OFN Blog Digest

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Current Issue

December 16, 2020  

• Finance Justice Fund Now Open for Applications
• Congress Includes CDFI Provisions in Bipartisan COVID Relief Legislation
• Three CDFI Industry Leaders Elected to OFN Board of Directors
• Four CDFIs Receive Grow with Google Small Business Fund Loans and Google.org Grants
• OFN Conference Reflections: Investing in Climate Solutions for the Environment and the Economy
• And more

PAST IssueS

November 23, 2020  

• Announcing the New Finance Justice Fund
• 2020 OFN Conference Recap Site Now Live
• A Conversation with Finance Pioneer Inez Long
• Small Businesses Survive-Adapt-Thrive with Cook Inlet Lending Center
• Latest Round of Grow with Google Small Business Loans and Google.org Grants Announced
• And more

November 3, 2020  

• Inez Long Receives Ned Gramlich Award for Advocacy of Black-owned Businesses
• 2020 OFN Virtual Conference—Less Than One Week to Register!
• OFN Awards 70 COVID-19 Grants to Smaller Member CDFIs
• OFN President and CEO Lisa Mensah Amplifies the CDFI Message
• Uplift America Fund 2019 Progress Report Now Available
• And more

OCTOBER 15, 2020  

• OFN Conference Featured Speakers Announced
• Policies to Require Transparency in Small Business Lending Gain Momentum
• CDFI Fund Proposes Substantial Changes to Certification Application
• OFN Virtual Conference: Help Spread the Word!
• It’s the Second Most Important Election of 2020 and the Candidates Are...
• And more

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020  

• OFN Members Receive $110.5 Million from the CDFI Fund
• Registration Now Open for 2020 OFN Virtual Conference
• CDFI Fund Opens the 2020 Round of New Markets Tax Credits
• Federal Reserve Releases Community Reinvestment Act Reform Proposal
• New Native CDFI Online Community Launches on CDFI Connect 
• And more

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020  

• This Year’s Conference Theme: Finance Justice
• Native CDFI Awards Application Now Open
• Nominations Open for the 2020 Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award
• New Grow with Google Small Business Loans Announced
• OFN President Addresses CDFI Fund Community Advisory Board
• And more

August 11, 2020  ​

• Members of Congress Champion CDFIs as COVID Relief Talks Stall
• Morgan Stanley Awards OFN $5 Million Grant for Smaller CDFIs
• OFN Awards Small CDFI Grants to 19 Members
• 7 OFN Member CDFIs Included in $1.7 Billion MacKenzie Scott Pledge
• Lisa Mensah and Nate Hurst on “American Resilience: The Future of Small Business”
• And more

JuLY 23, 2020  

• 2020 Small Business Finance Forum Event Website Now Available
• OFN and HSBC Bank Deploy $25 Million Through CDFI Investment Fund
• OFN Board Nominations Open for 2020
• OFN Awards Second Round of Google Financing
• OFN President and CEO Lisa Mensah Joins Civil Rights Leaders for Conversation on Racial Equity
• And more

JuLY 9, 2020  

• CDFIs Outperform Other Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Lenders
• OFN Announces First Round of Google Loans and Google.org-funded Grants
• House Subcommittee Approves $273.5 Million for CDFI Fund in FY 2021
• Wells Fargo Launches $400 Million Small Business Recovery Effort
• $10 Million Netflix Investment in HOPE Credit Union Sets Example for Private Sector
• And more

June 9, 2020  

• CDFIs–Bringing about a New Season in America
• Register Now - One Week until the 2020 Small Business Finance Forum
• $10 Billion Set Aside for CDFIs to Make PPP Loans; Increased PPP Flexibility Enacted into Law
• Join the CDFI Coalition’s Week of Action
• CDFI Locator Sees 336% Increase in Traffic Amid Pandemic
• And more

MAY 21, 2020  

• Registration Open for 2020 Small Business Finance Forum
• House Endorses $1 Billion for CDFI Fund Grants; 37 Senators Also Signal Support
• OCC Releases Final Community Reinvestment Act Rule
• PPP Reports Released, New Court Ruling on Borrower Eligibility
• OFN Testifies at House Small Business Committee Virtual Forum
• And more

April 30, 2020  

• CDFIs Call for $1 Billion in New CDFI Fund Grants as PPP Misses the Mark
• Join the Fight to #KeepCDFIsStrong
• Press Roundup: CDFIs in the News
• 2020 COVID-19 Staying Connected Webinar Series
• OFN Welcomes 13 New Member CDFIs
• And more

March 30, 2020  - COVID-19 Special Edition

• A Message from Lisa Mensah: #KeepCDFIsStrong
• OFN Announces Grow with Google Small Business Fund
• Congress Enacts $2 Trillion COVID-19 Emergency Response
• Update on 2020 OFN Events
• New COVID-19 Community for OFN Members on CDFI Connect
• And more

March 10, 2020 

• House Subcommittee Presses Treasury Secretary about CDFI Fund Budget Cuts
• OCC, FDIC Announce Extension of CRA Reform Public Comment Period
• Book Your Hotel Room for the 2020 Small Business Finance Forum
• Join the OFN Team as a Summer Intern
• 20 OFN Members Receive Grants for Affordable Housing
• And more!

February 10, 2020 

• Weigh in on the Future of the Community Reinvestment Act
• Congress Holds Hearings on OCC-FDIC Community Reinvestment Act Reform Proposal
• New Resources for CDFI Financial Reporting and Management
• Howard University Explores “Financial Wellness in the African American Community” – CDFIs Are Solution
• 2020 OFN Events – Save the Dates!
• And more!

January 10, 2020 

• Alternative Approach to CRA Modernization Articulated by Federal Reserve Board Governor
• Congress Approves $262 Million for CDFI Fund and Extends New Markets Tax Credit
• OFN FY 2018 "Inside the Membership" Report Now Available
• Highlights from OFN Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting in Baltimore
• Forbes Announces Top 20 Opportunity Zone Investors Committed to Lasting Impact
• And more!

Sign up for the OFN Blog Digest here!

Current Issue

December 5, 2019 

• Annual 'Side by Side' CDFI Reference Guide Now Available
• OFN CEO Lisa Mensah Joins CDFI Leaders at Clinton Presidential Center
• OFN Closes $100 Million CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Issuance
• OFN Members and Allies Receive More Than $100 Million from CDFI Fund
• Wells Fargo Announces CDFI-Owned Loan Fund Geared Toward Latinx Small Businesses
• And more!

Past Issues

NOVEMBER 7, 2019 - SPECIAL EDITION: 2019 OFN CONFERENCE RECAP

• Lending Where it Counts: An OFN Conference for the Record Books
• President Clinton Honors the CDFI Industry on the 25th Anniversary of the CDFI Fund
• Closing the 2019 OFN Annual Conference with a Roar!
• Lend Where it Counts, for People Who Count
• Policy Makers Reflect on Lending Where it Counts at OFN Conference
• And more!

OCTOBER 3, 2019

• 2019 OFN Conference: Newly Added Sessions, Congressional Reception, Step Afrika! & More
• CDFI Fund Announces FY 2019 Technical Assistance and Bank Enterprise Awardees
• Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $251 Million for CDFI Fund in FY 2020
• OFN CEO Lisa Mensah to Speak at Federal Reserve 'Fed Listens' Event on October 4
• OFN Conference Social Media Campaign Kicks Off October 18
• And more!

September 5, 2019

• OFN Conference “Extracurriculars” Provide Something for Everyone
• Neighborhood Tours at OFN Conference Showcase CDFIs in Action
• CDFI Fund Opens the 2019 Round of New Markets Tax Credits
• Feature Your Borrowers at the OFN Conference
• Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) to Receive CDFI Congressional Champion Award at OFN Conference
• And more!

August 8, 2019 

• OFN Conference Registration Opens!
• Nominations Open for the 2019 Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award 
• OFN Invites Submissions for Our CDFI Industry ‘In Memoriam’ Tribute
• Success Story: Pennsylvania Transportation Enterprise Serves Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
• OFN Seeking Stories about Small Businesses Impacted by Predatory Lending Practices
• And more!

JULY 9, 2019 

• Recap of Small Business Finance Forum 2019: Unlocking Entrepreneurial Potential
• New Awards Program Honors Native CDFIs
• House Votes for Record Funding for CDFI Fund Programs
• House and Senate Begin Work on Extension of the New Markets Tax Credit
• Success Story: Small Business Survives Hurricane Harvey with Support of Local CDFI
• And more!

JUNE 6, 2019 

• Latest SBFF Updates: Plenary Sessions and Small Business Partner Showcase
• Case Studies: Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital Program
• House Subcommittee Approves $300 Million for the CDFI Fund in FY 2020
• OFN Submits Comments to Treasury Urging Opportunity Zone Transparency
• $3.5 Billion in New Markets Tax Credit Allocations Awarded
• And more!

May 7, 2019 

• Register Now for OFN’s 2019 Small Business Finance Forum!
• Catalytic Capital: Q&A with MacArthur Foundation’s Debra Schwartz
• NCIFund Strengthens Community Development Work in Appalachia and the Southeast with OFN Financing
• OFN Welcomes Five New Members!
• Announcing Two Promotions and New Faces at OFN!
• And more!

May 2, 2019 - Special Edition: Opportunity zones

• Second Tranche of IRS Opportunity Zone Regulations Released
• OFN Continues to Advocate for Opportunity Zone Reporting Requirements and Community Accountability
• The White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council Prioritizes Opportunity Zones Across the Federal Government
• And more!

APRIL 4, 2019

• Opportunity Zones Update
• Urge Congress to Support the CDFI Fund in FY 2020 Appropriations
• The CDFI Fund Needs Your Input!
• CDFIs Launch $5 Million Kensington Lending Partnership in Philadelphia
• OFN Members Partner with CNote to Launch Business Loan Fund for Women
• And more!

March 7, 2019

• House Appropriations Subcommittee Holds First Hearing on the CDFI Fund
• OFN Promotes Rural Development at Hope Forum in Mississippi
• 19 OFN Members Receive Awards for Affordable Housing
• OFN Welcomes New Members
• Wells Fargo Announces $18.5 in Grants to Nine OFN Members
• And more!

February 1, 2019

• Amir Kirkwood Joins OFN as Chief Lending and Investment Officer
• Welcome to the 116th Congress!
• CDFIs Go the “Extra Mile” to Help Borrowers During Government Shutdown
• Lisa Mensah Promotes CRA Modernization at D.C. Forum
• OFN Welcomes New Members
• And more...

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Current Issue

December 13, 2018

• Key Committee Assignments in the 116th Congress
• A Behind the Scenes Look at an OFN Site Visit
• Lisa Mensah Joins City First to Celebrate 25 Years of Impact and to Honor the Resilience Awardees
• Ramp Up New Staff on the Fundamentals of Opportunity Finance this Spring!
• Working to Make Healthy Food Easy Access in All Communities
• Best of 2018: Our Most Compelling Articles of the Year
• And more...

Past Issues

november 29, 2018

• New Leadership for the 116th Congress
• Democratizing Finance, A Conversation with Cliff Rosenthal
• CDFI Industry Weighs in on Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
• Interested in Benchmarking your CDFI to its Peers?
• Join CDFI Practitioners and Industry Stakeholders in Philadelphia in December
• Cnote Makes it Easy for Anyone to Support CDFIs
• Landit for CDFI Women: Power Your Own Path
• OFN Is Hiring in DC
• Just Launched: Investing in America’s Workforce Book
• And more...

november 8, 2018

• What’s At Stake in the Lame Duck Session
• OFN Briefs Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell
• Lisa Mensah and John Rogers Dig Deep
• The 2018 Small Business Credit Survey Is Now Open: Help Your Small Businesses Be Heard!
• A CDFI Story of Fresh Food Access for Vinton County, Ohio
• And more...

October 25, 2018

• More than 1400 CDFI Change Agents Gather in Chicago
• What New Opportunity Zones Tax Incentives May Mean for CDFIs
• Three Change Agents, Six Decades in Pursuit of Equity and Justice
• CDFIs, This is Our Time
• Senator Dick Durbin Welcomes OFN Conference Attendees
• CDFI Fund Director Annie Donovan Challenges the CDFI Industry to Grow
• A Full Court Press on Diversity: A Conversation with John Rogers of Ariel Investments
• Charles Evans, President of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, Delivers Welcome Remarks
• Two Extraordinary Leaders Recognized at the 2018 Native CDFI Awards Ceremony
• Nancy Andrews Honored with Ned Gramlich Award
• Justice Grant Awardee Uplifts Housing as Human Right
• OFN Conference in Photos​
• And more...

October 4, 2018

• OFN Conference Plenaries Offer Insights, Inspiration
• Nancy Andrews Honored with Ned Gramlich Award
• President Trump Signs Spending Bill to Avoid Partial Government Shutdown
• The 15th Native Convening: Learning and Exploration
• OFN is Seeking a Chief Lending and Investment Officer
• Start Networking Today with the OFN Conference App
• Explore CDFI Resources for Agents of Change at the 2018 OFN Conference Expo
• Share Your #CDFIChangeAgents Stories During OFN Conference
• And more...

September 20, 2018

• OFN Members Receive Nearly $114MM from the CDFI Fund
• Focus on Small Business and Rural Tracks at OFN Conference
• See for Yourself How Chicago CDFIs are Agents of Change
• House and Senate Race to Complete FY 2019 Appropriations
• Run (or Walk) for Fun... And Support Affordable Housing in Chicago
• Help OFN Recognize CDFI Industry Staff in Memoriam: 2017-2018
• Why Oportun is Providing $1MM in Low-Interest Loan Funds to Support the Work of Other CDFIs
• Top Must-Dos While You are in Chicago for OFN Conference
• Get Out the Vote
• And more...

September 6, 2018

• Last Call: Early Bird Discount for OFN Conference Ends Today
• Time to Speak Up: Comments Sought by the OCC on CRA Modernization
• IFF Profiles OFN President and CEO Lisa Mensah
• Get to Know Your Board Candidates
• Help OFN Recognize CDFI Industry Staff in Memoriam: 2017-2018
• Do You Know a CDFI Change Agent? Share Their Story Today!
• And more...

August 23, 2018

• Can’t Miss Sessions at the 2018 OFN Conference
• And the Board Candidates are...
• We Invite You to Share Personal Stories from the Field as #CDFIChangeAgents
• House Members Introduce Bipartisan Rural Jobs Zone Act
• An $8.5mm Tribal Project Expands New Opportunities for Economic Development
• Eviction Data Can Keep Cities from Designing Policy in the Dark
• And more...

August 9, 2018

• Register Now for 2018 OFN Conference
• Lisa Mensah Delivers Testimony to Joint Economic Committee on How Cdfis Fill a Market Gap
• In Memoriam: Jeremy Nowak
• Hot Take: Opportunity Zones
• Senate Approves $250 Million for CDFI Fund in FY 2019
• Nominations Open for the 2018 Ned Gramlich Achievement Award for Responsible Finance
• Learn How PNC Is Starting an Opportunity Zone Fund
• Asking the Hard Questions: CFNE’s Journey to Equity and Inclusion at the Intersection of Finance and Cooperatives
• 40 Years in the Making: An Interview with Sherry Magell and Chris Chrothers of the Jessie Ball Dupont Fund
• And more...

July 19, 2018

• OFN Conference: Agents of Change
• House of Representatives Votes to Raise FY19 Appropriations for CDFI Fund to $223M
• Deutsche Bank Program to Inject $2.5MM to Spur Economic Growth in Native Communities 
• Last Call for Board of Director Candidate Nominations
• CDFIs Gather in Denver for the 2018 West Regional Meeting 
• Rural CDFI Collaboration Helps New Owner Continue Success of Tulare Country Meats
• CDFI Fund Opens FY 2018 Funding Round for Capital Magnet Fund
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

July 5, 2018

• OFN's 2018 Board Elections Are Open—Nominate a Leader Today!
• A Recap of OFN's 7th Small Business Finance Forum: How to Fill Gaps in Small Business Lending
• Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital Program Initiates Second Phase of Funding
• HAC: Building Capacity in Rural Communities
• A Business Model that Brings Jobs and Wealth-Building to Local Communities
• CDFI Fund Awards More Than $22 million through Bank Enterprise Award Program
• 2018 OFN Small Business Finance Forum in Pictures
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

June 21, 2018

• Appropriations Committees Stand Strong in Support of the CDFI Fund
• Welcome Two New Financial Services SVPs to OFN!
• The Small Business Partner Showcase Cranks It Up with Live Tech Demos
• OFN Weighs in on Proposed Changes to FHFA's Affordable Housing Program
• New Markets Tax Credit Allocation Retains 350 Jobs in Rural Michigan
• LEAF Helps Small Business Owner Win Pitch Competition
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

June 7, 2018

• OFN's Small Business Finance Forum: Breaking Records
• Act by Friday: Support Efforts to Restore Funding for CDFI Fund Programs
• OFN Joins Our Policy Allies to Fight for Economic Progress in Washington This Week
• Adding Depth to Breadth: Honoring CDFI Impact in All Its Forms
• Find Out How Scale-Focused Microlenders Are Pricing for Growth at the Small Business Finance Forum
• Woodstock Honors OFN at the 2018 Community Investment Awards
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

May 24, 2018

• Policy Update: Congressional Support Needs to Remain Strong for the CDFI Fund in FY 2019
• CDFIs Weigh in on the Promise of Opportunity Zones
• Working to Increase Access to Health Care through Community Health Centers
• New Place-Based Fund Targets Projects in Philadelphia
• CDFI Practitioners and Allies Gather in Minneapolis
• Coverage Map Demonstrates More than $27B in CDFI Impact
• Congratulations OFN Members!
• 2018 Opportunity Fellows Meet to Foster Diversity and Inclusion in the CDFI Industry
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

May 10, 2018

• OFN Strongly Opposes BEA and CMF Rescissions Package: Join Us!
• Content is King at OFN's Small Business Finance Forum
• Case Study: Why Cultivating a Relationship with Your Policymakers Matters
• Working to Close the Massive Financing Gap for Latino Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs in LMI Neighborhoods
• When Vision and Values are Shared: Partnering to Achieve Greater Impact for Small Businesses
• Small Business Week: LEAF and Innovative Co-op Financing
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

April 23, 2018

• Register Now for the Premier Event for Mission-Driven Small Business Lenders
• Ask Your Senators to Support $275MM for the CDFI Fund in FY 2019
• Impact Investing Conference Comes to Philly this Month
• Bringing CDFIs into the 21st Century: Brilliant Ideas from Some of the Top Business Students in the U.S.
• On-Boarding Webinar Series for New CDFI Staff
• Free Webinar: Best Practices in Loan Policies
• Thank You for Your Service
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

March 29, 2018

• Congress Signals Strong Support for CDFI Fund in FY 2018 and FY 2019
• Linking Data with Solutions: A Q&A with Prosperity Now's Andrea Levere
• Announcing: Small Business Finance Forum 2018
• OFN Sends Letter to Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees in Support of FY19 Funding for USDA Rural Development Programs
• Use OFN's New Consumer Finance Marketing Library to Plan Your Next Strategy
• Place-Focused Foundations Unlocking Philanthropic Capital for Local Impact Investing
• OFN CEO Brings the CDFI Story to Mission Investors in California
• 21 OFN Members Receive Awards for Affordable Housing
• Submit a Story: Share Your Insights, News, and Expertise
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

March 8, 2018

• Learn How to Strengthen Your Market Reach with New Consumer Finance Marketing Toolkit
• Contact Your House Member Today
• Fifth Annual PRO Neighborhoods Competition
• Lisa Mensah to Deliver Keynote at Confluence Philanthropy's Practitioners Gathering
• A CDFI Story of Bringing Solar Energy to Power Affordable Housing
• Standardized CDFI Impact Data Arrives in the Aeris Cloud
• OFN and BBVA Compass 2018 Opportunity Fellows Program to cultivate next generation of CDFI leaders
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

February 15, 2018

• Attend CDFI Institute to Discuss Key CDFI Policy Issues and Advocate for FY18 and FY19
• Winning Strategies Demonstrate Breadth of CDFI Innovation
• 25 OFN Members Selected to Receive New Markets Tax Credits to Spur Economic Growth
• Small Business Majority to Lead the Next Phase of Venturize
• CDFI Women Kick off 2018 with Networking and Next Steps
• Urban Institute Asks CDFI Leaders: How are CDFIs Meeting Community Needs?
• Lisa Mensah Goes Rural at NEXUS USA 2018 Summit
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

February 1, 2018

• Enhance Your Leadership Skills as an Opportunity Fellow
• Start Your 2018 Advocacy Efforts at the CDFI Coalition's CDFI Institute
• Opportunity Zones: New Community Development Tool for CDFIs
• Brightening the Corners
• Business Schools Compete to Solve CDFI Challenges at MIT Sloan
• IFF Client Realizes 20-year Vision for Halfway House in Stark County, OH
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

January 11, 2018

• Join us at the 2018 CDFI Coalition Institute
• Benchmark Your CDFI Loan Fund Recruitment and Retention Plan
• Congress Continues to Debate FY18 Funding
• Increasing Collaboration to Build CDFI Capacity in Affordable Housing with National Community Stabilization Trust
• Building Credit and a Business with Access Capital Plus
• Mark Your Calendars! Events to Attend in 2018
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

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December 14, 2017

• OFN's Headquarters Moving to Our Nation's Capital: Q&A with Lisa Mensah
• Now Available: Salary Data for 21 Staff Positions at CDFI Loan Funds
• How We Broke Through 10 Million
• Congress Passes FY18 CR Extension through December 22: Contact Your Member of Congress Today!
• Compare Your CDFI Performance with OFN Side by Side
• 2017 Top 10 Stories
• CDFI Industry News
• Latest CDFI Connect Community Discussions
• And more...

November 21, 2017

• Senate Appropriations Bill Preserves Full Funding for the CDFI Fund
• Two OFN Members Appointed to the Community Development Advisory Board
• Tax Reform Bills Move Forward in Both Chambers of Congress
• Watch Lisa Mensah's Recent Keynote "Progress from Partnership"
• Small Printing Business Gets Growing with Accion Support
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

November 9, 2017

• OFN Names Two Key Executive Leaders
• Debt, Grant, and Social Capital Available in Round 5 of Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital Program
• Take Action Today to Preserve NMTC
• CDFI Strength is Knowledge: Building Capacity for CDFIs One Person at a Time
• CDFI Women's Network Defines Structure and Sets Goals for Growth
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

October 26, 2017

• Network, Collaborate, Share, and Learn with CDFI Connect Community
• Deepen your Staff and Board Knowledge with Upcoming OFN Trainings
• OFN Delivers Testimony to the Committee on Small Business
• Resilient Nonprofit Builds on Relationship with IFF to Expand
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

October 12, 2017

• "Walking together is a hallmark of our field."
• Closing the Gap: OFN Conference Tackles Generating Impact in Economically Challenged Areas
• Annie Donovan Calls on CDFIs to Continue to Bridge Divides to Accomplish the Mission
• Thinking Abundantly, Moving the Path Forward for CDFIs
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

September 21, 2017

• An Exciting Lineup at OFN Conference Includes New Speakers and Sessions
• New OFN Online Community Connects Training with Networking
• OFN Members Receive $115 Million from the CDFI Fund
• Connecting Services and Partners at the OFN Expo
• Start Your OFN Conference Networking Today with the OFN Conference App
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

September 7, 2017

• What to See and Do While in D.C. for OFN Conference
• Women in the CDFI Industry Network and Build a Community
• The Slate is Set—Meet the Candidates for OFN's 2017 Board Elections
• OFN Members and Allies Raise $25,000 to Support CDFI Staff Impacted by Harvey
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

August 17, 2017

• Exploring Financial Resources for CDFIs at OFN Conference
• OFN Member Spotlight: Colorado Enterprise Fund Congressional Site Visit
• Displaced Family Finally Lays Down Roots with an Innovative CDFI Mortgage Program
• OFN Member Spotlight: BBIF Florida Congressional Site Visit
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

August 3, 2017

• Register Now: 2017 OFN Conference
• Join Us for CDFIsInvest on the Hill
• OFN Member Spotlight: Montana and Idaho CDC Congressional Site Visit
• A CDFIstory of Propelling a Veteran-Owned Small Biz Forward with Financing
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

July 20, 2017

• OFN Conference 2017 Theme Revealed
• House Appropriations Committee Approves FY18 Financial Services and General Government Bill
• Meet the Interns: Real World Data and Infectious Optimism with Mingming Mao
• OFN Releases CDFI Loan Fund Technology Landscape: User Survey Results
• Nominations Open for the 2017 Ned Gramlich Achievement Award for Responsible Finance
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

June 22, 2017

• Recapping Small Business Finance Forum 2017
• Healthcare Georgia Foundation and OFN announce launch of Building the Capacity of CDFIs in Georgia
• Serve to Lead—OFN's 2017 Board Elections Are Open
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

June 8, 2017

• Venturize Turns 1!
• OFN to Send Letter to House and Senate Leadership in Support of CDFI Funding in FY18
• Demystifying Impact Investing and Seeing its Potential
• Sharing from the Native Capital Access Convening
• Successes from Wells Fargo DCC Awardee CDFIs
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

May 25, 2017

• Advocacy Day 2017 Recap
• OFN Opposes Administration's FY18 Budget Proposal to Eliminate Funding for CDFI Fund Programs
• Focus on Entrepreneurs of Color at Small Business Finance Forum
• OFN Partners with HBCU Community Development Action Coalition
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

May 4, 2017

• Wells Fargo Continues Commitment to Diverse Small Businesses with Round Four of Diverse Community Capital
• Can't-Miss Sessions at 2017 Small Business Finance Forum
• Venturize on Set!
• To Report or Not to Report, That is the Question
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

April 20, 2017

• Small Business Finance Forum Registration Opens
• OFN CEO Receives National Honor
• Call for Sessions for 2017 OFN Conference
• Congressional Site Visits
• America's Test Kitchen: Financial Services Edition
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

April 6, 2017

• Save the (New) Date: 2017 OFN Conference in D.C.
• Share Your Small Business #CDFIstory
• Connecting to the Fundamentals of Community Development Finance
• CDFI Leaders Tackle Organizational Performance During Training for CDFI Board Members
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

March 23, 2017

• OFN Says: Trump Budget Proposal Disappointing; Calls on Congress to Restore CDFI Fund Funding
• Act Now: Preserve Funding for the CDFI Fund
• Don't Miss the Opportunity to Attend Advocacy Day 2017
• Insights into an Alternative to Predatory Payday Lending
• Save the Date: Small Business Finance Forum
• Attention CDFIs: Please Participate in the 2017 CDFI Compensation Survey!
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

March 9, 2017

• Veteran Economic Development Leader Lisa Mensah Named as OFN President and Chief Executive Officer
• Opportunity Fellows Program Kicks Off in Birmingham
• OFN's Equity Page Launches Today
• Call to Action: Inspire Congress to Support the CDFI Fund
• CDFI Bank and Credit Union Study Demonstrates Strong Performance
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

February 24, 2017

• Join Us to Amplify our Message to Congress: #CDFIsInvest
• Long-term EQ2 Capital Now Available for CDFIs
• 25 Named to Inaugural Class of Opportunity Fellows
• Meet With Your Members of Congress This Week
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

February 9, 2017

• A Call to Action: Contact Congress Now
• OFN's Q1 Hill Briefing Report
• OFN Members Share the #CDFIstory with a New Congress
• Why CDFIs Must Play a Key Role in Bridging the Racial Wealth Gap Through Business Ownership
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

January 26, 2017

• Register for Advocacy Day 2017: More Important Now than Ever
• OFN to Host Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill
• Three Lessons from Pay for Success Investing
• CDFI Industry News
• And more...

January 13, 2017

• Wondering What's NEXT? New Fund Set to Invest Equity and Debt in CDFI Innovations
• Creating Quality Jobs to Fight Income Inequality
• Collaborate, Connect, and Communicate with Your Network in 2017
• Get on the Map in 2017
• And more...

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December 22, 2016

• Reflecting on 2016 and Looking Ahead to 2017
• Top 10 Blog Moments of 2016
• Show Congress What CDFI Success Looks Like
• And more...

December 1, 2016

• CDFI Policy Priorities and the New Political Landscape
• Lead Transformational Change as an Opportunity Fellow
• Prep for 2017 with CDFI Peers in the Midwest
• And more...

November 11, 2016

• Changes in America and the Essential Role of CDFIs
• Three Inspiring Days of CDFIs at OFN 2016 Annual Conference
• 2016 Small Business Leader Awardees Reshape Small Business Lending
• And more...

October 13, 2016

• OFN Launches CEO Search
• Annie Donovan Talks Building Resilience to Proactively Respond to Climate and Economic Changes
• Rethink Capitalization: Innovative Approaches and New Partnerships
• OFN Board Candidate Interviews
• And more...

September 29, 2016

• Rethink Impact: How CDFIs are Changing the Landscape in Atlanta
• Your Vote Counts: Meet the OFN Board Candidates
• OFN Members Receive $109 MM from the CDFI Fund
• Twenty OFN Members to Receive $57 Million in Awards for Affordable Housing
• Giving Every Child Access to High Quality Pre-K
• CDFIs and Small Businesses: A Smart Match
• And more...

September 15, 2016

• New Pre-Conference Session Provides Disaster Resilience Workshop for CDFIs
• Traveling Through Appalachia for the NEXT Awards
• OFN CEO Search Firm Selection Committee Selects Korn Ferry
• Welcome Back Congress
• How the Racial Wealth Gap Hurts Small Business Owners of Color
• Bridging the Inclusion Gap for People with Disabilities at the OFN Conference
• What Does High Impact Investing Look Like?
• And more...

August 19, 2016

• Join Us as we Rethink Community Development
• Five NEXT Awards Winners Celebrated for Their Innovations in Responsible Consumer Finance
• Federal Agencies Propose Changes to Programs Impacting CDFIs
• Election Season Kicks off For OFN Board
• The Good Work of CDFIs
• Top 10 Must Dos While in Atlanta for the OFN Conference
• Impact Investing: A Time for Change
• PIDC Borrower Tour Demonstrates Impact of CDFIs in Philadelphia
• And more...

July 2016

• 2016 OFN Conference: Rethink
• Giving Every OFN Member a Voice
• House Approves FY 2017 Funding for the CDFI Fund
• Dory Rand Reveals Insights About Online Small Business Loans
• Learning the Fundamentals of Opportunity Finance
• Success Story: Calvert Foundation CDFI
• And more...

June 2016

• Voicing Our Opposition to the Duffy-Marino Amendment
• OFN Leadership Transition
• Venturize: Connecting Small Business Owners with Smart Financing Options
• Congratulations to the 2016 Wells Fargo NEXT Opportunity Awards Finalists!
• A Small Business Finance Forum Recap
• Spotlight on: Clearinghouse CDFI
• Advocacy Day Recap
• And more...

May 2016

• Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital Opens Round Two
• The Small Business Lending Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities
• Get Social for Advocacy Day
• Countdown to 2016 Small Business Finance Forum
• Spotlight On: CDC Small Business Finance
• Public Policy News
• And more...

April 2016

• Register Today! Strengthening Communities Through Small Business Finance
• Coming Soon: An Expanded CDFI Connect Experience
• Get Social for Opportunity Finance!
• Call for Entries: Participate in a National Small Business Campaign
• Spotlight On: Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc. (MCE)
• Public Policy News
• And more...

March 2016

• Looking Ahead: The Future of the CDFI Industry
• Last Call to Join Us for Advocacy Day
• Public Policy: OFN Briefs Capitol Hill on Importance of Appropriations
• Spotlight on Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF)
• And more...

February 2016

• Join Us As We Stand Up for CDFIs in D.C.
• Pinsky Issues Wakeup Call Regarding CRA Mission Drift and Says it is Time to Claim High-Impact Investing
• Learn from Mission-Driven Small Business Lenders
• Public Policy: Obama Administration Releases Final Budget, Shows Strong Support for CDFIs
• Spotlight On: RCAC
• And more...

January 2016

• Five Things To Do Now to Get Ready for the 2016 BGP
• Collaborating to Create Opportunity. For All.
• Is Your CDFI NEXT?
• Public Policy: Advocacy Day
• Spotlight On: Community Works
• And more...

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December 2015

• Top 10 Highlights from the OFN Conference in Detroit!
• Spotlight on: Hope Enterprise Corporation
• Public Policy News
• And more...

October 2015

• Conference is Around the Corner!
• Breakthrough Bond Issues
• Spotlight On: New Hampshire Community Loan Fund
• Public Policy News
• And more...

September 2015

• Celebrating What's NEXT in Consumer Financial Products and Services
• OFN Conference is the Must Attend Event of 2015
• Spotlight On: IFF
• Public Policy News
• And more...

August 2015

• Register Now for the 2015 OFN Conference
• Get Your CDFI Borrower Stories on the Big Screens at the Conference
• How Interning with OFN Changed My Perspective
• Become an OFN Member
• Spotlight On: NCIF and PCG Partnership Serves Community Center
• Public Policy News
• And more...

July 2015

• Small Business Draws Big Numbers
• Four Finalists for Wells Fargo NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance
• LEAD the Opportunity Finance Industry, JOIN the OFN Board
• Spotlight on: Homewise, Inc.
• Public Policy News
• And more...

June 2015

• 2015 OFN Conference: Opportunity. Made in America.
• CDFIs Making History
• OFN's Small Business Finance Forum to Feature New Industry Strategies
• Ready, Set, Go...2015 OFN Board Nominations Begin!
• Spotlight On: Montana CDC
• Public Policy News
• And more...

May 2015

• Members Advocate on Capitol Hill
• Sharing the #CDFIstory with Policymakers
• Network and Learn With Leaders in Small Business Financing
• Spotlight On: LiftFund
• Public Policy News
• And more...

April 2015

• Transformation of CDFI Capitalization
• Expanding CDFI Coverage in Underserved Areas
• Opportunity for All: Tools You Can Use
• Spotlight On: The Disability Opportunity Fund
• Public Policy News
• And more...

March 2015

• Get Ready for 2015 Advocacy Day
• Up Next: CDFI Learning and Networking Opportunities
• New Data Available in the Side-by-Side Report
• Spotlight On: Housing Partnership Network
• Public Policy News
• And more...

February 2015

• Stretching NMTC Allotments into the CDFI Sector
• 24 Lenders Chosen Nationwide for Small Business Capacity Building Initiative
• 2015 Wells Fargo NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance in a Nutshell
• Spotlight On: Primary Health Services Center Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

January 2015

• 48 CDFI Professionals Selected for 2015 Citi Leadership Program for Opportunity Finance
• Tips for Making Internships Work…for You and Your Interns
• Consumer Financial Services are NEXT in 2015
• Spotlight on: Chi Ishobak Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

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December 2014

• Because Equity Summary Report Invites Exploration into Defining Equity as an Industry
• Talent Development for the Opportunity Finance Industry’s Future
• Congratulations to OFN Board of Directors Committee Members!
• Spotlight on: Florida Community Loan Fund Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

November 2014

• Recap: Best Conference Ever
• CDFIs Making History
• The Campaign is On!
• Fundamentals of the Opportunity Finance Industry: Certificate in Community Development Finance
• New Board Members
• First-Ever Small Business Leader Awards
• Spotlight on: OBDC Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

September 2014

• Congratulations 2014 NEXT Opportunity Awardees!
• Exciting Highlights at the 2014 OFN Conference
• The Campaign is On!
• New CDFI Fund Capacity Building Initiative
• Spotlight on: Hawaii First FCU Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

August 2014

• Impact Seven: The 2014 NEXT Seed Capital Awardee
• Register Now for the 2014 OFN Conference
• OFN Issues First Ever CDFI Bond
• Small Business Leader Award Selection Committee
• Spotlight on: Entrepreneur Works Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

July 2014

• 2014 NEXT Opportunity Award Finalists Announced
• Nancy Santiago Negrón Joins OFN as New CEAO
• Opportunity Finance Practitioners Head to Class
• OFN Submits a 2014 CDFI Bond Guarantee Application
• Spotlight on: Working Solutions Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

June 2014

• Building Capacity for Small Business Lenders
• Now Accepting Nominations for the OFN Board!
• OFN’s Membership Growth Continues
• Spotlight on: Midwest Housing Development Fund Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

May 2014

• A Replicable Model for CSR
• FY2014 CDFI Bond Guarantee Program
• Applications Open Small Business Financing Events
• Learn, Join, Lead: OFN’s Board of Directors
• Spotlight on: Craft3 Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

April 2014

• Countdown to DC: Advocacy Day Is May 21
• Demand Is Up: 4Q13 Market Conditions
• OFN Expands Coverage
• Register Now: Small Business Finance Forum
• Spotlight: Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
• Public Policy News
• And more...

March 2014

• Take the Youth Opportunity Pledge!
• CDFI Boot Camp
• New Member Q&A: Helen Smith-Godfrey, Shreveport FCU
• OFN on the Road: 2014 Regional Meetings
• Spotlight: Arizona MultiBank Success Story
• Public Policy News
• And more...

February 2014

• Q&A: HPN's Thomas Bledsoe
• Growing Microfinance to Scale Webinar Series
• Hottest Headlines on CDFI Connect
• Wanted: CDFI Success Stories
• Spotlight: Forward Community Investments
• Public Policy News
• And more...

January 2014

• NEXT Awards 2014: The Future of Housing Finance
• New TA Memo for CDFI Small Business Lenders
• Financing Community Health Centers Workshops
• Most Popular Links on CDFI Connect
• Spotlight On: Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region Success Story
• And more...

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December 2013

• Citi Leadership Program for Opportunity Finance
• NEXT Awards: The Future of Housing Finance
• CDFIs Featured in the Huffington Post
• OFN Welcomes Two New Members!
• Spotlight On: Bethex FCU Success Story
• And more...

November 2013

• Recap of the Best Conference Ever!
• Financing Community Health Centers
• Side by Side—Now Available
• Congratulations New Board Members
• Spotlight On: TruFund Financial Success Story
• And more...

September 2013

• Meet the 2013 NEXT Opportunity Awardees!
• Highlights at the 2013 Conference
• New Scaling Up Microfinance Webinars
• The 2013 Campaign is On!
• Spotlight On: IFF Success Story
• And more...

August 2013

• OFN Conference: Many CDFIs, One Purpose
• 2013 NEXT Seed Capital Awardee
• Board Elections—The Slate is Set
• Nominate a Colleague Who Inspires
• Spotlight On: Craft3 Success Story
• And more...

July 2013

• The CDFI Bond... and Beyond!
• NEXT Finalists Revealed
• Recap: Small Business Finance Forum
• Submit Your Board Nomination TODAY
• Spotlight On: Opportunity Fund Success Story
• And more...

June 2013

• Moving the CDFI Opportunity Agenda Forward!
• Financing Community Health Centers Trainings
• CDFI Bond Guarantee Program is Open!
• Survey Results: Financing Healthy Food
• Spotlight On: Neighborhood Development Center Success Story
• And more...

May 2013

• Shape the Future
• Members Receive $1.08 Billion in NMTC
• CDFI Fourth Quarter 2012 Market Conditions
• New TA Memo for Small Business Lenders
• Spotlight On: Community Loan Fund Success Story
• And more...

April 2013

• Join Us for the Small Business Finance Forum
• Strengthening Small and Emerging CDFIs
• President Obama Releases FY 2014 Budget
• Join OFN!
• Spotlight On: Baltimore Community Lending Success Story
• And more...

March 2013

• Join OFN on Capitol Hill
• Strengthening Small and Emerging CDFIs
• New CDFI Compensation Survey Report Available
• Recap: Scaling Up Microfinance Trainings
• Spotlight On: ACE Success Story
• And more...

February 2013

• Help us Create More American Jobs!
• NEXT Applications Open through March 18
• Final Scaling Microfinance Workshop
• Spotlight On: Support Center Success Story
• And more...

January 2013

• NEXT Applications Open February 1
• Higher Education and CDFI Partnerships
• 10,000 Small Businesses Comes to Philly
• Now Available! 2011 Side by Side Report
• Spotlight On: REED Success Story
• And more...