PNC's Project 257 has
Activated with Coralus (formerly SheEO)
We’re excited to help our customers connect with the nonprofit Coralus' generous worldwide community that’s on a mission to change how businesses owned by women and nonbinary people are funded and supported.
Not Every Business Wants or Qualifies
for a Conventional Bank Loan
PNC is partnering with the global nonprofit Coralus to provide 0% loans and an ecosystem of support to women and nonbinary entrepreneurs.
This relationship with Coralus is part of PNC's Project 257℠: Accelerating Women’s Financial Equality initiative to help close the economic gender gap identified by the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Equity Gap Report, which found that at the current rate of progress it will take women 257 more years to economically catch up to men.
Here’s How the Coralus Community Works
- Activators contribute $92/month or $1,100/year to crowdfund Coralus' 0% interest perpetual loan fund.
- Entrepreneurs apply through a simple application process – no pitch decks or jargon. Applicants are known as Ventures. Application Timeline for all 2022 Financing: September 6 - October 16, 2022. Not all applicants are approved.
- Activators vote to narrow the field of Ventures to a smaller group of semi-finalists.
- Semi-finalists submit a 1-minute video and their financials.
- Activators select and fund the Ventures with much needed capital at 0% interest.
- Ventures receive one year of coaching and a global ecosystem of support.
- Approved recipients repay their loans over a five-year period, paying forward the money for other Ventures through the perpetual loan fund.
Activators make an annual donation to the Coralus funding pool of $1,100 or $92 per month.
Those donations fund Ventures that are working to resolve the World's to-Do List through a 0% interest loan to their business.
Repayment of these Venture loans over a 5-year period builds a Perpetual Fund to reinvest in future Ventures.
Three Ways to Participate in the Coralus Journey
1. Become an Activator. You have a lot to offer.
As an Activator, you’ll join PNC and thousands of other Activators in helping to close the 257-year economic gender gap by increasing the capital available for women and nonbinary-owned business Ventures.
In addition to your charitable contribution of $92 per month or $1,100 per year, your expertise and contacts can help open doors to more opportunities for Ventures and other Activators around the globe.
Your personal network will grow as well. Coralus offers a variety of ways to connect with like-minded individuals if you so choose, including weekly Community Calls, Venture Deep Dives, Learning Circles, Working Groups and the annual Coralus Summit.
“Coralus has added a richness to my life beyond what I thought possible, and gives me opportunities to give back. It's incredible.” – Activator Michelle D., Colorado
Get More Details at Coralus
Become an Activator »
2. Apply to become a Coralus Venture
What could you do with a 0% interest loan and access to a global community of support? Because not every worthy business or business owner wants or qualifies for a conventional bank loan, Coralus offers the opportunity for a different kind of financing – with no interest, no fees. Plus, you’ll gain exposure for your business and the ability to tap into a supportive network of advisors, potential customers and other helpful connections.
Is Coralus Financing Right for You?
If your answer is “yes” to these questions, you can apply to become an Coralus Venture:
- Is your business up and running?
- Do you identify as a woman or nonbinary, own a majority interest (51+%) in the business and are actively running it?
- Does your business meet Coralus' revenue threshold, generating between $50,000 and $2 million annually?
- Is your business tackling one or more of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals that comprise the World’s To-Do List?
"I’ve participated in a lot of incubators and accelerators, and Coralus is a whole new way of being supported as an entrepreneur. It’s an amazing organization.” – Terri-Nichelle Bradley, Brown Toy Box, Atlanta
Application Timeline for 2023 Financing:
Applications for the next round of Coralus financing are open September 6 - October 16, 2022. Please check back for more information.
This is the only time applications will be accepted in 2022. Not all applicants are approved.
Get More Details at Coralus
Apply to be a Venture »
3. Help PNC Share the Coralus Story
The more people who know about Coralus, the more money they’ll crowdfund for 0% interest loans, and the closer we’ll get to eliminating the 257-year economic gender gap.
Share this page with your network.
Follow PNC on LinkedIn and Facebook, @PNCBank on Instagram, and @PNCNews and @PNCBank on Twitter so you can share our Coralus stories. And if you’d like to make a connection with one of PNC’s 50 employee Activators across the country, send us a note with our contact form and we’ll introduce you to the Activator nearest you.
PNC Bank + Coralus Collective
A cohort of entrepreneurs and financial advisors collaborating for growth and success
PNC is expanding our relationship with Coralus, a global nonprofit that provides 0% loans and an ecosystem of support to help underrepresented entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. The core of the Coralus peer community are “Activators” who contribute lifechanging expertise and connections, and $1,100 annually to the loan pool. To help form the PNC Bank + Coralus Collective, PNC is covering the cost for 100 entrepreneurs to join the Coralus community this year.
Some of the benefits of membership in the PNC Bank + Coralus Collective include:
- 1:1 relationship with a PNC-Certified Women's Business Advocate
- The opportunity to vote on which entrepreneurs receive 0% interest funding
- One-year membership in a vibrant Coralus community of women and non-binary people where you will build relationships and ask for, give and receive support
Membership applications accepted until September 30th, 2022, 11:59 PM EST
What’s on the World’s To-Do List?
The World’s To-Do List is 17 interconnected United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals that address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
All selected Ventures at Coralus are working on at least one of the global goals below and measuring impact related to that goal.
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Good Health and Well-being
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Clean Water and Sanitation
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Reducing Inequality
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life On Land
- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Partnerships for the Goals
Important Legal Disclosures and Information
Project 257 is a service mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Read a summary of privacy rights for California residents which outlines the types of information we collect, and how and why we use that information.
