We are pleased to share our 2024 annual report! 

The organization saw a lot of activity in 2024 – a new location, new staff members, and a new attitude! Last year saw a lot of change, which prepared us for a strong start to 2025. In the first quarter of 2025, we made 14 loans totaling $83,405! Our primary goal in increasing our staff capacity is to build upon and improve our application experience and what support we can offer during and after loan repayment. We can’t wait to share what we’ve got in store for this year.

In 2024, we continued to serve the Northeast Ohio region, covering 31 cities. We made 79 loans totaling $689,405 to the community. We are so incredibly grateful to have worked with our borrowers to get them one step closer to financial wellness. There has also been incredible growth in our business lending. We anticipate that it will continue to grow in 2025!

Five of our 14 business loans were given to new business owners opening up in CentroVilla25. These loans were to help them settle into their new homes and get their kiosks up and running so they could attract new clientele in a new space. The building is already buzzing with activity and we are proud to be a small part of building such a vibrant location.  

Ten of our Standard Loans this year were auto loans. While we have indefinitely paused auto lending, we are happy to have assisted so many individuals in securing transportation. To learn more about our decision to pause auto loans, read our February blog post, “To Loan or Not to Loan?… The Future of HFLA Auto Loans.”

As of March 15, 2025, we have 239 active loans with $1,406,790 in the community! In the first quarter of 2025, thirty-four borrowers made their last payment to HFLA, having paid their loans in full! 

We are beyond proud of all of our borrowers who have been able to finish paying their loans and are living in a different reality than when they first applied to us! The average repayment rate was 36 months, with the average loan amount being $5,237. Being one step closer to financial success is always something to celebrate. Once again, congratulations to our amazing borrowers, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.

Art has always been deeply entrenched in Stephanie Kluk’s life. Whether creating programming for Chicago artists, supporting students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in art education, or cultivating an art co-op, Stephanie has always found herself in creative places. 

So when she saw the raw space that eventually became the Pivot Center, she knew this was where life was leading her next.

Using her previous experience and the close relationships she had cultivated over the years, FIG (Future Ink Graphics) was born. JumpStart, a Cleveland-based nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality, referred her to HFLA, and she was able to start her women-owned art enterprise.

Stephanie has created a space for underrepresented communities, amplified artists through FIG’s artist residency program, and showcased their work the year after their residency has ended. From February 14th to April 11th, this year’s gallery exhibition, “Women Who Print,” celebrates contemporary female printmakers, with a focus on silkscreen printing.

FIG has three major components: Advocacy, Education, and being a Maker Space. In-house FIG hosts workshops, allowing people to get hands-on with the art around them and create something they can proudly call their own, regardless of skillset. Collaboration with local youth programs connects them with over 600 students a year, making art something tangible rather than a skillset reserved for those who already have talent. FIG also rents its space for others to come in and take advantage of the resources FIG has available with the support of the on-site staff.

Their prime location in the Pivot Center has also majorly helped the organization and its artists. Being one of the only privately owned small businesses makes it a bit of an oddball, but that doesn’t stop all the Pivot Center residents from solidifying their community and commissioning FIG for their digital arts and screenprinting services. Artists in FIG’s community gallery also benefit from the exposure that the Pivot Center brings; their proximity to the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Community Art Center usually leads to some spilling over between the two art spaces.

Most of FIG’s work is out in the community, partnering with MetroHealth and the Rock and Roll of Fame to bring art to people, programming attracting about 1000 people yearly. Word of mouth and personal referrals have been incredibly successful in getting the word out about her space, but she hopes to see further investments in small organizations and more Clevelanders patronizing local businesses. Being involved in the community supports the city, business owners, and their teams and builds lasting relationships.