ABOUT US
Sustaining business in Philadelphia since 1854
The Merchants Fund has provided support to Philadelphia merchants during times of financial hardship since 1854. We envision a future where Philadelphia small businesses and their owners thrive and where talented and diverse merchants have equitable access to meaningful assistance, capital, and other resources necessary to build business, family, and community wealth. We give life to this vision through the strategic deployment of flexible capital including grantmaking and forgivable loans, values-aligned and mission-driven investments, and individualized business coaching for grantees.
STRATEGIC PLAN
In 2022, TMF completed a strategic framework and a new grant strategy, as well as shifted from being a private foundation to a public charity.
1854
The year The Merchants Fund was founded.
1,173
Total grants awarded to local small businesses since 2007.
$10.33M
The total sum of grants distributed to active merchants since 2007.
BOARD AND STAFF
Board of Managers
(Click on an image below for more info)
Kersy Azocar
President & CEO, Greenline Access Capital
Peter Gonzales
Lawyer & Consultant
Tom Ginsberg
Senior Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Philadelphia Research & Policy Initiative
Bruce Hotaling, CFA
Managing Director & Co-Founder, GYL Financial Synergies
James Johnson-Piett
Principal & CEO, Urbane
Vanessa Lowe
Radio show & Podcast Host, Vanessa’s Money Hour
Seulky McInneshin
Managing Partner, Blue Square Advisors
Carey Morgan
Partner & Financial Advisor, Livelihood, LLC
Shawn Nesbit
President, Good Karma Cafe
Samantha Porter
Community Engagement Advisor & Outreach Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Elbert Sampson
Shalimar Thomas
President, The North Broad Renaissance
Vinutna Veeragandham
Wharton Visiting Board Fellow '24-'25
Joanna Winchester
Director of Training & Technical Assistance, PACDC
Ana Lisa Yoder
Founder & Principal, Yoder Consultancy
Kimberly Zhang
Wharton Visiting Board Fellow '24-'25
Adnan Zulfiqar
Associate Professor of Law, Boston College Law School
Kersy Azocar
President & CEO, Greenline Access Capital“Helping small businesses creates impactful socioeconomic opportunities for all. I am driven by the concept of “Changing the Narrative” for so many small businesses, in particular those historically disadvantaged, and help them succeed, prosper and very importantly, help them create generational wealth”
Kersy Azocar’s Linkedin:Tom Ginsberg
Senior Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Philadelphia Research & Policy Initiative“Business ownership can be a path to financial security, independence, creativity, or just survival. But that path is underused and sometimes unappreciated in Philly. TMF is pushing back”
Tom Ginsberg’s Linkedin:Bruce Hotaling, CFA
Managing Director & Co-Founder, GYL Financial SynergiesI have been a part of the Merchants Fund for years now, and have seen its work and impact expand exponentially across Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. Our ability to respond quickly helping business owners and their families and neighbors, resonates strongly with me.
Bruce Hotaling, CFA’s Linkedin:James Johnson-Piett
Principal & CEO, UrbaneTMF is a one-of-a-kind institution in Philadelphia (and the nation); there needs to be an entity like The Merchants Fund addressing the full spectrum of needs, challenges, and opportunities for the small merchant class of enterprises in Philly. After 150+ years, the work to build and sustain a city-wide support system for micro and small entrepreneurs – from issuing emergency grants to one-on-one advisory to managing large-scale funding program on behalf of government partner – is more critical than ever.
James Johnson-Piett’s Linkedin:Vanessa Lowe
Radio show & Podcast Host, Vanessa’s Money Hour”I’m so excited to join the TMF board now, amid the compelling headlines about BIPOC businesses like Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. TMF has been funding small businesses long before crowdfunders offered A LOCALIZED APPROACH TO BUSINESS FUNDING. Right now, TMF is funding much needed stabilization and emergency grants to keep BIPOC business doors open. With the growth and increased support of BIPOC businesses perhaps one day we’ll help these business multiply their growth by going public with the First Black-owned stock exchange. I look forward to the journey as we find partners and continue honing our programs to meet the region’s small business community needs.”
Vanessa Lowe’s Linkedin:Carey Morgan
Partner & Financial Advisor, Livelihood, LLCTMF is an incredible organization that meets the needs of those businesses that we all say we value, but don’t provide enough support to, especially in hard times. It’s an honor to contribute to such an organization with such a unique mission.
I grew up in a small family business and am a small business owner myself, so I think it’s important to make sure that the small business sector remains viable and local businesses thrive.
Carey Morgan’s Linkedin:Elbert Sampson
“Serving on the board of TMF is important to me because it is an opportunity to use my experience and training to provide assistance to the small business community of Philadelphia. As small businesses are stabilized, they are better able to employ more people who are then able to stabilize their communities – all to the good of all of us.”
Shalimar Thomas
President, The North Broad RenaissanceTMF serves as an advocate and a voice for merchants across Philadelphia who are in need. They are impact-driven in every sense of the word, and I serve to support their leader, the work, and ultimately the tremendous impact TMF has in Philadelphia. Supporting local small businesses is a vibe. There’s something about walking into a store and knowing the owner and its employees, or if the owner is also a neighbor. It’s truly the definition of community and its economic development at its best. Supporting these businesses and helping them grow is a vibe that we should all try to embrace.
Shalimar Thomas’s Linkedin:Vinutna Veeragandham
Wharton Visiting Board Fellow '24-'25Ana Lisa Yoder
Founder & Principal, Yoder Consultancy“I believe deeply in TMF’s commitment to addressing historical disparities in the small business community by focusing resources on BIPOC, immigrant and women-owned businesses. I feel genuinely lucky to serve alongside incredibly smart, thoughtful, and committed board members and staff, from whom I learn every time we come together.
Ana Lisa Yoder’s Linkedin:Kimberly Zhang
Wharton Visiting Board Fellow '24-'25Adnan Zulfiqar
Associate Professor of Law, Boston College Law School“Service on the TMF board is important to me because it provides a crucial lifeline for businesses that are the soul of communities, anchors providing a link to the past, and vital for their prosperous futures.”
Adnan Zulfiqar’s Linkedin:Team
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Jill Fink
Executive Director
George Pitsakis
Business Coach
Somalisa Sahoo
Advisor
Andy Satinsky
Business Coach
Chris Stanish
Business Support Services
Rachael Viscidy
Director of Programs & Partnerships
Jill Fink
Executive DirectorI’m passionate about small businesses and the merchants who run them. I owned a cafe for 13 years and know that small businesses are the heart and soul of our communities. As a former TMF grantee (’08) and board member (’13-’18), I’m fortunate to be in this role providing critical grant and coaching support to those who breathe life and vitality into our neighborhoods.
Jill Fink’s Linkedin:George Pitsakis
Business CoachHistorically, entrepreneurship has provided Americans–of all color, creed, and walk of life–the chance at greater financial independence and upward mobility. Not only this, but they often provide cultural, economic, public safety, and social value to the neighborhoods they are rooted in. Supporting small businesses is important to me because they afford all Americans some chance at upward economic mobility, while also making the places we live more vibrant and unique
George Pitsakis’s Linkedin:Andy Satinsky
Business CoachAs a Philadelphia resident for over 20 years, I believe that a healthy local economy built on a foundation of small businesses is essential to a vibrant thriving city. At the end of 2023, my wife and I sold the business that we founded twelve years earlier. In 2015 we were a Merchants Fund grantee and have remained engaged with the organization’s work ever since. The Merchants Fund is proactive and laser focused on those it exists to serve. I’m excited for this opportunity to continue my work in the small business community with TMF.
Andy Satinsky’s Linkedin:Chris Stanish
Business Support ServicesWhile there is certainly plenty of work to be done, we also have such a great sense of purpose driven action amongst our staff. Utilizing & recognizing each of our strengths and perspectives enables us to really understand the various situations that business owners may find themselves in. TMF’s work is probably the most agile form of support that many of these small businesses will ever have, and I truly value what we do each day because we can give support when they need it
Chris Stanish’s Linkedin:Rachael Viscidy
Director of Programs & Partnerships“I believe small businesses are the cornerstones of great neighborhoods. Small businesses don’t just create jobs and bolster local economies. They enhance the creativity, legacy, and resilience of their communities. Entrepreneurs commit to overcoming enormous challenges in pursuit of achieving their goals and impacting their communities. It’s an honor to meet small business owners on that journey and to provide support along the way.”
Rachael Viscidy’s Linkedin:Annual funding reports
The Merchants Fund is a Philadelphia charity established in 1854 to provide charitable gifts to business persons facing financial hardship. Our Mission is to provide financial assistance to current and past merchants in Philadelphia.