Cover photo for Steward Loans

Steward Loans

Steward


Unlike traditional banks or lenders, Steward is 100% focused on the growth of regenerative farms, ranches, fisheries, and local food producers. Steward offers business loans tailored to your specific financial situation. So whether you’re looking to add a hoop house, purchase new equipment, or acquire the land you cultivate, a Steward loan may help propel your business forward.

Steward loans range from $10,000 to $1,000,000+ (average loan ~ $50k, largest loan to-date $700k).

What They Fund:

  • Human-scale fruit & vegetable farms, livestock (animals, poultry, eggs, etc.), seafood & aquaculture, food & textile products, supply chain & food system infrastructure.

  • Funds may be used for equipment, infrastructure, land, inventory, working capital, marketing.


Eligibility

  • 3+ years farming experience (new operations with significant experience)

  • U.S. business in good standing (LLC, Inc., or registered nonprofit)

  • Incorporate regenerative and sustainable practices

  • Securable assets (loan collateralized by land, equipment, inventory, etc.) 


Terms

  • Loan Terms: range from 36 months to 60 months (sometimes longer)

  • Interest Rate: range from 5% to 10% depending on purpose of loan and state of business (6%- 8% is most common, all interest passed on to lenders).

  • Repayment: typically begin 3-6 months after funds are disbursed.

  • Fees: Steward charges a fixed 3% origination fee, that’s it.


Application Instructions

Make an account here to start you application.

Steps to expect:

  1. Apply: Complete the online loan application, telling us more about your business and financial needs.

  2. Approval: Work with the Steward team to confirm loan terms and plan for your raise campaign on Steward’s lending platform.

  3. Private Raise: Start by sending emails and making phone calls to invite qualified “anchor lenders” in your network to participate early in your campaign to build momentum.

  4. Public Raise: Once a campaign reaches a certain percentage funded (typically 20-25%), the raise is featured on Steward’s public website. Here we co-market the campaign with outreach to prospective lenders in your community, as well as Steward's national lender network.

  5. Receive Capital: After a successful raise, Steward will finalize its loan to your farm business by disbursing funds through our secure lending platform.

  6. Grow: Expand your business and share your success! Begin repaying your loan to Steward starting 90 days* after the loan funds are received. At that point, Steward will automatically begin repayments to participating lenders in this project.





Updated June 23, 2023

Image Credit: Steward

This information was gathered from public sources. Ambrook is not responsible for or able to affect the results of any financial programs listed, nor are they responsible for any incorrect information that is listed or is on the hyperlinked external sites. All information is subject to change.

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