Advocacy Organizations and Financial Intermediaries for CDFIs
Aeris
Aeris has established risk management standards for private community loan funds (i.e., CDFI) and helps to strengthen development of impact measurement and management practices in the CDFI industry. Services include impact management assessment, data services, and CDFI performance ratings. The services are used by impact investors, including financial institutions, asset and wealth managers, foundations, insurers, and government.
B Corporations
Certified B Corporations are businesses that balance purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. The nonprofit B Lab certifies B Corporations to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. B Corporations use the B Impact Assessment to assess their performance.
CapNexus
CapNexus is a searchable database that matches money and borrowers with CD finance opportunities. CapNexus gives capital seekers the forum to offer participation in their development activities, and lenders the opportunity to locate deals that may meet their portfolio requirements.
Coalition of Community Development Financial Institutions
CDFI Coalition is a national network of member CDFIs and includes community development loan funds, CD banks, CD credit unions, microenterprise lenders, community development corporations and community development venture capital funds. The CDFI Coalition coordinates industry-wide initiatives to increase the availability of capital, credit, and financial services to low-income communities across the nation.
Community Development Bankers Association (CDBA)
CDBA is the national trade association of the CD bank industry. CDBA promotes growth by (1) identifying industry best practices and sharing information about CD banking and (2) providing training and educational opportunities for lawmakers, regulators, investors, and government agencies about issues facing the CD banking industry.
Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF)
CRF is a nonprofit organization that provides a secondary market for CD loans originated by CDFIs. CRF also provides technical solutions to enhance CDFI lending capacity. The Connect2Capital marketplace was developed by CRF to help small businesses connect to nonprofit community lenders that offer transparent and responsible financing options. SPARK, also developed by CRF to support CDFIs, is an end-to-end, cloud-based lending platform designed to help business lenders improve efficiency, generate revenue, and minimize risk.
Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)
GABV is an independent network of banks using finance to deliver sustainable economic, social, and environmental development. Banks' chief executive officers in the network can collaborate on values-based banking. GABV provides learning and development opportunities for senior executives, experts, and banking professionals at member banks through the network's communities of practice.
National Community Investment Fund
NCIF is a national nonprofit organization supporting CDFIs. NCIF fulfills its mission through two primary business lines: Equities With Exits investments and the Community Development Banking Institutions Exchange Network. NCIF acts as a patient investor with individual CD banks. In addition, NCIF makes seed fund loans, extends debt to banks, and provides secondary capital to low-income credit unions. NCIF Social Performance Metrics provide key information about banks' community development missions.
Opportunity Finance Network (OFN)
OFN is a national membership organization of CDFIs. Its network of private financial intermediaries identifies and invests in opportunities to benefit low-income and low-wealth people in the United States. OFN's membership includes CD credit unions, CD venture capital funds, and microenterprise lenders. OFN offers a national CDFI coverage map.
Social Investment Forum (SIF)
SIF is a U.S. membership association for professionals, firms, institutions, and organizations engaged in socially responsible and sustainable investing. SIF advances investment practices that consider environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact. SIF's members include banks, investment management and advisory firms, mutual fund companies, research firms, financial planners and advisors, broker-dealers, credit unions, CD organizations, nonprofit organizations, pension funds, foundations, and other asset owners.
Low Income Credit Unions
National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
NCUA is an independent federal agency that supervises and insures over 6,500 federal credit unions and insures more than 4,000 state-chartered credit unions. Over 800 of these entities have been designated as “low-income” credit unions in that they serve primarily low-income members in distressed and financially underserved areas. NCUA manages a revolving loan fund and provides technical assistance grants to low-income-designated credit unions. Low-income credit unions can receive capital treatment for secondary capital loans. NCUA's website provides a search engine for low-income credit unions.
Inclusiv
Inclusiv helps CD credit unions provide affordable loans, secure savings, basic financial education, and other vital services to low-income and minority consumers. Inclusiv serves as an intermediary for banks and savings associations interested in making deposits in CD credit unions.
Microenterprise CDFIs
Aspen Institute's Business Ownership Initiative
The Business Ownership Initiative works to build understanding and strengthen the role of business ownership as an economic opportunity strategy. The Business Ownership Initiative works closely with micro- and small business practitioners and the institutions that invest in them by exploring innovation, conducting research, evaluating new ideas, and supporting leaders.
Aspen Institute's MicroTracker
This searchable database, maintained by the Aspen Institute's Business Ownership Initiative, provides information on U.S. microenterprise programs in the United States, along with key facts on organizations' products, services, and scale as reported in the U.S. Microenterprise Census.
Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO)
AEO is promotes microenterprise in the United States. AEO provides its members with a forum, resources, and a collective voice to promote microenterprise for people and communities with limited access to economic resources.
Venture Capital CDFIs
Community Development Venture Capital Alliance (CDVCA)
CDVCA promotes the use of venture capital to create jobs, entrepreneurial capacity, and wealth. CDVCA accomplishes these goals through training programs, publications, networking opportunities, and direct consulting services. CDVCA's website contains a description of and links to CD venture capital funds throughout the country.