Maryland Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan Account (NIMBL)

About this page. This page explains NIMBL in plain language. The NIMBL Account sits within the Maryland Nonprofit Development Center Program Fund, established under Economic Development Article §5-1204. If anything on this page conflicts with the statute, the statute controls.

Program Status

The program is active. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, with no fixed application window.

Fund size. By statute, the NIMBL Account may not hold more than $1,000,000 at any time. Because loans are made first-come, first-served from a capped fund, apply as early as you can once you have the required documentation.

What This Program Does

NIMBL provides short-term, interest-free bridge financing to qualifying nonprofits during the gap between the award date of a government grant or contract and the actual receipt of those funds.

Most government grants and contracts reimburse after the fact. For a small nonprofit, that gap can mean drawing on a line of credit, delaying payroll, or declining the award entirely. NIMBL is designed to cover that gap without interest cost.

Who This Is For

A qualifying nonprofit entity is one that meets all of the following:

Annual revenues of no more than $750,000
Has been in existence for no more than 10 years
Its principal purpose is providing health, education, environmental, agricultural, or social services through community-based programs

In addition, the nonprofit must:

Be located in Maryland
Be determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), (4), or (6)

Loan Terms

Interest rate: none — these are interest-free loans
Maximum loan: $25,000
Repayment: due no later than the date of the final grant or contract payment to the nonprofit
Eligible uses: operating expenses only
Required proof: written confirmation from the government entity that funding has been awarded but not yet received

Documents You Will Need to Apply

Applications must include the following:

IRS determination letter
Good standing certificates from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation and the Maryland Secretary of State
Articles of incorporation and bylaws
Written confirmation of funding from the awarding government or contract entity
Current fiscal year budget
Previous year's budget versus expenditures
Most recent annual report and financial statements
A fully executed copy of the government grant or contract

How to Apply

Email a request for an application to [email protected]. A member of the Commerce team will respond.
Assemble the documents listed above. All are required.
Submit the completed application with all documentation.

Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

How You Receive Your Funds

Payments from the State are made by electronic funds transfer (EFT). The State requires all contractors to be registered to receive payments by EFT before any contract exceeding $200,000 is approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works, and all vendors are encouraged to register.

To register, complete and submit Form GADX-10 - PDF to the General Accounting Division:

Fax: 410-974-2309
Mail: EFT Registration, General Accounting Division, P.O. Box 746, Annapolis, MD 21404-0746

Where the Money Comes From

Under Economic Development Article §5-1204, the NIMBL Account consists of money received under State Government Article §9-1A-27 — proceeds from video lottery terminals — along with any other money appropriated, transferred by budget amendment, or repaid to the Account.

The Account is capped at $1,000,000. Any amount above that is transferred to the Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses Account. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund.

Legal Notices and Required Language

The Maryland Nonprofit Development Center Program Fund and the Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan (NIMBL) Account within it are established under Economic Development Article §5-1204.

Funding is drawn in part from State Government Article §9-1A-27.

Program reports:

Related resource: