Barbara Morrison

Founder and President

Barbara Morrison, a Bay Area small business advocate and civic leader, is the founder and president of TMC Financing, a certified Development Company that provides SBA commercial real estate financing.

In 1981, Barbara founded TMC Financing to provide access to affordable capital with the SBA 504 loan program for small business owners to purchase the real estate utilized by their business. From just 6 employees lending in the 9 Bay Area counties, TMC has grown into the largest CDC in the nation, providing financing for small businesses in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Hawaii. Under her visionary leadership, TMC has facilitated over $14 billion in SBA commercial real estate loans for over 7,000 small businesses, leading to the creation of an estimated 60,000 jobs.

Recognizing the needs of smaller entrepreneurs, not able to take advantage of the 504 program, Barbara expanded her impact by founding Working Solutions a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), in 1999. This initiative addressed the financing gaps faced by start-ups, women, minorities, and low-income businesses unable to access conventional funding sources. Working Solutions was “incubated” in the TMC office until it grew into self-sufficiency. Today, it is one of the most successful CDFIs in the country.

In 2018, repeating the method of incubating another nonprofit, Barbara founded TMC Community Capital (TMC CC), an online, technology-based microlender. Since its inception, TMC Community Capital has disbursed over $7 million to approximately 350 businesses, providing crucial support to under-served entrepreneurs. Notably, 82% of the loans facilitated by TMC CC supported entrepreneurs of color, while 56% benefited women-owned businesses and 75% aided business owners with low-to-moderate income levels.

Morrison developed her passion for small business economic development early in her career while serving as deputy director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development in San Francisco.

A former mayor and city council member for the city of Belvedere, Morrison has been widely recognized for her advocacy for women and small business owners, as well as the leadership she provided for many community organizations.

Currently, Barbara participates in several influential organizations, including the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and the International Women’s Forum (IWF). Her engagement in these organizations reflects her ongoing commitment to fostering economic growth, supporting entrepreneurship and helping local communities grow and thrive.