Announcements

CDFI Fund to Hold Informational Conference Calls on CDFI Certification

CDFI Certification Deadline Announced for Potential Applicants to the FY 2009 Bank Enterprise Award Program Funding Round

CDFI Certification/Certification of Material Events Deadline Announced for Potential Applicants to the FY 2009 CDFI Program Funding Round

Overview

A certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) is a specialized financial institution that works in market niches that are underserved by traditional financial institutions. CDFIs provide a unique range of financial products and services in economically distressed target markets, such as mortgage financing for low-income and first-time homebuyers and not-for-profit developers, flexible underwriting and risk capital for needed community facilities, and technical assistance, commercial loans and investments to small start-up or expanding businesses in low-income areas. CDFIs include regulated institutions such as community development banks and credit unions, and non-regulated institutions such as loan and venture capital funds.

CDFI certification is a designation conferred by the CDFI Fund and is a requirement for accessing financial and technical award assistance from the CDFI Fund through the CDFI Program, Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Programs, and certain benefits under the BEA Program to support an organization's established community development financing programs.

Eligibility

To apply to become certified as a CDFI an organization must submit a CDFI Certification Application to the Fund for review. The application must demonstrate that the applicant meets each of the following requirements for the applicant to become certified:

• Be a legal entity at the time of certification application;
• Have a primary mission of promoting community development;
• Be a financing entity;
• Primarily serve one or more target markets;
• Provide development services in conjunction with its financing activities;
• Maintain accountability to its defined target market; and
• Be a non-government entity and not be under control of any government entity (Tribal governments excluded).

For more detailed information, please refer to the application and the Revised Interim Regulations found in the sections below.

Timeline

CDFI Program NOFA Published:	See CDFI Program
CDFI Certification Application Available:	Currently
CDFI Certification Application Deadline:	Open (As of July 2, 2007)
Approximate Certification Decision Date:	(See notes.)

Contact Us

Application Materials
CDFI Certification Application Webcast (8/10/2007) CDFI Certification - Application Asset Information Table Staff Allocation Table Target Market Table Development Services Table Accountability Table
Supplemental Resources
CDFI Certification Application Frequently Asked Questions CDFI Certification Application Tips Material Events - Certification of Material Events Form Material Events - Frequently Asked Questions on Material Events CDFI Certification Guidance - Guidance on the Treatment of General Partners Revised Interim Regulations Median Income by MSA and State Designating a Target Market in myCDFIFund Guide
Certified CDFIs
Certified CDFIs by Organization Name Certified CDFIs by State Certified CDFIs by Organization Type
Program Materials Archive