WOMENS OPPORTUNITIES RESOURCE CENTER

The Economic Opportunities Fund (EOF) was created in 1999 in response to the increasingly unmet demand for start-up capital experienced by graduates of entrepreneurship training programs provided by our parent, Women’s Opportunities Resource Center (WORC). EOF is a designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) through the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Our mission is to provide access to capital for low-income and underserved populations in the Philadelphia metropolitan area with a specific emphasis on serving women and minorities who lack access to capital and credit. Our philosophy is to provide our "micro-entrepreneurs" with step-loans as small as $500 up to $35,000. This allows borrowers to finance individual parts of their business. As a borrower demonstrates she is able to handle a loan, she can apply for additional loans and/or lines of credit. This permits our borrowers to assume debt levels appropriate to their business size and capacity and minimize the risks for the fund or guarantor.