CDFI Stories Stories and Data

Quick Navigation

K-V-A-T Food Stores, Inc.

Athens,
Alabama

TruFund

Two Rivers Lumber Company

Kellyton,
Alabama

Carver State Bank, United Bank

Cristo Rey Fort Worth STEAM Center

Fort Worth,
Texas

Capital Impact Partners

La Placita: An Economic, Health Care and Community Resilience Hub (1751 Alum Rock, LLC)

San Jose,
California

Capital Impact Partners

Load More Stories

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.

Testimonials

Our CDFI is housed in a non-profit dedicated to cultivating entrepreneurial leadership within underserved communities to increase their economic mobility. CDFIs are crucial to this work and bridging the gap to help entrepreneurs access funding before being able to approach a traditional lender for a myriad of reasons such as lack of credit history, being underbanked or never banking, lacking access to financial literacy resources and education around borrowing process. Being able to combine training resources with microlending support enables our org to further serve these populations in a way that best meets their needs and creates economic growth and jobs within our local communities.

Ariana Garcia, ASSETS PA, Lancaster, PA

CDFIs have been a vital role in our community by providing low-cost capital to businesses. Capital is not readily available in the rural area I live, so it’s imperative that CDFIs continue to receive funding that helps support small businesses and continue to grow small communities.

Katie Rasmus, Grow SD, Sisseton, SD

CDFIs have a demonstrated track record of success: they often leverage every federal dollar to attract up to 12 times that amount in private investment, reaching borrowers that traditional banks overlook. Whether it’s a veteran-owned business in Montana, a farm in the Central Valley, or a childcare provider in the South Bronx, CDFIs meet communities where they are, providing not only loans but financial education, technical assistance, and long-term support. This is not a partisan issue. Nearly every congressional district in America benefits from the work of CDFIs, with 92% of House districts having at least one CDFI. CDFIs are an engine of local resilience-supporting job creation, small business formation, and upward mobility.

Heidi Pickman, CAMEO Network – California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity, San Francisco, CA

I support CDFIs because they serve as economic first responders in their communities. Native and consumer loan funds, in particular, are instrumental in lifting our most vulnerable populations out of poverty. These CDFIs provide essential financial services and resources, offering a lifeline to individuals and families who might otherwise be excluded from traditional banking systems. By empowering them to become bankable again, CDFIs help create pathways to financial independence and long-term prosperity.

Alexandria Knipp, Redbud Financial Alternatives, Hazard, KY