Inclusive Action For The City (IAC)

Year Founded: 2008

IAC believes that providing affordable capital, fostering community-led advocacy, and prototyping innovative financial models can drive systemic change in underinvested communities. By empowering low-income entrepreneurs and advancing policies that promote equitable economic opportunities, IAC is aligned with New Profit’s Economic Mobility strategy and focus on building pathways for wealth creation.

IAC’s integrated approach to economic justice, combining direct support for entrepreneurs with community-driven advocacy, aligns with New Profit’s vision of transformative systems change. Their success in scaling capital access and influencing equitable policies, such as legalizing street vending for over 50,000 vendors in California, showcases their ability to drive meaningful impact.

Founded in 2008, IAC serves Los Angeles County and beyond, working closely with local communities, institutions, and policymakers to foster economic growth and opportunity.

CEO Rudy Espinoza, who has led IAC for over a decade, has built trusted relationships across sectors and driven innovative approaches to economic justice. Under his leadership, IAC has more than multiplied its operating budget and staff size, and earned national recognition, including the inaugural Emerging Growth CDFI Award from the Opportunity Finance Network.

Impact Highlights:

• IAC has supported 2,250 low-income entrepreneurs with $3.35M in microloans and $3M in small business grants.
• They have also provided over 7,000 hours of tailored business coaching and workshops.
• IAC has achieved significant policy wins, including the legalization of street vending for 50,000+ vendors in California.