Brightpoint Brightpoint
December 16, 2025 | Fort Wayne, Indiana – Brightpoint Development Fund received a $550,000 grant from the Don Wood Foundation to strengthen its loan loss reserve, unlocking $6 million in small business loan capital for entrepreneurs.
The grant will be used to underwrite loans for small business owners who have traditionally faced barriers to financing, ensuring they can build their businesses and thrive in northeast Indiana. As these loans are repaid, the funds will revolve, creating a sustainable source of capital that supports long-term economic growth in the region.
“This grant empowers Brightpoint Development Fund to bridge a critical gap in our region’s business ecosystem,” says Steve Hoffman, Brightpoint President/CEO. “By leveraging the $550,000 loan loss, we’re unlocking flexible small business financing, giving entrepreneurs a real chance to grow their businesses, create jobs, and strengthen our community’s economic vitality.”
“Don Wood’s entrepreneurial spirit ignited his passion to start and grow his business, 80/20, to become one of Whitley County’s largest manufacturers,” says Laura Macknick, president & CEO, Don Wood Foundation. “As a result, we advocate for innovation by encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset, which ensures that Brightpoint Development Fund can continue to grow and support the community.”
Founded in 2011, Brightpoint Development Fund, a subsidiary of Brightpoint, is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable business loans, financial education, and housing development services. It is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) micro lender and a U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI.) To learn more, visit mybrightpoint.org/bdf.
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Brightpoint is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving more than 43,000 people across northeast Indiana. Through a wide range of programs, Brightpoint helps communities, families, and individuals remove the causes and conditions of poverty. All Brightpoint services are provided without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, ancestry, or status as a veteran.
The Don Wood Foundation is a private foundation established in 2018 by Don Wood, founder of 80/20, Inc., that serves and supports leadership development, an entrepreneurial mindset, and future-ready workers with the potential to create and sustain opportunities in advanced manufacturing. The Foundation provides investments to grant partners from nonprofits and educational institutions, in addition to offering guidance through community research and intentional convenings. This guidance fosters a diverse workforce through exposure, education, training, and the development of strong communities that advance the manufacturing sector. Please visit donwoodfoundation.org for more information about the Don Wood Foundation’s programs and initiatives.