In early 2025, an abrupt freeze of federal grant funds sent shockwaves through the nonprofit sector, upending carefully laid plans, fracturing trust among partners, and forcing organizations to scramble for stability. For many nonprofits, these funds are lifelines; when they vanish, programs stall, staff face uncertainty, and mission impact shrinks.
One organization caught squarely in that storm was Moonshot, a Northern Arizona nonprofit incubator. Their planned initiative, already approved and in motion, was suddenly at risk. As Moonshot’s President & CEO, Scott Hathcock, explained:
“When you receive grant approval, you must move very quickly from ideation to action—spending money on programming tools, staffing, and marketing to make the grant successful. It’s always a leap of faith, but never before had that leap been tested like it was in early 2025.”
Although the frozen grant was ultimately released and Moonshot was able to deploy its initiative, the experience left a clear message: their financial resilience was too fragile. The organization needed a stronger guardrail against funding volatility.
That’s when Growth Partners Arizona (GPAZ) stepped in.
Trust-Based Capital in Action
GPAZ, in partnership with MetaFund (a CDFI based in Oklahoma), deployed what became GPAZ’s first nonprofit loan in Northern Arizona, a bold move in a region where nonprofit access to flexible, mission-aligned capital has been scarce. But this wasn’t just a bridge loan: it was a statement of confidence.
“We can continue investing in our programs for 2026 without the fear of cashflow uncertainties tied to the timing of corporate donations and grant payouts,” Hathcock noted.
This infusion allowed Moonshot to maintain momentum, uphold its commitments, and preserve trust with its stakeholders—even amid fiscal turbulence.
A Statewide Strategic Pivot for GPAZ
The Moonshot loan is more than one deal; it’s a turning point for GPAZ’s vision. With this step, the organization has now extended nonprofit lending into all three key regions of Arizona —southern, central, and northern —cementing its role as a statewide engine for mission-driven capital.
“This loan is more than a bridge for Moonshot, it’s a symbol of what happens when CDFIs come together to back the organizations that hold our communities together,” said Andre T. Whittington, Executive Director of GPAZ.
“We’re proud to say we’ve now invested in both nonprofits and small businesses in every region of the state, and we’re just getting started.”
The strategic backing from MetaFund amplified the deal’s reach:
“By partnering with GPAZ, we expand the reach of our goal to ensure capital flows to community-based organizations that are solving real problems every day,” said Sarah Reed, CEO of MetaFund.
“This is the collective power of CDFIs in action, meeting need with courage, creativity, and community.”
This collaborative investment stands as a model for how regionally rooted lenders can pool resources, share risk, and deploy capital where it’s rarely available.
The Ripple Effects
For Moonshot, the loan means far more than dollars; it means stability, confidence, and continuity. Programs can move forward without waiting (or worrying) for delayed payments.
For Northern Arizona, it signals a growing ecosystem of nonprofit support, a region that has long lagged in access to flexible capital.
For GPAZ and its partners, the successful transaction writes the opening chapter in a broader movement: community-first, impact-rooted capital for the organizations sustaining Arizona’s future.
As grant environments remain volatile, the sector’s resilience will increasingly hinge on trust-based capital, internal financial strategy, and catalytic regional partnerships. This deal is one concrete example, and one that sets a new bar for Northern Arizona on what’s possible when capital meets mission courageously.
One loan. Three regions. Countless possibilities.
