Sustainable livelihood strategies in microfinance are a major force behind enterprise development in poor societies. But uncertainty of continued donor funding poses a risk to operations. This paper presents findings on, critical success factors that define minimum pre-conditions for microfinance institutions considering commercial funding as an alternative. The study is conducted on broad -based industry experts responsible for making funding decisions. Paper explores what it takes to finance MFIs through leveraged funds and argues that key transitional factors are critical for a successful switch to commercial funding. A realistic checklist for self-assessment of MFI's progress in a commercialization strategy is proposed.