People are unstoppable forces. Life circumstances are real and sometimes overwhelming, yet they should not determine what we can do in the present or be in the future. We believe everyone should be free to make choices to activate the possible.
RMMFI creates the space for communities and people of all backgrounds to realize their unique potential through the power of entrepreneurship.
Our relationships, decisions, and actions are rooted in trust.
Leveraging a growth mindset, we create innovative solutions.
We act with our entrepreneurs and community in mind.
We value one another and leverage the strengths of others and our community.
We seek to understand, share expertise, and improve through cycles of learning.
We put decisions in the right hands: our staff, our entrepreneurs, and our community.
We’re grounded in our North Star and align our actions with outcomes in mind.
We recognize that the strength of a “thing” is only as strong as the person behind it.
Microentrepreneurship is a powerful tool to build both individual and community prosperity. The median net worth of business owners is nearly 2.5x higher than non-business owners (Association for Enterprise Opportunity), and most job creation is from new small businesses (National Bureau of Economic Research).
But personal, professional, systemic, political, and economic barriers prevent many from accessing the benefits of ownership. These barriers undermine individual and communal belief in accessible pathways to ownership, resulting in an inequitable opportunity for economic inclusion and community autonomy as well as a poorly diversified economy.
According to Global Policy Solutions, the racial wealth gap in business ownership costs 9 million jobs and $3 billion to the economy.
of community building
in financial resources (annual budget)
current volunteers and mentors
staff, contractors, and board members
referral and resource partners
English & Spanish programming
entrepreneurs to see and activate their potential
the whole entrepreneur with resources, referrals, and connections
on business ideation, launch, and growth through cohort and individual learning
through relationship-based lending and grants
entrepreneurs to coaches, customers, and a community
for equitable access to personal and business support, capital, and market opportunities
Celebrating the achievements and milestones that highlight the hard work of our team and our growing impact through the years.
RMMFI is proud to be one of two 2023 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® winners in Colorado alongside GRID Alternatives. For 20 years, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program has created more sustainable communities by providing nonprofits with tools to strengthen their strategic plans, develop emerging leaders and enhance funding opportunities. The Neighborhood Builders program is one of the largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development in the nation, providing comprehensive leadership training for an executive director and an emerging leader on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability and human capital management, to strategic storytelling and the opportunity to join a national network of peer organizations. Each Builder is also awarded a $200,000 grant over two years. In Colorado, Bank of America has named 16 Neighborhood Builders winners since 2013 which adds up to more than $3 million invested in these critical nonprofits.
Entrepreneurs recognize their own potential and are empowered to define their personal and professional success
Entrepreneurs are achieving what they want in life and bringing their ideas to life
Entrepreneurs explore and ideate business concepts
Entrepreneurs launch and capitalize their business!
Entrepreneurs and their households experience economic inclusion and mobility through operating thriving, resilient businesses
Entrepreneurs take the initiative to work on their dreams and build community with other entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs develop meaningful connections to coaches, customers, and community
Entrepreneurs invest in their communities as owners and local leaders
Director of Finance and Lending
Capital Access Coach and Portfolio Coordinator
Partners and Events Manager
Outreach and Marketing Coordinator
Senior Development Manager
Director of Programs and Operations
Spanish Program Coordinator
Office Administrator
Statewide Coordinator
Thrive Coordinator
RMMFI recognizes that in order to pursue our North Star, we must approach our work and lead through a framework of racial, gender, and geographic equity.
At RMMFI, we believe that entrepreneurship is a vehicle that can be used to create the life people want for ourselves and our communities.
We know racial inequities and systemic barriers in education, access to capital, and access to opportunity have kept people of color and systemically marginalized communities out of mainstream access.
We intentionally take part in conversations about structural racism as well as engage diverse voices in problem-solving, decision-making, and issues of accessibility. In order to aim bigger and go deeper, RMMFI is committed to supporting our entrepreneurs, staff, and community members equitably.
Working in nonprofits for all of my career, one question that continually lingers is: Who owns a non-profit? The answer is The Community owns it. Nonprofits are created to be responsible and accountable to the Communities we serve. To Do the Right Thing, To Do No Harm, and to exhaustingly strive to solve the problem that forces us to exist in the first place. Nonprofits exist to solve social issues through missions that support the community in ways private corporations can’t support and the government won’t support. RMMFI has and continues to seek to provide space for anyone to thrive in their potential through entrepreneurship. We exist because systemic barriers of racism and gender inequality have kept business ownership out of reach for historically excluded communities across our state. We believe business ownership is for everyone and it’s the diversity of backgrounds, experience and passions that create strong businesses.
To our Entrepreneurs: One of my favorite stats we track at RMMFI is that 8 out of 10 RMMFI graduates give back to their communities through their business. As business owners, you are leaders. You are innovators, disruptors, and change makers. You’re solving complex community problems through business – sometimes with one idea, sometimes with 10 ideas, and I’m constantly in awe of your resiliency. At RMMFI we are committed to standing by you and advocating for economic inclusion for all our microbusinesses within Colorado and beyond.
When describing their success, one of our graduate entrepreneurs recently said, “FACE it till you make it”. Not Fake it. Face it. RMMFI is here to face the uncertainty of the future and the instability in our communities with the hope, resiliency, and power of entrepreneurship.
In Community,
Jessica Sveen, CEO
RMMFI Board Chair / Co-Owner, Feeding the Multitudes Catering
Strategic Consultant, Newmont Corporation
Owner and Founder, Mesh Advisory LLC
Founder/Partner, Workman & Associates
Treasury Management Specialist, Huntington Bank
CFA, VL Meyer and Associates
Flight Attendant, Frontier Airlines and Owner of Bria’s Italian Fusion LLC
HR Project Principles, Lumen Technologies
