations for non-profits focused exclusively on agriculture and food.
- Socrowd: This platform provides interest-free loans targeting investments with social purposes in Flanders and Brussels (available only in Dutch).
- Ecco Nova: Here you'll find loans for projects accelerating energy transition and sustainable development.