OFN Webinars & Virtual Forums
Overview
OFN’s webinars and online forums provide an opportunity for CDFI practitioners, partners, and other industry supporters across the country to learn and connect virtually on issues affecting community-based lenders and the unique communities they each serve.
Upcoming Events
September 19, 2023
CONNECT+ Webinar: The Talent Equation – Compensation, Benefits & Skill Development
Description: Finding the right people at the right time with the right skills for your organization – and retaining them – continues to be a key priority across the CDFI industry. Join us for an engaging discussion with fellow CDFI practitioners on crafting equitable compensation structures; implementing benefits that promote employee well-being; and integrating skill development opportunities to nurture talent growth.
Whether you’re seeking to fine-tune your talent strategy or redefine your approach, this webinar will equip you with insights to help master the balance of talent optimization at your organization.
This webinar was developed with support from Capital One.
September 27, 2023
CONNECT+ Webinar: Mission-Aligned Portfolio Management
Description: There’s often much discussion around how to embed equity in loan product design and align loan originations with CDFI values and missions, but how do you continue to embed these principles once a loan closes?
During this webinar, we’ll dive into strategies, insights, and leading practices for how to effectively manage your loan portfolio while staying true to your mission and values, from building processes that activate borrower voice to navigating the complexities that can arise during the delinquency process.
This webinar was developed with support from Capital One.
Past Events
April 12, 2023 — CONNECT+ Webinar: Designing Loan Products that Advance Racial Justice
Description: CDFIs continue to move capital where traditional markets will not go. Nonetheless, the journey towards racial and economic justice remains incomplete. It is crucial to scrutinize our industry’s policies and procedures to identify any unintended ways they may contribute to systemic racism. We need to ensure that our policies, processes, and products do not recreate or perpetuate the very barriers that we are striving to dismantle.
March 28, 2023 — OFN Federal Policy Update
Description: On this webinar, OFN’s Public Policy team discussed our 2023 policy priorities including CDFI Fund appropriations, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and other Inflation Reduction Act programs, changes to CDFI certification and more.
We also shared how you can engage in OFN advocacy efforts this year, using our tools and resources to help make your voice heard with federal policymakers.
March 21, 2023 — CONNECT+ Forum: CDFI Operations & Human Capital
Description: On March 21, OFN welcomed more than 680 CDFI practitioners and industry stakeholders to our virtual 2023 CONNECT+ Forum: CDFI Operations & Human Capital.
Participants engaged in interactive discussions about how CDFIs can most effectively recruit, develop, and retain talent; optimize the efficacy and impact of products and programs; build stronger systems and policies; and invest in operations and technology.
OFN thanks Citi Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co, and Wells Fargo for supporting this webinar.
February 7, 2023 — CONNECT+ Webinar: 50 Years Later, Exploring the Roots of the CDFI Industry
Description: In 1973, the nation’s first CDFI – ShoreBank- was founded in Chicago by Ronald Grzywinski, Milton Davis, Jim Fletcher, and Mary Houghton with the motto – and rallying cry- “Let’s Change the World.” Fifty years later, CDFIs have grown from an initial proof point in a Chicago neighborhood to an industry that is over 1,300 institutions strong and in every state.
Hear from early CDFI leaders as well as OFN leadership as they discuss how a movement became the industry we know today. We also released our new CDFI 101 toolkit, designed to help CDFIs educate new staff and stakeholders on what CDFIs are, how they do what they do, why they exist, and an overview of the impact they’ve had.
Meet the speakers
Attend an OFN Virtual Training or Event!
Learn more and sign up for upcoming OFN virtual training and events by checking out the CDFI Connect events calendar or subscribing to receive OFN updates.
Watch On-Demand
Missed a previous webinar or virtual forum, or want to revisit content? Check out recordings on-demand!
For webinars hosted on Cvent, use your existing login credentials to access the event platform or sign up for free.
- 2023
- 2022
CONNECT+ Webinar: Designing Loan Products that Advance Racial Justice
Hear insights and lessons learned from three CDFIs on how they’ve examined their lending policies and processes to rework their definitions of creditworthiness and design loan products that advance racial justice. The webinar will also cover how to develop and utilize racial equity impact assessment tools, ways that CDFIs have centered community voices in their work, and more.
OFN thanks Citi Foundation for supporting this webinar. Watch the Recording
2023 OFN Federal Policy Update
During this webinar, OFN’s Public Policy team discuss our 2023 policy priorities including CDFI Fund appropriations, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and other Inflation Reduction Act programs, changes to CDFI certification and more. Read more in our blog recap!
We also share how you can engage in our advocacy efforts this year, using our tools and resources to help make your voice heard with federal policymakers. Watch the Recording
CONNECT+ Forum: CDFI Operations & Human Capital
The CONNECT+ Forum features two plenaries and six breakout sessions focused on strengthening CDFI operations and staffing. During the forum, OFN released two new toolkits and highlights a new OFN research brief that explore a range of CDFI trends from 2017 through 2021.
OFN thanks Citi Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo for supporting this forum. Watch the Recordings
CONNECT+ Webinar: 50 Years Later, Exploring the Roots of the CDFI Industry
The webinar features a panel with early CDFI leaders as well as OFN leadership on how a movement became the industry we know today. Check out OFN’s new CDFI 101 toolkit, designed to help CDFIs educate new staff and stakeholders on what CDFIs are, how they do what they do, why they exist, and an overview of the impact they’ve had.
OFN thanks Citi Foundation for supporting this webinar. Watch the Recording
“Resources for CDFI Growth” Webinar Series
Watch recordings from OFN’s “Resources for CDFI Growth” webinar series and see the complete toolkit and framework materials on CDFI Connect.
OFN thanks Capital One and Fifth Third Bank for supporting these resources. Watch the Recordings
CONNECT+ Webinars
The 2022 CONNECT+ Webinar Series include important policy issues; challenges and opportunities facing CDFIs; and CDFI best practices in business models, operations, and structures.
OFN thanks Wells Fargo for sponsoring our CONNECT+ Webinar series!