klein Stories and Data

klein Stories

Built to Scale: Designing a Business with Scale in Mind
St. John Manor
Catonsville CO-OP brings together food, community, and local businesses
A Grand Opening Like No Other

klein Fact Sheet

CDFIs make banking accessible for entrepreneurs and small businesses that often lack the institutional knowledge and networks to feel confident in the lending space. CDFIs are a critical tool that helps diversify our economy.

-Cole Harvey, Grow America, Seattle, WA

I support Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) because their mission aligns with promoting economic opportunity and strengthening underserved communities. The CDFI Fund, part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, aims to expand economic opportunity by supporting CDFIs, which are entities dedicated to providing financial products and services to populations and areas that traditionally lack sufficient access to these resources. This includes financing homes, supporting small businesses, and investing in local community facilities. CDFIs play a significant role in fostering community development by offering responsible and transparent financial products and services. They ensure that these offerings are affordable, safe, and align with their mission to improve the social and economic conditions of their Target Markets. Additionally, their efforts in promoting transparency, fair practices, and compliance with laws further demonstrate their commitment to community upliftment. The support provided to CDFIs is crucial because they specialize in addressing gaps in access to capital and financial services, thereby promoting economic, housing, and social opportunities in underserved areas. This support helps create a robust network of community development lenders and financial service providers who can sustainably impact low-income communities.

-Johnson Hor, Northeast Community Federal Credit Union, San Francisco, CA

We have a critical community project that we are planning to build this year using CDFI funds. It will create new jobs and help small business owners.

-Dana Nelson, Tubman, Minneapolis, MN

Map of klein CDFI Branches and Stories