Aquarium of the Bay
San Francisco, California
San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay is a public aquarium located on Pier 39 in the historic Fisherman’s Wharf District. It houses over 24,000 marine animals and focuses on education, global ocean conservation, and inspiring climate resilience. A Smithsonian Affliate, the Aquarium has hosted millions of visitors for over 20 years.
The Aquarium first approached Clearinghouse CDFI in March 2020 after closing its doors due to COVID-19. In a record two weeks, Clearinghouse CDFI was able to approve, process, and underwrite $1 million in emergency financing to help the Aquarium meet its working capital needs.
As the pandemic continued, and public venues were forced to remain closed, CCDFI was able to assist Aquarium of the Bay again with over $5 million in additional financing. CCDFI’s second loan allowed the Aquarium to pay or existing debt and continue funding daily operations, including payroll, supplies, and animal care.
Project
Aquarium of the Bay
Client
Aquarium of the Bay
Loan Amount
$5.5 MILLION
$1 MILLION COVID-19 EMERGENCY LOAN
$5.5 MILLION REFINANCE
Clearinghouse CDFI Loans Preserve Aquarium Operations and Help Safeguard Over 24,000 Marine Animals
The Impact
24,000
marine
animals saved
FUNDS
daily operations: animal care,
payroll, and needed supplies.