What is Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF)?
Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF) is delivered by BDC / ISED / Black-led organizations as a loan. Funding is typically up to $250,000. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Up to $250,000 |
|---|---|
| Cost share | N/A (loan) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Loan |
| Delivered by | BDC / ISED / Black-led organizations |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Rolling - apply through the FACE loan portal |
| Last verified | 2026-10-05 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: All sectors
- Eligible activities: Business startup; expansion; working capital; equipment - Black-owned businesses
Watch out for
Non-Black majority ownership
Deadlines & how to apply
Administered by the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) with BDC; $160M fund backed by the Government of Canada and BDC. Loans up to $250,000 for Black-majority-owned (51%+) for-profit businesses, including start-ups. June 30, 2026: FACE expanded its Micro-Loan Program nationally with BDC, so loans now range from $10,000 to $250,000 across Canada. No fixed deadline. Part of the federal Black Entrepreneurship Program.
How NorthGrants helps with Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF)
Most business owners read about Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building a complete application that answers what the program asks for.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.