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ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR ENTREPRENEURS INC

EIN 58-2383669 CLEVELAND, GA

Revenue 2025
$20,626,677
Expenses 2025
$17,035,116

Program services were 83.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
S30
Classification
1000
Street
3173 HIGHWAY 129 N

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR ENTREPRENEURS, INC. (ACE), IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES LOANS TO START AND GROW BUSINESSES. ACE IS THE LARGEST GEORGIA-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (CDFI) FOCUSED ON SMALL BUSINESSES. FOUNDED IN 2000 WITH A $50,000 GRANT TO SERVE FOUR NORTH GEORGIA COUNTIES, ACE WAS CERTIFIED AS A CDFI IN 2004. ACE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED ITS REACH AND IMPACT OVER THE YEARS, WITH OFFICES IN ATLANTA, TIFTON (SOUTHWEST GEORGIA) AND CLEVELAND (NORTH GEORGIA), ALONG WITH WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER IN NORCROSS (METRO-ATLANTA). ACE'S MISSION IS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GROW BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CAPITAL. ACE OFFERS ITS BORROWERS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES TO CREATE FINANCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, ACE HAS PROVIDED OVER $295 MILLION IN LOANS TO 2,950 SMALL BUSINESSES, CREATING OR RETAINING MORE THAN 24,300 JOBS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PROVIDE LOANS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GROW BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO CAPITAL ACCESS.

  • ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR ENTREPRENEURS (ACE) PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM SERVICES TO SMALL BUSINESSES: 1.) LENDING: ACE IS COMMITTED TO DEPLOYING CAPITAL TO HIGH-POTENTIAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. THROUGH A THOROUGH AND EXPERIENCED REVIEW PROCESS, THESE ENTREPRENEURS DEMONSTRATE STRONG POTENTIAL AND REPRESENT SOUND, MISSION ALIGNED INVESTMENTS. ACE'S TRACK RECORD SHOWS THAT COMBINING CAPITAL WITH COACHING AND CONNECTIONS IS AN EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH. ACE OFFERS SMALLER LOANS THAT MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY PROFITABLE FOR BANKS BUT ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MANY EMERGING SMALL BUSINESSES. INDEED, THE ORGANIZATION TYPICALLY PROVIDES LOANS RANGING FROM $15,000 UP TO $1 MILLION. IN CASES WHERE A BUSINESS CANNOT QUALIFY FOR TRADITIONAL FINANCING AND THE PROPOSED PROJECT HAS SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY IMPACT, ACE CAN FACILITATE ACCESS TO CAPITAL IN EXCESS OF $1 MILLION. ADDITIONALLY, THE SAVE AND SUSTAIN PROGRAM PROVIDES LOW INTEREST LOANS TO BUSINESSES IMPLEMENTING ENERGY-EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. 2.) CREDIT ENHANCEMENTS: TO EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CAPITAL, ACE EMPLOYS INTEREST RATE BUYDOWNS AND LOAN GUARANTEES AS STRATEGIC TOOLS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS BORROWERS. A.) LOAN GUARANTEES: ACE USES AN IN-HOUSE LOAN GUARANTEE TO DEPLOY CAPITAL TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE LESS NET WORTH AND FEWER ASSETS TO PROVIDE THE EQUITY OR COLLATERAL NEEDED TO SECURE THEIR LOANS. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE GUARANTEE WILL BACKSTOP THE LOANS AND SERVE AS THE CLIENTS' COLLATERAL. B.) INTEREST RATE BUYDOWNS: ACE UTILIZES INTEREST RATE BUYDOWNS TO REDUCE THE INTEREST RATE OF LOANS TO BUSINESS BORROWERS STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC, INFLATION, AND OTHER ECONOMIC PRESSURES, AND IN NEED OF CAPITAL TO INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY. CONCESSIONARY TERMS MAY BE LOWER INTEREST RATES AND A LONGER PAYBACK PERIOD, SO THE BUSINESSES HAVE MORE CASH TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. 3.) SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS: ACE OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN ACHIEVING THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL GOALS. FOCUSED ON POTENTIAL AND ESTABLISHED BORROWERS, THESE SERVICES ARE INTEGRAL TO ACE'S MISSION OF HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES GROW BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CAPITAL AND PROVIDING THE NECESSARY TOOLS FOR SUCCESS. KEY SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMS OFFERED BY ACE INCLUDE: A.) TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS: ACE HOSTS A RANGE OF TRAINING SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS ON CRITICAL BUSINESS TOPICS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. THESE SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE ENTREPRENEURS THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO MANAGE AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES EFFECTIVELY. B.) WEBINARS: TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY AND REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE, ACE OFFERS WEBINARS ON TIMELY AND RELEVANT BUSINESS TOPICS. THESE VIRTUAL SESSIONS ALLOW ENTREPRENEURS TO LEARN FROM SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR HOME OR OFFICE. C.) NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES: ACE FACILITATES NETWORKING EVENTS THAT BRING ENTREPRENEURS TOGETHER TO SHARE EXPERIENCES, EXCHANGE IDEAS, AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOSTER COLLABORATION, SUPPORT PEER LEARNING, AND HELP BUILD A STRONG COMMUNITY OF BUSINESS OWNERS. BY PROVIDING HIGH-TOUCH, PERSONALIZED SERVICES, ACE SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT ENTREPRENEURS HAVE ACCESS TO THE COACHING, TRAINING, AND CONNECTIONS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. 4.) BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES: ACE'S BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES MODEL IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADING PRACTICE WITHIN THE CDFI ECOSYSTEM, KNOWN FOR ITS CLIENT-CENTERED, DATA-INFORMED, AND IMPACT-DRIVEN APPROACH. AT THE CORE OF THE MODEL IS THE INTENTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH SMALL BUSINESS IN ACE'S PORTFOLIO. THESE TRUSTED CONNECTIONS ENABLE ACE TO PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS CHALLENGES, OFTEN BEFORE CLIENTS RECOGNIZE THEM, WHILE TAILORING SUPPORT TO MEET EACH BUSINESS'S PACE, AVAILABILITY, AND LEVEL OF FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE. ACE'S TEAM OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS BRINGS A DIVERSE RANGE OF EXPERTISE AND COLLABORATES TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY, CUSTOMIZED GUIDANCE. THE ORGANIZATION USES A ROBUST SET OF KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS) TO INFORM STRATEGY AND EVALUATE OUTCOMES, INCLUDING ANNUAL FINANCIAL, REVENUE, AND EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, RISK ASSESSMENTS, CLIENT ENGAGEMENT RATIOS, AND CLIENT CONFIDENCE SURVEYS. SERVICES ARE DELIVERED THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE PROACTIVE COACHING AS WELL AS A RANGE OF INDUSTRY SPECIFIC AND CLIENT-FOCUSED COHORTS. THESE INCLUDE HIGH PERFORMANCE GROUPS (HPG) WITH MENTORING COMPONENTS, STRATEGIC PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION SESSIONS, THE BOOKKEEPING FOR GROWTH PROGRAM, AND THE RESTAURANT GROWTH PROGRAM. EACH INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO RECURRING CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED BY SMALL BUSINESS CLIENTS. TO ENSURE RELEVANCE AND DEPTH, ACE ALSO ENGAGES SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ALIGNED WITH SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS NEEDS. THE BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES MODEL EXEMPLIFIES ACE'S DELIBERATE BLEND OF EMPATHY, STRATEGIC INSIGHT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, ENSURING THAT SMALL BUSINESSES RECEIVE NOT ONLY EFFECTIVE SUPPORT BUT ALSO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE, LONG-TERM GROWTH. 5.) WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS: ACE OPERATED A WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) THAT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS GEORGIA. FUNDED IN PART THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, THIS CENTER IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES, COACHING, AND TRAINING TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS START, GROW, AND SUSTAIN THEIR BUSINESSES. LAUNCHED IN 2015, THE ACE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER SERVING METRO-ATLANTA HAS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 18,000 CLIENTS, TRAINED OVER 16,000 INDIVIDUALS, AND DELIVERED MORE THAN 525 TRAINING SESSIONS. IN 2025 ALONE, THE CENTER SERVED 885 UNIQUE CLIENTS, TRAINED NEARLY 1,701 INDIVIDUALS, AND CONDUCTED 84 TRAINING SESSIONS. IN RECOGNITION OF ITS IMPACT, THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION HONORED THE CENTER WITH THE 2022 WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER OF THE YEAR EXCELLENCE AWARD. AT THE 2022 SBA SMALL BUSINESS WEEK AWARDS LUNCHEON, THE WBC RECEIVED BOTH THE SOUTHEAST REGION IV AND GEORGIA DISTRICT WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER OF THE YEAR AWARDS. ACE'S SECOND WBC OPENED IN 2021 TO SERVE THE SAVANNAH REGION. SINCE ITS LAUNCH, THE SAVANNAH WBC HAS SERVED MORE THAN 750 UNIQUE CLIENTS, TRAINED NEARLY 1,000 INDIVIDUALS, AND FACILITATED 110 TRAINING SESSIONS. IN 2025, THE CENTER WAS CLOSED. THROUGH ITS EFFORTS, ACE EMPOWERS UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS GEORGIA TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC EQUITY, CREATING A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT LEADS TO STRONGER, MORE STABLE COMMUNITIES.

    Expenses $14,245,170 · Grants $2,000 · Revenue $15,601,102

As filed on the 2025 return.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • BILL ZAWROTNY

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • DALE ROYAL

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • GRACE LOPEZ-WILLIAMS

    TREASURER & FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • MARTINA EDWARDS

    PRESIDENT & CEO (INCOMING)

    Total calculated
    $344,113
    From this org
    $335,775
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,338
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $335,775
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,288
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,050
    Filer's total
    $344,113

  • SIBYL SLADE

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • CARLOS MATA

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • HOLLIS LINGINFLETER

    INVESTMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • MARVIN LIM

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • MARY KEPLER

    GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • MATT BOZZELLI

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • MIGUEL ALANDETE

    LOAN COMMITTEE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • STEPHANIE MARTIN

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • GRACE C FRICKS

    PRESIDENT & CEO (OUTGOING)

    Total calculated
    $339,500
    From this org
    $318,741
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,759
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $318,741
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $19,709
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,050
    Filer's total
    $339,500

  • WASSIA KAMON

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $247,191
    From this org
    $237,470
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,721
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $236,470
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,671
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,050
    Filer's total
    $247,191

  • RAYNARD CLAY

    DIRECTOR OF LENDING PROGRAMS

    Total calculated
    $161,984
    From this org
    $155,908
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,076
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $154,908
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,086
    Nontaxable benefits
    $990
    Filer's total
    $161,984

  • RAYNER PENNIE

    CHIEF OF BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES

    Total calculated
    $161,325
    From this org
    $155,900
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,425
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $154,900
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,453
    Nontaxable benefits
    $972
    Filer's total
    $161,325

  • SANDRA HEADLEY

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $177,259
    From this org
    $171,066
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,193
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $170,066
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,203
    Nontaxable benefits
    $990
    Filer's total
    $177,259

  • SHANON STEWART

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $215,147
    From this org
    $197,597
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,550
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $196,597
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $16,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,050
    Filer's total
    $215,147

  • TONYA RAPLEY

    DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

    Total calculated
    $148,244
    From this org
    $148,244
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2025
    Revenue
    $20,626,677
    Expenses
    $17,035,116
    Contributions
    $3,319,006
    Grants paid
    $2,000
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $25,034,907
    Expenses
    $15,384,994
    Contributions
    $12,825,287
    Grants paid
    $4,000
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $26,987,407
    Expenses
    $13,729,086
    Contributions
    $18,448,582
    Grants paid
    $4,000
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $13,820,713
    Expenses
    $7,021,021
    Contributions
    $9,259,677
    Grants paid
    $60,000

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $11,013,240
    Expenses
    $5,395,685
    Assets (EOY)
    $88,796,114

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $17,966,232
    Expenses
    $8,283,318
    Assets (EOY)
    $72,027,539

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $8,731,583
    Expenses
    $5,415,460
    Assets (EOY)
    $41,582,167

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $4,681,479
    Expenses
    $4,086,491
    Assets (EOY)
    $32,376,095

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $5,758,388
    Expenses
    $3,480,775
    Assets (EOY)
    $27,581,148

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,843,751
    Expenses
    $3,009,429
    Assets (EOY)
    $26,177,684

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,880,460
    Expenses
    $2,163,442
    Assets (EOY)
    $21,200,465

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,585,745
    Expenses
    $1,998,516
    Assets (EOY)
    $19,578,645

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,996,074
    Expenses
    $2,060,792
    Assets (EOY)
    $16,995,935

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $1,879,329
    Assets (EOY)
    $11,343,689

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.