Production methods such as regenerative agriculture are associated with climate adaptation and resilience. Such methods offer the best path forward to preserving long-term viability of an industry that is foundational to basic societal needs. From a...

The CDFA Foundation is proud to announce the new CDFA Foundation Board of Directors, Toby Rittner, Brian Cooper, Kimberly Deardurff, Rich Frampton, Brenda Guess, Julia Phipps, Ruben Alonzo, and Mike O’Donnell. We are delighted to welcome new and...

The CDFA Foundation and the Council of Development Finance Agencies are honored to announce the 2024 Class of the Caren S. Franzini Fellowship. Congratulations Chris Armitage, Victoria Benson, Charity Karanja, Brooke Kessler, Crystal McLean, and Kay...

Noelle Sheets, CDFA Senior Director of Development, has been named the Director of the CDFA Foundation. Ms. Sheets is excited to take on this role at the CDFA Foundation and champion positive, equitable, and inclusive involvement within the...

Forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs) from Africa, Asia, and the Americas met with potential donors and allies in Washington D.C. to discuss advantages and opportunities to invest in and strengthen the capacities of indigenous, community,...

With support from a third round of funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), CDFA is continuing to advocate for Defining the Food System Asset Class by building on previous efforts to increase opportunities and leverage existing capital to...

A new report from Croatan Institute highlights how the Soil Wealth Area model can facilitate more investment in regenerative agriculture, enhance conservation, and support resilient rural economies. The report provides specific recommendations for...

To help local policymakers, leaders, advocates, researchers, and others understand policy options for communities seeking to increase access to healthy food, the Healthy Food Policy Project (HFPP) developed a framework to show how local...

Linking development finance and food systems can be a daunting undertaking for any community. Research on the current ecosystem of food systems finance has positioned CDFA to identify key strategies for the path ahead in this work. The Food Systems...

Regenerative farms rely on small-to-mid scale, aligned infrastructure to process, transport, and market their products. These middle infrastructure businesses help to improve farm income and bolster regional food economies while providing...

The Housing and Services Resource Center was created for people who work in the organizations and systems that provide housing resources and homelessness services, behavioral and mental health services, independent living services and other...

The Employee Ownership Expansion Network and Ownership America gave this presentation on how the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) can be used to promote employee ownership of small businesses.

This report describes how three CDFIs drive economic growth in low-income and historically marginalized communities through a model defined by the EFOD Collaborative as Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD). EFOD is a development approach that...

Developed by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the newly enhanced Community Investment Explorer (CIE) 2.0 includes over 73 million transactions totaling over $3.2 trillion in community and economic development capital from 2012 to 2020. This...

This guidance from the Treasury Department examines how states and localities can use the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds included in the American Rescue Plan Act to reduce and respond to violent crime – particularly gun violence – by...

Federal economic adjustment assistance (EAA) programs were established, in part, to help workers adjust to these economic disruptions. Experts in the GAO's roundtable identified a range of challenges to using EAA programs to effectively respond to...

Local Data for Equitable Recovery is a resource hub curated by the Urban Institute and the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) that highlights how local communities can use data and information to respond equitably and effectively to...

This piece from the Urban Institute examines how the students, parents, community organizers, and local leaders in Camden, NJ, Perry County, KY, and Hayward, CA are using data to make their communities better for themselves, for their neighbors, and...

The 2020 Housing Instability & Homelessness Report Series is a collection of reports by UNC that utilizes local data to provide informative and actionable research to engage a variety of stakeholders including elected officials, policymakers,...

In this brief, the Urban Institute identifies seven big ideas to address these concerns that together constitute their “New Agenda for Community Development Finance.” The Seven Big Ideas would Expand Access to Capital, Lessen Racial Disparities, and...

The findings in this report primarily reflect the financial circumstances of families in the United States in late 2019, prior to the onset of COVID-19 and the associated financial disruptions. This survey contains updated information from follow-up...

History informs us that some people, especially the wealthy, flee cities in response to pandemics and other major catastrophes. In past pandemics and crises, refugees have typically returned, remaining attracted to the social and cultural dynamism...

The findings in this report primarily reflect the financial circumstances of families in the United States in late 2019, prior to the onset of COVID-19 and the associated financial disruptions. The survey also explored long-run financial...

During the May 8, 2020 Weekly COVID-19 Development Finance Briefing, panelists discussed realigning assets to address the COVID-19 crisis, evaluating the risk of not doing anything versus the risk of losing capital, capital solutions that are...

During the May 1, 2020 Weekly COVID-19 Development Finance Briefing, listeners heard how four prominent leaders in impact investing are responding to both the economic crisis and the public health crisis, learned about the types of solutions and...

During the April 3, 2020 Weekly COVID-19 Development Finance Briefing, experts from the North Carolina Rural Center, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the New Orleans Business Alliance discussed their respective approaches to local...

As mandated through the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, state agencies administering the Program are required to submit demographic and economic data on LIHTC tenants to HUD. While not inclusive of all tenants served by the LIHTC, the...

Linden is a distressed neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio. This plan is designed to create a roadmap for safe neighborhoods, economic development and access to affordable housing, quality healthcare, education and employment opportunities in Linden.

This report by the Colorado Health Institute discusses how housing affects health. The affordability, stability, quality, and accessibility of housing all play a role in individuals’ and communities’ health. The connection is clear, but it’s a...

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness hosted this webinar to discuss the 2019 Notice of Funding Availability for HUD's Specialized Housing and Services for Victims of Human Trafficking program.

The Idaho Knowledge Report 2018 provides the metrics on building a stronger, more innovative economy. This report allows viewers to measure success and identify proscriptive actions towards industries. The Idaho Technology Council recognized the...

Ohio State aims to increase the amount of local and sustainable food options it provides across its dining facilities to equal at least 40% of its food offerings by 2025. A panel comprised of Ohio State faculty, students, staff and external...

Dennis Reilly with the Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority (WHEFA) presents on the financing programs they offer and several case studies of Hospitals they have assisted through bond financing.

During this webinar speakers form the Greater Cincinnati Redevelopment Authority, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and Memphis EDGE presented on how and why they created Impact Investing programs in their communities.

The Small Business Development & Impact Investing White Paper documents the potential for collaboration between Impact Investors and high performing Development Finance Agencies (DFAs). Together, DFAs and Impact Investors can fill the capital gaps...

Unlocking Capital: A Handbook for Becoming a High Performing Development Finance Agency (Handbook) serves as a companion to the Practitioner’s Guide to help illuminate the structures of development finance agencies (DFAs), essential conduits to...

CDFA's white paper documents the potential of a collaboration between impact investors and high performing Development Finance Agencies (DFAs) to fill the capital gaps facing cities and neighborhoods working to support urban revitalization and to...

A presentation from David Noble on community investment opportunities for banks and foundations.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development published this guide for public, philanthropic, private, and nonprofit entities looking for effective ways to partner with other organizations around common goals, and it is informed by the...

This presentation from the Freedom Network and the National Alliance to End Homelessness discussed two programs that can be used to serve trafficking survivors: Emergency Shelter Grants, and the Continuum of Care program. It also mentioned the...

Mission Investors Exchange evaluates the impact of a community foundation's program-related investment into Kandu Industries.

A Mission Investors Exchange Case Study on the program-related investment in the Bethaday Community Learning Center.

Benefit Chicago is a new collaboration that aims to mobilize $100 million in impact investments for nonprofits and social enterprises working throughout the Chicago region

Researchers in coordination with the MacArthur Foundation explain the need for impact capital in the Chicago region, and in what areas the capital would be most useful.

GIIN explains how catalytic first loss capital can encourage the flow of capital to high risk opportunities by improving their risk-return profiles.

A Mission Investors Exchange Case Study on a loan made by The Community Foundation of Jackson County to the Jackson County Education Coalition.

The F.B. Heron Foundation offers a self-analysis of its history in mission-related investments, as well as lessons learned and advice for other foundations.

This one hour informational webinar will give background to Kresge's partnership with CDFA, and explain the types of projects Kresge wants to fund through Kresge Community Finance.

Charles Laven and Julijs Liepins provide readers with an introduction to both impact investing and municipal bonds, and explain how impact investments can strengthen the municipal bond market.

Author Tracy Kartye documents the successes and failures of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's work in impact investments. She also offers advice to foundations on how to make successful investment decisions.