Non- or for-profit institutions that have specialized lending capacities. They obtain capital in the form of equity and low interest loans from a variety of sources, including foundations and other funders, to form a "lending pool." They then serve as "wholesalers" who process large numbers of small loans or investments. This "economy of scale" often allows' Intermediaries' to be more efficient than a foundation or funder could be if it considered each investment individually. Also, intermediaries often develop expertise in a particular field or region that foundations or funders cannot afford to develop. In the context of this study, non-financial intermediaries include community foundations and financial intermediaries include credit unions, venture capital and loan funds, banks, etc.
| APA | Barry Goldsmith. (2010). intermediaries. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/intermediaries/definitions/1156339 |
| Chicago | Barry Goldsmith. 2010. "intermediaries" http://smartdefine.org/intermediaries/definitions/1156339 (accessed September 21, 2026). |
| Harvard | Barry Goldsmith 2010, intermediaries, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/intermediaries/definitions/1156339>. |
| MLA | Barry Goldsmith. "intermediaries" 21 October 2010. Web. 21 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/intermediaries/definitions/1156339> |