Wells Fargo Foundation Invests $550,000 in JUST Community to Expand Trust-Based Entrepreneur Support Across Texas

The Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded a $550,000 grant to JUST Community, a statewide nonprofit organization that provides equitable access to capital and support services to entrepreneurs across Texas. This significant funding infusion will expand JUST's distinctive financial empowerment and coaching model, which prioritizes building relationships with entrepreneurs and focuses on character assessment rather than traditional credit scoring alone.

Steve Wanta, Co-Founder and CEO of JUST, emphasized that trust forms the foundation of their work with entrepreneurs. The organization's approach combines capital access with comprehensive coaching and supportive networks, helping business owners gain ownership of their businesses, homes, and futures. This path to ownership creates sustainable wealth that subsequently builds stronger families and communities throughout Texas.

The grant announcement coincided with JUST Community reaching a significant milestone of distributing over $1 million in loans specifically to entrepreneurs in El Paso. Statewide, the organization has provided more than $40 million in loans to thousands of Texas entrepreneurs through its trust-based model that effectively combines capital, coaching, and community support networks. The organization's methodology has demonstrated remarkable results, with ninety percent of participants building sustainable businesses and achieving the financial capacity to cover emergency expenses within the first 18-24 months of engagement.

In El Paso alone, over 100 entrepreneurs have leveraged JUST's trust-based lending model to launch and grow their businesses. Alma Gonzalez, Founder of Chester Homemade Dog Treats, shared how JUST became the first organization to see beyond conventional metrics and trust in her vision after the heartbreaking loss of her own dog Patricio inspired her business concept. That foundational trust provided the courage to persevere, and today her business experiences steady growth because an organization finally recognized that passion and purpose matter as much as financial indicators.

The grant announcement also marked the commencement of El Paso Start-Up Week, highlighting new opportunities and celebrating the growth of local businesses across the city and state. JUST Community operates as a social venture that invests in ambitious Texas entrepreneurs, fostering financial stability and generational wealth through its innovative trust-based financial system. The organization's work demonstrates how alternative lending approaches can help small businesses grow, thrive, and strengthen local economies. More information about their programs and impact is available at https://www.hellojust.com.