Camden-based food entrepreneurs can apply for flexible, community-backed financing from the Camden Food Fund, an initiative at the Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) co-designed with local residents.
Thanks to continued support from the Campbell’s Foundation and new investment from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Fund is opening a second round of lending for character-based microloans ranging from $500 to $50,000.
In November 2024, the Fund made its initial four loans in a first round.
Applications are open from July 10 through July 31 here. Eligible applicants are Camden food-based businesses or food ventures that participate in or help to advance a healthy, equitable local food economy.
The Camden Food Fund offers an accessible alternative to traditional financing, especially for entrepreneurs who have historically been denied capital due to credit history, collateral, or lack of institutional connections. The Camden Food Fund uses a character-based lending model, evaluating an applicant’s reputation, business impact, and community-rootedness rather than financials alone.
Access to financial capital is only one part of the business success equation. Every applicant (not only successful borrowers) to the Camden Food Fund in round two receives business support services (technical assistance) —including personalized coaching. This wrap-around support ensures that capital isn’t just distributed—but works effectively.
Positive economic outcomes of strategies integrating financial capital and technical assistance include increased access to capital, business creation and growth, improved business performance and survival, enhanced creditworthiness for applicants, and job creation. Positive social outcomes from this approach include personal empowerment, increased business literacy and capability, community cohesion, and improved local quality of life.
