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Explore the menu to find plenaries, keynotes, breakout sessions, and more. Note, you’ll be prompted to sign up if you wish to access the breakout sessions. There is no fee for registering.

CDFI Practitioners

Access timely training presented by the industry’s thought leaders and subject matter experts across seven tracks:

CDFI Supporters

To learn more about CDFIs at work we recommend:

  • • View Interviews and Panel Discussions that took place during our Plenaries
  • • Hear about the work of CDFIs from policymakers and in our borrowers’ own Voices
  • • Learn about the opportunities CDFIs represent for Investors and Funders
  • • Read about recent investments in the industry by Twitter and Google

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Facilitated Networking by Position: Marketing and Communications

This interactive networking session offers like-minded individuals the opportunity to meet each other in a small group setting. Participants will be broken out into discussion rooms where they’ll share their challenges and successes. Facilitated Networking Sessions tap into the knowledge and experience of all participants. Take this opportunity to engage with new peers, ask questions, share what’s working for you, and find out what you might adopt from others
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Collaboration Led to Increased Capacity and Innovative Affordable Housing Models

CDFI Sustainability

Place-based collaboration tackling a local challenge can lead to new capital sources, stronger balance sheets, increased organizational capacity to expand reach or improve delivery of service, and innovation at scale. We’ll hear from three CDFI place-based collaboratives about how they are working together on innovative models to help people remain stably housed, as well as addressing housing affordability−both of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Calvin Holmes

Chicago Community Loan Fund

Linda McMahon

The Real Estate Council

Andreanecia Morris

HousingNOLA

Mercedeh Mortazavi

JPMorgan Chase Foundation

Looking in the Mirror: Racial Disparities and CDFIs

Racial Equity

Analysis by McKinsey Global Institute found if the racial wealth gap were closed, US GDP would have been $1.5 trillion greater over the next decade. Importantly, Black-led financial institutions play a vital role in closing these gaps by locating in minority communities and originating loans at higher rates to people of color than other lenders. Yet, 70% of African American communities lack a bank branch and nearly half of Black-owned banks have closed since 2008. While CDFIs exist to close financial gaps in underserved areas, on average, White-led CDFIs are over twice the size of CDFIs led by people of color. Four CDFI veterans will discuss these challenges, as well as opportunities facing the field to ensure more equitable outcomes among communities of color, and within the CDFI sector.

Bill Bynum

Hope Enterprise Corporation / Hope Credit Union

Donna Gambrell

Appalachian Community Capital

Inez Long

Black Business Investment Fund

Justin Maxson

Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation

Increasing Efficiency and Sustainability through Mergers

CDFI Sustainability

Efficiencies of scale. Leveraging capacity and balance sheet. Geographic expansion. New lending products, programs, or sectors. Join this session to discover what motivated two CDFI mergers; hear about issues the parties have encountered; and learn from their experiences. What might your organization gain by merging with a peer CDFI? What special value would your CDFI bring to such a collaboration? What might you seek from others? Panelists will share how they assessed options, why they chose to join forces, and how it is going to date.