FUSE
Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses
FUSE, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21276
Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses
Join to apply for the
Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses
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FUSE Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses
Join to apply for the
Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses
role at
FUSE Embedding private sector executives in city and county agencies to lead projects that narrow racial disparities, improve public services, and…
The City of Baltimore is working to expand access to capital for small businesses, with a focus on historically underserved communities, to address longstanding funding challenges and promote sustainable economic growth. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop strategic recommendations to improve financial accessibility, strengthen partnerships with lenders, and design innovative funding models that increase business sustainability. Ultimately, this will help Baltimore close capital access gaps for all entrepreneurs, particularly those from historically underserved communities, fostering a more resilient small business ecosystem. Fellowship Dates: October 27, 2025 – October 23, 2026 Salary:
Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual base salary of $80,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. Compensation for this year of public service is not intended to represent market-rate compensation for the experienced professionals in our program. PROJECT CONTEXT Access to capital is critical for fostering economic growth, financial empowerment, and business sustainability, particularly among minority-owned small businesses. Access to flexible, affordable funding allows small businesses to scale operations, hire employees, and contribute to local economic development. However, many entrepreneurs from historically underserved communities face significant challenges when seeking financial resources, including historic disinvestment, limited banking relationships, and high lending thresholds. Without sufficient capital, these businesses struggle to grow, limiting wealth-building opportunities, economic mobility, and job creation for historically marginalized communities. The City of Baltimore has taken steps to address these disparities and close the racial wealth gap to ensure that all entrepreneurs can thrive in Baltimore’s economy. The city has been working to expand financing options for small businesses by investing in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), microloan programs, and alternative lending initiatives that provide entrepreneurs with nontraditional funding sources. They have also begun strengthening financial literacy and technical assistance programs to equip small business owners with the skills and resources necessary to successfully navigate lending processes. Baltimore has also recently launched economic development initiatives aimed at strengthening the city’s small business ecosystem and removing administrative burdens that disproportionately impact undercapitalized entrepreneurs. While these initiatives have expanded capital access for many, small business owners—especially those from historically underserved communities—continue to face obstacles in securing the flexible funding needed to sustain and scale their enterprises. The city is now working to strengthen and expand programs and processes to address these barriers. Baltimore will partner with FUSE to develop strategic recommendations to improve access to capital for small businesses, with a focus on increasing participation in funding programs and financial systems among historically underserved communities. The FUSE Executive Fellow will: conduct a landscape analysis to assess existing funding gaps, lending disparities, and financial barriers; strengthen collaboration between stakeholders such as CDFIs, financial institutions, business owners, and city agencies; and design innovative solutions to expand financing options. Ultimately, this will help drive long-term economic opportunity, strengthen Baltimore’s small business ecosystem, and empower historically underserved entrepreneurs with the financial tools necessary to help them succeed. PROJECT SUMMARY Beginning in October 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will work with Baltimore city agencies, financial institutions, CDFIs, small business owners, and community groups to develop strategic recommendations that expand access to capital for BIPOC-owned businesses. This will help increase financial opportunity, close funding gaps, and ensure that small businesses can access the capital needed to thrive. The Executive Fellow will begin by conducting a comprehensive listening tour with relevant stakeholders, including entrepreneurs from underserved communities, CDFI representatives, banking institutions, alternative lenders, business support organizations, and city officials, to gather insights into current lending challenges, regulatory barriers, and financial resource limitations. The Fellow will conduct a landscape analysis of existing loan programs, grant opportunities, and best practices from other cities that have successfully expanded access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs. This research will help identify funding gaps and systemic challenges that hinder equitable financial access in Baltimore’s own system. The Executive Fellow will then outline specific project goals and deliverables for city leadership to review and approve, which will guide the remainder of the fellowship’s work. The Executive Fellow will use the collected insights to develop a set of strategic recommendations that expand financing options, improve financial assistance programs, and streamline access to capital for historically underserved businesses. This will include designing innovative funding models, recommending policy improvements, and collaborating with financial institutions to create flexible and accessible lending programs. The Fellow will explore expanding the role of CDFIs and alternative lenders, identifying opportunities to increase investment and support from public and private sector partners to produce a suite of robust, flexible funding sources. The Fellow will also work with city officials to reduce barriers and simplify access to city-supported financial resources. The Fellow will work to implement and operationalize these new strategies as time allows. Throughout the project year, the Fellow will focus on enhancing collaboration between financial institutions, small business support networks, and city agencies. This will involve facilitating stakeholder discussions, building partnerships that align lending practices with the community’s needs, and increasing transparency around funding opportunities. The Fellow will also continue to build on the city’s financial literacy and technical assistance resources, ensuring that small business owners are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate financial systems successfully. By the conclusion of the project, the FUSE Executive Fellow will have developed a comprehensive capital access strategy, including policy recommendations, program enhancements, and a sustainable funding framework. The Fellow will establish performance metrics and impact evaluation tools to measure the success of these initiatives and ensure that improvements are scalable and sustainable after the fellowship ends. Additionally, the Fellow will work with city officials to institutionalize equal financial access strategies, integrating them into Baltimore’s long-term economic development policies. Ultimately, this project will create a more transparent and resilient small business financing ecosystem, ensuring that all Baltimore entrepreneurs have the capital and resources needed to succeed. KEY STAKEHOLDERS Executive Sponsor:
Christopher R. Lundy, Director, Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development Project Supervisor:
Stephen Campbell, Deputy Director, Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development QUALIFICATIONS Synthesizes complex information into clear and concise recommendations and action-oriented implementation plans. Develops and effectively implements both strategic and operational project management plans. Generates innovative, data-driven, and result-oriented solutions to complex challenges. Respond quickly to changing ideas, responsibilities, expectations, trends, strategies, and other processes. Communicates effectively verbally and in writing and excels in active listening and conversing. Fosters collaboration across multiple constituencies to support more effective decision-making. Establishes and maintains strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, both inside and outside of government, particularly community-based relationships. Embraces differing viewpoints and implements strategies to find common ground. Demonstrates confidence and professional diplomacy while effectively interacting with individuals at all levels of various organizations. FUSE is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position. Seniority level
Seniority level Director Employment type
Employment type Full-time Job function
Job function Strategy/Planning, Consulting, and Project Management Industries Non-profit Organizations and Government Relations Services Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at FUSE by 2x Get notified about new Project Manager jobs in
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Join to apply for the
Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses
role at
FUSE Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses
Join to apply for the
Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses
role at
FUSE Embedding private sector executives in city and county agencies to lead projects that narrow racial disparities, improve public services, and…
The City of Baltimore is working to expand access to capital for small businesses, with a focus on historically underserved communities, to address longstanding funding challenges and promote sustainable economic growth. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop strategic recommendations to improve financial accessibility, strengthen partnerships with lenders, and design innovative funding models that increase business sustainability. Ultimately, this will help Baltimore close capital access gaps for all entrepreneurs, particularly those from historically underserved communities, fostering a more resilient small business ecosystem. Fellowship Dates: October 27, 2025 – October 23, 2026 Salary:
Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual base salary of $80,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. Compensation for this year of public service is not intended to represent market-rate compensation for the experienced professionals in our program. PROJECT CONTEXT Access to capital is critical for fostering economic growth, financial empowerment, and business sustainability, particularly among minority-owned small businesses. Access to flexible, affordable funding allows small businesses to scale operations, hire employees, and contribute to local economic development. However, many entrepreneurs from historically underserved communities face significant challenges when seeking financial resources, including historic disinvestment, limited banking relationships, and high lending thresholds. Without sufficient capital, these businesses struggle to grow, limiting wealth-building opportunities, economic mobility, and job creation for historically marginalized communities. The City of Baltimore has taken steps to address these disparities and close the racial wealth gap to ensure that all entrepreneurs can thrive in Baltimore’s economy. The city has been working to expand financing options for small businesses by investing in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), microloan programs, and alternative lending initiatives that provide entrepreneurs with nontraditional funding sources. They have also begun strengthening financial literacy and technical assistance programs to equip small business owners with the skills and resources necessary to successfully navigate lending processes. Baltimore has also recently launched economic development initiatives aimed at strengthening the city’s small business ecosystem and removing administrative burdens that disproportionately impact undercapitalized entrepreneurs. While these initiatives have expanded capital access for many, small business owners—especially those from historically underserved communities—continue to face obstacles in securing the flexible funding needed to sustain and scale their enterprises. The city is now working to strengthen and expand programs and processes to address these barriers. Baltimore will partner with FUSE to develop strategic recommendations to improve access to capital for small businesses, with a focus on increasing participation in funding programs and financial systems among historically underserved communities. The FUSE Executive Fellow will: conduct a landscape analysis to assess existing funding gaps, lending disparities, and financial barriers; strengthen collaboration between stakeholders such as CDFIs, financial institutions, business owners, and city agencies; and design innovative solutions to expand financing options. Ultimately, this will help drive long-term economic opportunity, strengthen Baltimore’s small business ecosystem, and empower historically underserved entrepreneurs with the financial tools necessary to help them succeed. PROJECT SUMMARY Beginning in October 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will work with Baltimore city agencies, financial institutions, CDFIs, small business owners, and community groups to develop strategic recommendations that expand access to capital for BIPOC-owned businesses. This will help increase financial opportunity, close funding gaps, and ensure that small businesses can access the capital needed to thrive. The Executive Fellow will begin by conducting a comprehensive listening tour with relevant stakeholders, including entrepreneurs from underserved communities, CDFI representatives, banking institutions, alternative lenders, business support organizations, and city officials, to gather insights into current lending challenges, regulatory barriers, and financial resource limitations. The Fellow will conduct a landscape analysis of existing loan programs, grant opportunities, and best practices from other cities that have successfully expanded access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs. This research will help identify funding gaps and systemic challenges that hinder equitable financial access in Baltimore’s own system. The Executive Fellow will then outline specific project goals and deliverables for city leadership to review and approve, which will guide the remainder of the fellowship’s work. The Executive Fellow will use the collected insights to develop a set of strategic recommendations that expand financing options, improve financial assistance programs, and streamline access to capital for historically underserved businesses. This will include designing innovative funding models, recommending policy improvements, and collaborating with financial institutions to create flexible and accessible lending programs. The Fellow will explore expanding the role of CDFIs and alternative lenders, identifying opportunities to increase investment and support from public and private sector partners to produce a suite of robust, flexible funding sources. The Fellow will also work with city officials to reduce barriers and simplify access to city-supported financial resources. The Fellow will work to implement and operationalize these new strategies as time allows. Throughout the project year, the Fellow will focus on enhancing collaboration between financial institutions, small business support networks, and city agencies. This will involve facilitating stakeholder discussions, building partnerships that align lending practices with the community’s needs, and increasing transparency around funding opportunities. The Fellow will also continue to build on the city’s financial literacy and technical assistance resources, ensuring that small business owners are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate financial systems successfully. By the conclusion of the project, the FUSE Executive Fellow will have developed a comprehensive capital access strategy, including policy recommendations, program enhancements, and a sustainable funding framework. The Fellow will establish performance metrics and impact evaluation tools to measure the success of these initiatives and ensure that improvements are scalable and sustainable after the fellowship ends. Additionally, the Fellow will work with city officials to institutionalize equal financial access strategies, integrating them into Baltimore’s long-term economic development policies. Ultimately, this project will create a more transparent and resilient small business financing ecosystem, ensuring that all Baltimore entrepreneurs have the capital and resources needed to succeed. KEY STAKEHOLDERS Executive Sponsor:
Christopher R. Lundy, Director, Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development Project Supervisor:
Stephen Campbell, Deputy Director, Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development QUALIFICATIONS Synthesizes complex information into clear and concise recommendations and action-oriented implementation plans. Develops and effectively implements both strategic and operational project management plans. Generates innovative, data-driven, and result-oriented solutions to complex challenges. Respond quickly to changing ideas, responsibilities, expectations, trends, strategies, and other processes. Communicates effectively verbally and in writing and excels in active listening and conversing. Fosters collaboration across multiple constituencies to support more effective decision-making. Establishes and maintains strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, both inside and outside of government, particularly community-based relationships. Embraces differing viewpoints and implements strategies to find common ground. Demonstrates confidence and professional diplomacy while effectively interacting with individuals at all levels of various organizations. FUSE is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position. Seniority level
Seniority level Director Employment type
Employment type Full-time Job function
Job function Strategy/Planning, Consulting, and Project Management Industries Non-profit Organizations and Government Relations Services Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at FUSE by 2x Get notified about new Project Manager jobs in
Washington DC-Baltimore Area . Washington DC-Baltimore Area $71,000.00-$78,000.00 4 days ago McLean, VA $130,000.00-$140,000.00 1 week ago Safe Kids Worldwide Senior Program Manager
Washington, DC $84,718.40-$141,190.40 1 week ago Washington, DC $93,069.00-$105,001.00 2 weeks ago Washington, DC $90,000.00-$110,000.00 1 week ago Silver Spring, MD $57,200.00-$95,347.20 6 days ago Washington DC-Baltimore Area $60,000.00-$75,000.00 1 week ago Washington DC-Baltimore Area $125,000.00-$140,000.00 2 weeks ago Washington DC-Baltimore Area $90,000.00-$105,000.00 2 weeks ago Arlington, VA $120,000.00-$145,000.00 2 weeks ago Washington, DC $109,999.00-$131,138.00 1 day ago We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr