Finance Justice Fund Communications Toolkit

Congratulations! If you are visiting this page, your CDFI has received a loan or grant from the Finance Justice Fund. OFN wants to help you share the news with your constituents and amplify the message that CDFIs have a pivotal role to play in advancing social, economic, and racial justice.

The Finance Justice Fund communications toolkit provides copy about the Fund to use in your CDFI’s announcement. You are not required to make an official announcement of your loan or grant.

The toolkit also offers tips for story and photo submissions. Each grant/loan awardee is required to submit one story within the first six months of receiving the award and may be asked to submit more in subsequent years.

If you have questions about making a Finance Justice Fund award announcement or story submissions, please contact Caroline Valvardi.

Sample Copy

Below is standard copy describing the Finance Justice Fund and a quote from OFN President and CEO Harold Pettigrew for your announcement. The copy can be used in newsletters, press releases, blog posts, or other communications.

Launched by Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) in 2020, the Finance Justice Fund is a socially responsible investment that aims to bring $1 billion in capital from corporate and philanthropic partners to individuals and communities in America most underserved by mainstream finance. The goal of the Finance Justice Fund is to drive affordable, responsible capital to Black, Latino, Indigenous, and rural communities. For a full list of Fund partners and awardees, please visit OFN’s Finance Justice Fund page.

“I am pleased to announce <your CDFI> as a Finance Justice Fund awardee. CDFIs like <your CDFI> demonstrate their commitment to address problems resulting from disinvestment, systemic racism, and persistent poverty,” said OFN Chief Financial Officer Beth Lipson. “With this much-needed capital, our Finance Justice Fund partners will help advance social, economic, and racial justice — one loan at a time.”

[Name of your CDFI] is proud to share we’ve received a [$X] [loan or grant] from the @oppfinance #FinanceJustice Fund to help support more [financing focus, e.g., #BlackOwned #smallBiz] in [CDFI service area, e.g., Boise, ID]. http://www.ofn.org/finance-justice-fund

[Name of CDFI] is proud to announce we’ve received a [$X] [loan or grant] from the @Opportunity Finance Network Finance Justice Fund to help support more [financing focus, e.g. Black-owned small businesses] in [CDFI service area, e.g., Boise, ID]. #FinanceJustice http://www.ofn.org/finance-justice-fund

[Name of CDFI] is proud to announce we’ve received a [$X] [loan or grant] from the @Opportunity Finance Network Finance Justice Fund to help support more [financing focus, e.g., Black-owned small buisnesses] in [CDFI service area, e.g., Boise, ID].

The Finance Justice Fund is a socially responsible investment that aims to bring $1 billion in capital from corporate and philanthropic partners to individuals and communities in America most underestimated and underserved by mainstream finance. #FinanceJustice http://www.ofn.org/finance-justice-fund

Stories

Your CDFI is required to submit one story within six months of receiving funds through the Finance Justice Fund. These stories are powerful tools for helping to demonstrate the impact of the Finance Justice Fund and how CDFIs work to help support thriving small businesses, quality jobs, affordable homes, critical community services, and so much more.

Please submit the story elements using our CDFI Story form.

OFN may use your story on our website, in media pitches, on social media, in advocacy efforts with policymakers and partners, and in research and funder reports. We will not make public the amount of your loan/grant. In addition, Finance Justice Fund investors may periodically highlight that you are a Finance Justice Fund financing recipient in public-facing communications and on social media.

Visit OFN’s CDFI Stories page to reference recent story examples from other OFN members.

Graphic

Use the Finance Justice Fund graphic for use on social media, your website, emails, and other communications. Download it here.

Finance Justice Fund

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