Our Story

Building a more equitable system for nonprofit access to government funding.

Our Mission

To eliminate cash flow barriers that prevent nonprofits from accessing government funding.

Our Vision

A world where every nonprofit can use government funding to make an impact.

How ReFund Began

ReFund was born out of our experience working with Indigenous communities and grassroots organizers at the forefront of addressing the climate crisis. Time and again, we heard from nonprofits about how reimbursement-based funding was holding organizations back. We identified a critical gap in the funding ecosystem and we recognized this problem was solvable.

While billions of dollars in government grants and contracts are available to support community services, many nonprofits access these funds due to cash flow barriers.

We saw organizations forced to choose between serving their communities and maintaining financial stability. We saw talented leaders spending more time managing cash flow than delivering programs. We saw a system that perpetuated inequity by favoring organizations with existing wealth and access to capital.

ReFund was created to change this.

The Problem We Saw

2/3

of nonprofits rely on government funding, yet reimbursement delays of 60–180 days are routine.

Organizations with limited reserves face impossible choices. This system disproportionately excludes the organizations best positioned to serve communities with the greatest need.

Impossible Choices

Delay critical services while waiting for reimbursement
Drain unrestricted reserves meant for resilience
Turn to expensive loans that consume grant value
Decline government contracts altogether

Our Approach

Recoverable grants offer a fundamentally different model. By providing zero-cost, upfront capital that nonprofits repay once government reimbursements arrive, we eliminate interest, fees, and debt for nonprofits, and preserve unrestricted funds to support ongoing organizational stability and mission delivery.

Our model builds on existing government due diligence, simplifying the application process for nonprofits while maintaining strong stewardship. We're the first initiative designed to deploy recoverable grants at scale specifically to address government funding cash flow challenges. Our focused mission allows us to simplify decision-making, keep our infrastructure lean, and keep our overhead minimal.

Zero Cost

No interest or hidden fees for nonprofits.

Recoverable

Funds may be deployed again and again.

Equitable

Levels the playing field.

Our Journey

2025

ReFund Founded

Team assembled, model developed, initial research completed.

2026

Launch Phase

Raising seed funding and recoverable grant capital, building infrastructure.

2027

First Grants Deploy

Supporting nonprofits across multiple states and sectors.

2029

Sustainability

Fully supported by financial model, expanding reach.

Our Values

Equity

Centering organizations and communities excluded from traditional financing.

Innovation

Evolving new approaches in philanthropy.

Collaboration

Working with funders, nonprofits, and advocates to build the field.

Our Partners

ReFund is supported by foundations, individual donors, and partner organizations committed to nonprofit financial resilience and equitable access to government funding.

ReFund is fiscally sponsored by Indigenous Futures Society.

Looking Ahead

We envision a future when cash flow is no longer a barrier to government funding access, when recoverable grants are a standard tool in the philanthropic toolkit, and when every nonprofit can focus on mission delivery instead of managing cash flow.

This vision requires partnership, innovation, and commitment from across the sector. We're building ReFund to be a catalyst for systemic change. We invite you to join us.

Join Us in Transforming Nonprofit Finance

Whether you're a funder, nonprofit, or advocate, there are many ways to get involved.

Support ReFund Contact Us