2026-09-09T16:19:37+00:00 2025-12-31 580692043 MAULDIN & JENKINS LLC 200 GALLERIA PARKWAY SUITE 1700 ATLANTA GA 30339 990 2025-01-01 582383669 ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR ENTREPRENEURS INC ACCE 6783355600 3173 HIGHWAY 129N CLEVELAND GA 30528 MARTINA EDWARDS PRESIDENT & CEO 6783355600 2026-09-09 true MELISSA SEWARD P02145103 7709558600 2026-09-09 2025 MARTINA EDWARDS 3173 HIGHWAY 129N CLEVELAND GA 30528 20626677 false X ACELOANS.ORG X 1998 GA TO PROVIDE LOANS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GROW BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO CAPITAL ACCESS. 12 11 38 46 0 12825287 3319006 10096948 15601102 2112672 1706569 0 0 25034907 20626677 4000 2000 0 0 5707150 6172460 0 0 582614 9673844 10860656 15384994 17035116 9649913 3591561 134325923 149347655 71084905 82459859 63241018 66887796 ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR ENTREPRENEURS, INC. (ACE), IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES LOANS TO START AND GROW BUSINESSES. ACE IS THE LARGEST GEORGIA-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (CDFI) FOCUSED ON SMALL BUSINESSES. FOUNDED IN 2000 WITH A $50,000 GRANT TO SERVE FOUR NORTH GEORGIA COUNTIES, ACE WAS CERTIFIED AS A CDFI IN 2004. ACE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED ITS REACH AND IMPACT OVER THE YEARS, WITH OFFICES IN ATLANTA, TIFTON (SOUTHWEST GEORGIA) AND CLEVELAND (NORTH GEORGIA), ALONG WITH WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER IN NORCROSS (METRO-ATLANTA). ACE'S MISSION IS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GROW BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CAPITAL. ACE OFFERS ITS BORROWERS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES TO CREATE FINANCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, ACE HAS PROVIDED OVER $295 MILLION IN LOANS TO 2,950 SMALL BUSINESSES, CREATING OR RETAINING MORE THAN 24,300 JOBS. false false 14245170 2000 15601102 ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR ENTREPRENEURS (ACE) PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM SERVICES TO SMALL BUSINESSES: 1.) LENDING: ACE IS COMMITTED TO DEPLOYING CAPITAL TO HIGH-POTENTIAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. THROUGH A THOROUGH AND EXPERIENCED REVIEW PROCESS, THESE ENTREPRENEURS DEMONSTRATE STRONG POTENTIAL AND REPRESENT SOUND, MISSION ALIGNED INVESTMENTS. ACE'S TRACK RECORD SHOWS THAT COMBINING CAPITAL WITH COACHING AND CONNECTIONS IS AN EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH. ACE OFFERS SMALLER LOANS THAT MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY PROFITABLE FOR BANKS BUT ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MANY EMERGING SMALL BUSINESSES. INDEED, THE ORGANIZATION TYPICALLY PROVIDES LOANS RANGING FROM $15,000 UP TO $1 MILLION. IN CASES WHERE A BUSINESS CANNOT QUALIFY FOR TRADITIONAL FINANCING AND THE PROPOSED PROJECT HAS SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY IMPACT, ACE CAN FACILITATE ACCESS TO CAPITAL IN EXCESS OF $1 MILLION. ADDITIONALLY, THE SAVE AND SUSTAIN PROGRAM PROVIDES LOW INTEREST LOANS TO BUSINESSES IMPLEMENTING ENERGY-EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. 2.) CREDIT ENHANCEMENTS: TO EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CAPITAL, ACE EMPLOYS INTEREST RATE BUYDOWNS AND LOAN GUARANTEES AS STRATEGIC TOOLS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS BORROWERS. A.) LOAN GUARANTEES: ACE USES AN IN-HOUSE LOAN GUARANTEE TO DEPLOY CAPITAL TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE LESS NET WORTH AND FEWER ASSETS TO PROVIDE THE EQUITY OR COLLATERAL NEEDED TO SECURE THEIR LOANS. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE GUARANTEE WILL BACKSTOP THE LOANS AND SERVE AS THE CLIENTS' COLLATERAL. B.) INTEREST RATE BUYDOWNS: ACE UTILIZES INTEREST RATE BUYDOWNS TO REDUCE THE INTEREST RATE OF LOANS TO BUSINESS BORROWERS STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC, INFLATION, AND OTHER ECONOMIC PRESSURES, AND IN NEED OF CAPITAL TO INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY. CONCESSIONARY TERMS MAY BE LOWER INTEREST RATES AND A LONGER PAYBACK PERIOD, SO THE BUSINESSES HAVE MORE CASH TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. 3.) SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS: ACE OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN ACHIEVING THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL GOALS. FOCUSED ON POTENTIAL AND ESTABLISHED BORROWERS, THESE SERVICES ARE INTEGRAL TO ACE'S MISSION OF HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES GROW BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CAPITAL AND PROVIDING THE NECESSARY TOOLS FOR SUCCESS. KEY SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMS OFFERED BY ACE INCLUDE: A.) TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS: ACE HOSTS A RANGE OF TRAINING SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS ON CRITICAL BUSINESS TOPICS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. THESE SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE ENTREPRENEURS THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO MANAGE AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES EFFECTIVELY. B.) WEBINARS: TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY AND REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE, ACE OFFERS WEBINARS ON TIMELY AND RELEVANT BUSINESS TOPICS. THESE VIRTUAL SESSIONS ALLOW ENTREPRENEURS TO LEARN FROM SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR HOME OR OFFICE. C.) NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES: ACE FACILITATES NETWORKING EVENTS THAT BRING ENTREPRENEURS TOGETHER TO SHARE EXPERIENCES, EXCHANGE IDEAS, AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOSTER COLLABORATION, SUPPORT PEER LEARNING, AND HELP BUILD A STRONG COMMUNITY OF BUSINESS OWNERS. BY PROVIDING HIGH-TOUCH, PERSONALIZED SERVICES, ACE SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT ENTREPRENEURS HAVE ACCESS TO THE COACHING, TRAINING, AND CONNECTIONS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. 4.) BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES: ACE'S BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES MODEL IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADING PRACTICE WITHIN THE CDFI ECOSYSTEM, KNOWN FOR ITS CLIENT-CENTERED, DATA-INFORMED, AND IMPACT-DRIVEN APPROACH. AT THE CORE OF THE MODEL IS THE INTENTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH SMALL BUSINESS IN ACE'S PORTFOLIO. THESE TRUSTED CONNECTIONS ENABLE ACE TO PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS CHALLENGES, OFTEN BEFORE CLIENTS RECOGNIZE THEM, WHILE TAILORING SUPPORT TO MEET EACH BUSINESS'S PACE, AVAILABILITY, AND LEVEL OF FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE. ACE'S TEAM OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS BRINGS A DIVERSE RANGE OF EXPERTISE AND COLLABORATES TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY, CUSTOMIZED GUIDANCE. THE ORGANIZATION USES A ROBUST SET OF KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS) TO INFORM STRATEGY AND EVALUATE OUTCOMES, INCLUDING ANNUAL FINANCIAL, REVENUE, AND EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, RISK ASSESSMENTS, CLIENT ENGAGEMENT RATIOS, AND CLIENT CONFIDENCE SURVEYS. SERVICES ARE DELIVERED THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE PROACTIVE COACHING AS WELL AS A RANGE OF INDUSTRY SPECIFIC AND CLIENT-FOCUSED COHORTS. THESE INCLUDE HIGH PERFORMANCE GROUPS (HPG) WITH MENTORING COMPONENTS, STRATEGIC PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION SESSIONS, THE BOOKKEEPING FOR GROWTH PROGRAM, AND THE RESTAURANT GROWTH PROGRAM. EACH INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO RECURRING CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED BY SMALL BUSINESS CLIENTS. TO ENSURE RELEVANCE AND DEPTH, ACE ALSO ENGAGES SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ALIGNED WITH SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS NEEDS. THE BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES MODEL EXEMPLIFIES ACE'S DELIBERATE BLEND OF EMPATHY, STRATEGIC INSIGHT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, ENSURING THAT SMALL BUSINESSES RECEIVE NOT ONLY EFFECTIVE SUPPORT BUT ALSO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE, LONG-TERM GROWTH. 5.) WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS: ACE OPERATED A WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) THAT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS GEORGIA. FUNDED IN PART THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, THIS CENTER IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES, COACHING, AND TRAINING TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS START, GROW, AND SUSTAIN THEIR BUSINESSES. LAUNCHED IN 2015, THE ACE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER SERVING METRO-ATLANTA HAS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 18,000 CLIENTS, TRAINED OVER 16,000 INDIVIDUALS, AND DELIVERED MORE THAN 525 TRAINING SESSIONS. IN 2025 ALONE, THE CENTER SERVED 885 UNIQUE CLIENTS, TRAINED NEARLY 1,701 INDIVIDUALS, AND CONDUCTED 84 TRAINING SESSIONS. IN RECOGNITION OF ITS IMPACT, THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION HONORED THE CENTER WITH THE 2022 WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER OF THE YEAR EXCELLENCE AWARD. AT THE 2022 SBA SMALL BUSINESS WEEK AWARDS LUNCHEON, THE WBC RECEIVED BOTH THE SOUTHEAST REGION IV AND GEORGIA DISTRICT WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER OF THE YEAR AWARDS. ACE'S SECOND WBC OPENED IN 2021 TO SERVE THE SAVANNAH REGION. SINCE ITS LAUNCH, THE SAVANNAH WBC HAS SERVED MORE THAN 750 UNIQUE CLIENTS, TRAINED NEARLY 1,000 INDIVIDUALS, AND FACILITATED 110 TRAINING SESSIONS. IN 2025, THE CENTER WAS CLOSED. THROUGH ITS EFFORTS, ACE EMPOWERS UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS GEORGIA TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC EQUITY, CREATING A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT LEADS TO STRONGER, MORE STABLE COMMUNITIES. 14245170 true true false true false false false false true false true false false false true true true false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 33 0 true 38 true false false false false false false false false false false false false X 12 11 false false false false false false false true true false false false true true true true true true true true false false GA X WASSIA KAMON 6783355600 3173 HIGHWAY 129N CLEVELAND GA 30528 BILL ZAWROTNY BOARD CHAIR 5.0 X X 0 0 0 DALE ROYAL SECRETARY 5.0 X X 0 0 0 GRACE LOPEZ-WILLIAMS TREASURER & FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR 5.0 X X 0 0 0 MARTINA EDWARDS PRESIDENT & CEO (INCOMING) 40.0 X X 335775 0 8338 SIBYL SLADE VICE CHAIR 5.0 X X 0 0 0 CARLOS MATA BOARD MEMBER 5.0 X 0 0 0 HOLLIS LINGINFLETER INVESTMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR 5.0 X 0 0 0 MARVIN LIM BOARD MEMBER 5.0 X 0 0 0 MARY KEPLER GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR 5.0 X 0 0 0 MATT BOZZELLI BOARD MEMBER 5.0 X 0 0 0 MIGUEL ALANDETE LOAN COMMITTEE CHAIR 5.0 X 0 0 0 STEPHANIE MARTIN BOARD MEMBER 5.0 X 0 0 0 GRACE C FRICKS PRESIDENT & CEO (OUTGOING) 40.0 X 318741 0 20759 WASSIA KAMON CFO 40.0 X 237470 0 9721 RAYNARD CLAY DIRECTOR OF LENDING PROGRAMS 40.0 X 155908 0 6076 RAYNER PENNIE CHIEF OF BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES 40.0 X 155900 0 5425 SANDRA HEADLEY VICE PRESIDENT 40.0 X 171066 0 6193 SHANON STEWART CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40.0 X 197597 0 17550 TONYA RAPLEY DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP 40.0 X 148244 0 0 1720701 0 74062 13 false true false THOMAS E AUSTIN JR LLC 2625 PIEDMONT RD SUITE 56-330 ATLANTA GA 30324 COLLECTION, RECOVERY, AND LEGAL 169995 MAULDIN & JENKINS LLC 200 GALLERIA PARKWAY SE SUITE 1700 ATLANTA GA 30339 FINANCIAL AUDIT SERVICES 144075 2 2115046 1203960 3319006 LENDING PROGRAM INCOME 522100 15601102 15601102 0 0 0 0 15601102 1706569 1706569 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20626677 15601102 0 1706569 2000 2000 0 0 930804 232701 698103 4249385 3306197 492126 451062 104567 69867 24030 10670 518748 346604 119212 52932 368956 277025 57192 34739 196265 134823 59797 1645 147075 147075 9000 5549 3451 796870 648445 140423 8002 5962 5847 115 74815 47381 23261 4173 513799 352951 156542 4306 105616 53997 51619 82703 53891 22677 6135 118860 53516 60392 4952 2153133 2153133 9758 8393 1365 32432 32432 PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSS 6226322 6226322 CLOSING EXPENSES 244644 168057 74537 2050 DUES AND MEMBERSHIPS 25497 15579 9548 370 PUBLICATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS 4955 2660 2215 80 112950 80232 31220 1498 17035116 14245170 2207332 582614 1942990 1417354 46931627 41864590 940105 527053 15000 10000 0 0 0 0 82023335 102847005 111502 116060 88872 77212 13212 11660 95967 87233 1065056 1274386 0 1187129 1192314 134325923 149347655 1074023 978884 3869394 3013558 282369 324274 0 0 13421949 12440810 34177170 46442333 18260000 19260000 71084905 82459859 X 47050161 48579567 16190857 18308229 63241018 66887796 134325923 149347655 3591561 55217 0 X false true true true true X 5600393 9259677 18448582 12825287 3319006 49452945 0 0 11000 12000 12000 12000 13000 60000 5611393 9271677 18460582 12837287 3332006 49512945 10177080 39335865 92607 231739 1410191 2112672 1706569 5553778 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 55066723 42476221 0.71433 0.77874 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false false false false false false false true 9000 9000 false SCHEDULE C, PART II-B, LINE 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE LOBBYING ACTIVITY GOVERNMENT RELATION SERVICES ($9,000) false true X 88872 77212 11660 11660 FEDERAL INCOME TAXES EQUITY EQUIVALENT LIABILITIES 14760000 INVESTMENT BOND PAYABLE 4500000 19260000 X 20939585 55217 257691 0 312908 20626677 0 0 20626677 17292807 257691 0 257691 17035116 0 0 17035116 SCHEDULE D, PART IV, LINE 2B EXPLANATION OF ESCROW AGREEMENT FROM TIME TO TIME, ACE ACTS AS AN AGENT ON BEHALF OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES DEKALB COUNTY. ACE COLLECTS CASH FUNDS FROM SERVICING THESE LOAN PORTFOLIOS THAT ARE OWNED BY THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS NOTED ABOVE. SCHEDULE D, PART X, LINE 2 FIN 48 (ASC 740) FOOTNOTE ACE QUALIFIES AS A TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION AS DESCRIBED IN INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(C)(3) AND HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS A PUBLICLY SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION AND NOT AS A PRIVATE FOUNDATION. ACE FOLLOWS THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR ITS INCOME TAX ACCOUNTING AND GENERALLY AVOIDS RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC TAX POSITIONS THAT MAY BE CHALLENGED UPON EXAMINATION. X X X false false false false false false false true false MARTINA EDWARDS PRESIDENT & CEO (INCOMING) 335775 0 0 0 0 0 7288 0 1050 0 344113 0 0 0 GRACE C FRICKS PRESIDENT & CEO (OUTGOING) 318741 0 0 0 0 0 19709 0 1050 0 339500 0 0 0 WASSIA KAMON CFO 236470 0 1000 0 0 0 8671 0 1050 0 247191 0 0 0 SHANON STEWART CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 196597 0 1000 0 0 0 16500 0 1050 0 215147 0 0 0 SANDRA HEADLEY VICE PRESIDENT 170066 0 1000 0 0 0 5203 0 990 0 177259 0 0 0 RAYNARD CLAY DIRECTOR OF LENDING PROGRAMS 154908 0 1000 0 0 0 5086 0 990 0 161984 0 0 0 RAYNER PENNIE CHIEF OF BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES 154900 0 1000 0 0 0 4453 0 972 0 161325 0 0 0 SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 7 NON-FIXED PAYMENTS THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES RECEIVED DISCRETIONARY BONUSES: WASSIA KAMON $1,000 SHANON STEWART $1,000 SANDRA HEADLEY $1,000 RAYNARD CLAY $1,000 RAYNER PENNIE $1,000 FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 11B REVIEW OF FORM 990 BY GOVERNING BODY THE 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE AUDIT/FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THEN SUBMITTED TO FULL BOARD FOR REVIEW AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 12C CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS A WRITTEN POLICY INCLUDED IN THE COMPANY POLICY AND IS MONITORED BY THE CEO AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ACE REQUIRES THAT EACH EMPLOYEE SIGN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AGREEMENT WHEN HIRED AND NOTIFY ACE WHEN A POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST ARISES. FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 15A PROCESS TO ESTABLISH COMPENSATION OF TOP MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL THE SALARY OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO IS REVIEWED BY THE BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. AS PART OF THIS REVIEW, SALARIES OF OTHER SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS ARE USED. FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 15B PROCESS TO ESTABLISH COMPENSATION OF OTHER EMPLOYEES SALARIES AND CONTRACTS CONCERNING KEY EMPLOYEES ARE REVIEWED AS PART OF PREPARING THE ORGANIZATION'S BUDGET WHICH THE BOARD REVIEWS AND DISCUSSES. FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 19 REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THE ENTITY'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST BY TELEPHONE OR IN WRITING. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINED THE SAME AUDITOR AS THE PRIOR YEAR AND THE OVERSIGHT PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED.