The CDFI Fund’s Financial Assistance (FA) program provides flexible capital that expands CDFI lending and investment activity.
Research from Opportunity Finance Network found that FA awards significantly strengthen CDFI loan funds, increasing assets, leverage, and lending capacity.
Within three years of receiving an FA award, CDFIs experienced a 52 percent increase in balance sheet size and a 75 percent increase in lending activity.
These findings confirm that federal investment in CDFIs acts as catalytic capital that scales community lending and economic impact.