WHO WE ARE
Why We Exist
The Need
There are five million formerly incarcerated people living in the United States. People who have been incarcerated at some point in their lives face often-permanent barriers to securing transportation, housing, employment, and capital for building their own business. When individuals are released from jail or prison, they are further burdened by court-ordered debt. Most are ineligible for traditional bank loans and lines of credit or are subject to prohibitively high interest rates. These combined hurdles limit the economic opportunity of formerly incarcerated people and prevent them from reaching their potential. As a result, some return to criminal behavior, increasing the likelihood of reincarceration and damaging the stability of their families and communities.
Our Solution
The Fountain Fund program model provides low-interest loans and financial coaching to formerly incarcerated people, helping them build credit and achieve their self-determined goals. The Fountain Fund also advocates for public policy that increases economic opportunities and reduces obstacles for formerly incarcerated people.
Shantel Hopkins, Director of Lending, and Martize Tolbert, National Director of Client & Community Engagement, share time with Board Chair Lorenzo Collins on a trip to the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Sites in Montgomery, Alabama.
Martize Tolbert and Executive Director Erika Viccellio celebrate with criminal justice icon Bryan Stevenson (center) after sharing the stage at Monticello Founder’s Day.
Results
As of December 31, 2025, the Fountain Fund has extended more than 1,075 low-interest microloans, totaling nearly $5.5 million, to 907 formerly incarcerated people. Approximately 75% of Fountain Fund loans are in good standing, and $2.5 million in loan capital has been recycled. 90% of Client Partners report an improved understanding of credit.
In our 2025 Client Partner Survey, 97% of respondents reported feeling empowered to overcome barriers in their lives, and 93% reported that they had achieved their self-determined loan goal. 97% had not been reincarcerated and 96% reported that their lives have improved since partnering with The Fountain Fund. Of those who participated in the survey, 39% secured transportation, 11% got their driver’s license reinstated, 8% paid court debt, 11% secured employment, 17% secured housing, 18% started or expanded a business, and 12% increased their wages.
95% of Client Partners achieved better financial stability and 97% reported having hope for the future. 96% reported that they are better able to support their families. 97% reported that they built trust and felt supported by our staff, and 91% reported an improved understanding of credit.
Growth
The Fountain Fund is expanding the reach of its low-interest lending into new geographic regions in partnership with regional and national organizations providing complementary reentry services. We leverage existing resources and expertise in serving formerly incarcerated people with a financial need and eagerness to create new opportunities for themselves and their families.
While there are numerous agencies across the country providing reentry services for formerly incarcerated people, no other organization tailors personal and business lending to support the self-determined goals of formerly incarcerated people, customizing financial coaching to their challenges in accessing capital and establishing credit.
In 2022, the Fountain Fund launched a pilot expansion of our partnership model with the First 72+ in New Orleans and extended our lending into Richmond, Virginia. In 2023, with the generous support of the GreenLight Fund, we established a new site in Philadelphia. And in 2024, our fifth location in Boston opened its doors.
We believe that scaling and operating in partnership is the most sustainable way to lend hope and opportunity to formerly incarcerated people and their families across the United States. In 2026, we will launch pilot projects with two reentry workforce agencies in Los Angeles, CA and New Haven, CT, to bring consumer loan opportunities to individuals served by their agencies.