The Jumpstart Mission

Self-sufficiency for Refugees.

Since 2003, JumpStart Fund has provided over $450,000 in micro-loans to Puget Sound area refugees and asylees. We’ve given loans and business technical assistance to more than 100 refugee entrepreneurs from Somalia, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Nepal.

We’re fulfilling our mission: To help refugees and asylees achieve self-sufficiency through business ownership so that they can contribute to the economic development of their communities.

We’ve assisted these entrepreneurs in starting, strengthening or expanding these type of viable enterprises for the Puget Sound area: town car/limo service, commercial driving school, hair salon, coffee stand, retail clothing store, cabinet maker, child care, security company, sign company, and more.

Seattle and King County continue to attract more and more refugees and asylees every year. JumpStart Fund’s programs allow these talented newcomers to make a positive transition to life in the United States. By helping these refugee and asylee entrepreneurs achieve self-sufficiency, JumpStart Fund positively impacts the economy of the entire region.

To learn more about the JumpStart Fund program and to see who qualifies for assistance, click here.