Fast-track your professional growth with multiple core courses in one week. The CDFA Winter Institute delivers a complete, comprehensive development finance education in half the time!

The Winter Institute consists of five executive format courses designed for busy professionals. Courses are scheduled without overlap, allowing participants to complete multiple core classes in a single week while building a practical, integrated understanding of development finance.

Winter Institute coursework covers key development finance tools and concepts, including:

• The Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance
• Bonds
• Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
• Tax Credits
• Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs)

The Winter and Summer Institutes are the only opportunities in 2026 to complete CDFA’s core introductory training courses, several of which are recommended for the Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) certification. Make plans now to take advantage of these limited, high-value learning opportunities.

Why Attend the CDFA Winter Institute

• Complete multiple courses in one week
• Build a broad understanding of essential development finance tools
• Learn from seasoned practitioners
• Connect with peers across the development finance field

Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program

All Winter Institute courses are eligible for the CDFA Training Institute's Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program.

DFCP Program Package Option

Maximize your savings with the DFCP Program’s 6-course Package — buy five courses and get the sixth free!

Register

Course Advisor Toby Rittner Council of Development Finance Agencies President & CEO Toby Rittner is the President & CEO of Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA is comprised of the nation’s leading and most... knowledgeable members of the development finance community representing hundreds of public, private and non-profit development finance agencies. Mr. Rittner runs the day-to-day operations of the Council including the organization’s various educational, advocacy, research, resources, and networking initiatives. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the CDFA Foundation. Rittner is one of the most vocal and recognized leaders of the development finance industry nationwide and has advised local, state, and federal leaders, including Presidents Biden and Obama, on economic development finance policy. Through his leadership and guidance, CDFA was successful in preserving private activity bonds and other critical development finance tools during the 2017 tax reform deliberations and has had numerous pieces of legislation introduced in the United States Congress. In 2021, Rittner successfully led a national effort to reauthorize and fund the $10B State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. He has written and crafted dozens of strategic finance plans for development finance agencies and advised communities throughout the world on development finance approaches. Rittner focuses on sustainable finance with an emphasis on infrastructure, clean energy, food systems, small business, and innovations in the development finance industry to drive sustainable outcomes. He has written extensively about impact ready initiatives that leverage and engage capital in ways that drive local sustainability in business and industry and the environment and economy. Rittner is a frequent speaker at local, state, and national conferences and events focused on economic development finance. He has been featured in The Bond Buyer, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, NPR and other national media publications concerning the advancement of development finance tools. He is the author of CDFA's highly acclaimed Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance and co-author of CDFA's Unlocking Capital: A Handbook for Becoming a High Performing Development Finance Agency. Rittner is an adjunct faculty member at The Ohio State University and Carnegie Mellon University. He is also a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) and has completed the prestigious Oxford University Sustainable Finance Foundation Course. Mr. Rittner previously served on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board and is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Community Fund I. Mr. Rittner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master's of City and Regional Planning degree from The Ohio State University. Mr. Rittner was awarded the Ohio State University College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2016. (More) Fawn Zimmerman Fawn Zimmerman is Managing Director of CDFA Advisory Services at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). In her role, Fawn assists development finance agencies nationwide with strategic planning, finance program development, grant... writing assistance, and development finance education and training. She also leads initiatives to enhance capital access for underserved communities. Fawn oversees programming aimed at increasing funding for underserved small businesses and developing culturally relevant programs to boost investment in underserved farmers and ranchers. Fawn holds a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Communication from The Ohio State University and has pursued postgraduate studies at Ohio University. Her career is deeply intertwined with her philanthropic goals, and she is committed to leveraging her creative, academic, and professional experiences to drive positive changes in the development finance sector. (More) Jennifer Tewell Council of Development Finance Agencies Director, Knowledge & Networks Division Jennifer Tewell is Director of Knowledge & Networks at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). She leads the strategic direction and operations of the CDFA Training Institute, advancing CDFA’s mission to provide education, connection,... and capacity-building opportunities across the development finance industry. Before joining CDFA in 2025, Jennifer spent over a decade in nonprofit strategy, community engagement, and organizational development, most recently as Community Engagement Manager at the IFS Institute, where she expanded access and strengthened global partnerships. Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s in Organizational Communication and a Master’s in Social Work from Louisiana State University. (More) Noelle Sheets Council of Development Finance Agencies Vice President, CDFA and Executive Director, CDFA Foundation Noelle Sheets is Vice President overseeing the Knowledge & Networks Division at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), and Executive Director of the CDFA Foundation. She plays a pivotal role in shaping CDFA's future direction and... ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of development finance. Ms. Sheets came to CDFA in 2019, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit association management gained through positions at SSTI, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry of Central Ohio, and the Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland. As VP of the Knowledge & Networks Division, Ms. Sheets implements strategies to expand, energize, and optimize CDFA’s portfolio of work including the CDFA Training Institute, CDFA Advisory Services, membership, sponsorship, and event activities. As Executive Director of the CDFA Foundation, Ms. Sheets designs and coordinates the Foundation’s activities, focusing on creating equitable and inclusive opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and communities involved in the development finance industry. She is deeply passionate about the Foundation’s mission and actively champions initiatives such as the CDFA Foundation Scholarship Program and the Caren S. Franzini Fellowship Program. She is skilled at connecting with people authentically and positively, leading to effective collaboration and shared success. Ms. Sheets holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations from Capital University. (More)