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.
CDFIs fill a vital role in economic growth of communities and prosperity for all Americans. The rigor and discipline that CDFIs employ proves that you can promote opportunity for all while making wise financing and lending decisions. CDFIs operate in the Abundance mentality and are focused on creating win-win scenarios.
CDFIs are essential to ensuring all communities and residents have access to safe, affordable credit when traditional financial institutions are not able to do so. These market-based institutions know their communities needs best and leverage private sector investment. Building bridges between the public and private sectors is what CDFIs do well and we need to preserve the expertise of these organizations by ensuring a robust funding of $324 million for the CDFI Fund.
CDFIs drive economic mobility in a way that positively transforms communities in many ways. It’s relevant for folks with a business/economy-first mentality to know: CDFIs create small businesses, develop financially stable households, and increase low-come families’ spending power. These are metrics that are meaningful to people of all political views. Investing in the CDFI Fund pays dividends to the broader economy. This is not a politically divisive line item in the budget. Fund the CDFI Fund!
CDFIs fill crucial gaps in the housing and community development ecosystem, supporting the creation and preservation of affordable housing and vital community facilities that help low-income individuals, families and communities thrive and live with dignity.