May 2023 Stories and Data

Meet Allison Bell, Owner of Little Things Preschool and Daycare
Rebuilding Together
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation Lending in PA District 1
CDVCA Invests in Goodwrx

Thank you to our partners at Inclusive and CDBA for sharing data on CDFI Bank and CDFI Credit Union branch locations. In addition, about 100 of our CDFI Stories come from OFN’s story database.

CDFI Investment Map

Mapped CDFI investment data (2005-2023), via the CDFI Coalition's partnership with CDFI Friendly America.

CDFI Advocacy App

Want more state data? Check out CDFI Friendly America's mobile-friendly CDFI Advocacy App for impacts from 2005-2023.

CDFI funding to nonprofits for construction returns more money into the community through economic activity. It’s very important we keep providing this capital in Indiana.

Donna Sink, IFF, Indianapolis, IN

I believe in the power of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) because I’ve seen firsthand what access to capital-real, intentional, and responsible access-can do for small businesses, nonprofits, and communities that have historically been excluded from traditional financial systems. CDFIs aren’t just lenders. They are partners in shaping our economy. They take the time to understand the unique challenges that small business owners face when trying to grow and sustain their businesses. They don’t just look at a credit score; they look at the story behind the entrepreneur, the impact on the community, and the potential that often goes unnoticed. At Growth Partners Arizona, we align with this mission because we know that financial systems should work for communities, not against them. Supporting CDFIs means investing in businesses that create jobs, strengthen local economies, and build long-term wealth in places where it’s needed most. CDFIs are doing the work that big banks won’t, and that’s exactly why I support them. Because when capital is placed in the right hands, it doesn’t just fund businesses-it fuels movements, shifts power and transforms communities.

Andre Whittington, Growth Partners Arizona, Phoenix, AZ

Our credit union has been a certified institution since 2017 if not for the [CDFI] program we could not lend to individuals that have a problem getting funding if this program is not funded many citizens who are in financially weakest position the most.

Michael Veksler, The Finest Federal Credit Union, New York, NY

We cannot abandon Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), who do measurable, positive work in our communities.

Jill Hurst-Wahl, Hurst Associates, Ltd., Syracuse, NY