CDFI Progress Report Submissions

CDFIs often serve as key partners for many traditional financial institutions. Collaboration between banks and CDFIs is vital to scaling CDFIs’ impact. From loan participations to investments and philanthropic support, we’re seeking examples of collaborations that have expanded credit access, strengthened local economies, or deepened community investment. This category can also include partnerships between CDFI Banks and other collaborative initiatives.

Access to affordable, high-quality childcare is essential for working families and thriving communities. CDFIs play a critical role in financing childcare centers, supporting home-based providers, and helping early childhood educators build sustainable businesses. We’re seeking stories that highlight how your CDFI has expanded childcare options, improved facilities, or supported childcare entrepreneurs, especially in communities where families face limited choices. These stories can be limited to one borrower or can describe a financial product supporting childcare entrepreneurs across a region, but please include at least one story example.

CDFIs are pioneering responsible consumer credit products that help individuals escape predatory debt, build credit, and gain financial security. Share your stories of innovative consumer lending, debt consolidation, or credit-building programs that have changed lives and strengthened financial well-being in your communities. These stories needn’t be limited to initiatives tied to the Small Dollar Loan Fund Program, though we certainly welcome those stories. 

CDFIs are advancing economic opportunity for people with disabilities through accessible housing, adaptive workplaces, and supportive services. We’re seeking stories showing how your CDFI’s investments, lending, or partnerships have helped individuals with disabilities achieve independence, stability, and economic opportunity. 

CDFIs are uniquely positioned to meet the lending needs of recovering communities. Disasters hit vulnerable communities the hardest, and many CDFIs have decades of experience providing economically disadvantaged individuals with the tools they need to become self-sufficient stakeholders in their own future. We are seeking recent stories where CDFIs stepped in and supported both immediate and long-term disaster recovery.

Access to nutritious, affordable food is fundamental to community health and vitality. CDFIs are financing grocery stores, food co-ops, food hubs, and local farms to bring healthy food options to underserved areas while also creating jobs and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs. We’re seeking stories about how your CDFI has improved food access, strengthened local food systems, addressed food deserts, or tackled hunger.

CDFIs are critical partners in expanding access to quality healthcare facilities clinics, dental centers, home-healthcare, behavioral health providers, telehealth, and other investments that improve health outcomes in underinvested communities. We’re looking for stories that illustrate how your financing has improved community health, created good jobs, or brought care closer to home.

CDFIs have helped countless individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership. We’re looking for stories that showcase innovative mortgage products, down-payment assistance, counseling programs, or partnerships that have made homeownership possible and built wealth for LMI individuals – especially first-time buyers and those in markets with high housing costs. 

From multifamily developments to single-family construction and preservation, CDFIs are addressing the nation’s housing shortage head-on. We invite stories demonstrating how your CDFI is boosting the housing supply, preserving existing affordable units, or helping developers and nonprofits overcome barriers to creating more homes for families, seniors, and workers.

Manufacturing drives innovation, exports, and good jobs – but too often, small and midsized manufacturers struggle to access capital and remain competitive. Share your stories about financing equipment, modernizing facilities, or supporting workforce development for manufacturers that are strengthening your regional economy. In particular (not required), we welcome  stories highlighting the reshoring of domestic manufacturing jobs.

Microloans can spark entrepreneurship and financial independence for individuals who might not qualify for traditional financing. We’re seeking stories about microloan programs that have empowered sole proprietors, startups, or existing small enterprises to expand or take root – and eventually thrive.

Native CDFIs strengthen Tribal economies and advance sovereignty through culturally grounded financial services, loans, and investments. We invite stories highlighting how your Native CDFI  has empowered Native entrepreneurs, homeowners, and communities through lending, technical assistance, or partnerships that advance long-term economic growth across Indian Country.

Rural communities often face unique challenges such as limited infrastructure, appraisal gaps, geographic remoteness, bank consolidation and closures, and declining populations. CDFIs are stepping up to deliver solutions. We invite stories highlighting how your CDFI has invested in rural housing, businesses, families, or essential community facilities to support economic opportunity in rural America.

From early childhood centers to charter schools and vocational training facilities, CDFIs are investing initiatives that expand access to a quality education. We invite stories that highlight how your CDFI’s financing has improved educational facilities, supported educators and students, or helped prepare communities for the future of work – particularly for existing residents in the markets you serve.

Small businesses often serve as the backbone of local economies, and they also face the brunt of shifting economic forces and policies beyond their control.  Fortunately, CDFIs are their trusted partners. Share your stories of helping small business owners access capital, survive and grow, or adapt to changing markets. We’re especially interested in stories showing how your CDFI’s lending, coaching, or partnerships have created jobs and community wealth.

CDFIs are leaders in utilizing, leveraging, and deploying the proceeds of federal and state tax credit investments, such as such as the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC),  and Opportunity Zones credit, to drive investment in underinvested communities. Tell us about tax credit projects where your CDFI utilized credits to make the difference, creating jobs, expanding homeownership and the housing supply, supporting community facilities, or strengthening essential community infrastructure.

Hands-on technical assistance is often the key to long-term borrower success, and it is also where CDFIs go the extra mile compared to other lenders. We want to hear about CDFI programs and initiatives that provide business training, credit counseling, financial education, or hands-on mentoring. How has your CDFI combined commercial and consumer credit products with capacity-building to help borrowers succeed?

CDFIs are helping bridge the gap in access to equity capital for entrepreneurs in areas of the country that have traditionally been overlooked by mainstream venture investors. Share your stories about mission-driven venture funds, equity investments, or innovative capital structures that are fueling growth for founders, emerging businesses, and exciting new ventures in your service region.

Do you have other suggestions for topics we should cover? Contact paul@rapoza.org to discuss, or just make a submission and we’ll get back to you.