{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-gift-from-a-non-family-investor-count-towards-my-sba-7-a-equity-injection","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/can-a-gift-from-a-non-family-investor-count-towards-my-sba-7-a-equity-injection","question":"Can a gift from a non-family investor count towards my SBA 7(a) equity injection?","topic":"Gift/investor funds","audience":"borrower","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"No, generally, gifts for equity injection must come from a family member. Gifts from non-family investors are usually not permitted.","rule":"SBA policy generally allows gifts for equity injection only from immediate family members, which typically include a spouse, parent, or child. Funds from non-family investors are typically considered debt or equity that must be fully disclosed and structured in a way that doesn't create a repayment obligation superior to the SBA loan, making them unsuitable as a 'gift' for injection.","example":"A buyer receives $50,000 from a close friend for their equity. This $50,000 cannot be counted as a gift towards the required injection because the friend is not an immediate family member.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders require a gift letter and proof of fund transfer from the donor, verifying the relationship and ensuring the funds are a true gift with no repayment expectation. Non-family funds raise concerns about undisclosed debt or improper equity structures.","required_facts":["Gift funds","Non-family investor","Equity injection","Immediate family","Gift letter","Source of funds"],"source_families":["SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","7(a) Loan Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility"],"official_sources":[{"title":"SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/SOP%2050%2010%208%20Technical%20Updates%20effective%206.1.2025.docx"},{"title":"13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120"},{"title":"7(a) Loan Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility","url":"https://www.sba.gov/partners/lenders/7a-loan-program/terms-conditions-eligibility"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How can a gift from a close family member contribute to my equity injection for a $600,000 business purchase?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-can-a-gift-from-a-close-family-member-contribute-to-my-equity-injection-for-a-600-000-"},{"question":"If my parents gift me $50,000 for a down payment, what specific documentation is required by the SBA?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/if-my-parents-gift-me-50-000-for-a-down-payment-what-specific-documentation-is-required-by"},{"question":"Can a corporate entity, not an individual, provide a gift that counts towards my equity injection for an SBA loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-corporate-entity-not-an-individual-provide-a-gift-that-counts-towards-my-equity-inje"},{"question":"Can a non-profit organization provide a grant that counts towards my equity injection for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-non-profit-organization-provide-a-grant-that-counts-towards-my-equity-injection-for-"},{"question":"Can a gift from a non-family friend for $50,000 be used for my equity injection on an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-gift-from-a-non-family-friend-for-50-000-be-used-for-my-equity-injection-on-an-sba-7"},{"question":"How does the SBA verify a $75,000 cash gift from an unrelated investor for my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-the-sba-verify-a-75-000-cash-gift-from-an-unrelated-investor-for-my-equity-inject"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"SBA 7(a) program","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-program"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan"},{"term":"Non-Cash Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/non-cash-equity-injection"},{"term":"Equity injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-injection"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) Loan Program","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan-program"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) loan guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan-guaranty"}],"related_tools":[{"name":"SBA 7(a) payment & fee calculator","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/calculator"},{"name":"Find an active SBA 7(a) lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/lenders"}],"data_freshness":{"last_reviewed":"2026-06-13","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-13"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-gift-from-a-non-family-investor-count-towards-my-sba-7-a-equity-injection","source_type":"DealRoom Q&A"},"caveats":["Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against official sources before relying on it for a live deal.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice and not an approval decision."]}