-Overview
The 2023 Equitable Lending Learning Series will provide in-depth instruction to small business lenders on loan fund policies, lending processes, and other practices that remove barriers to capital and proactively advance economic justice. This Learning Series will offer five, three-hour opportunities designed primarily for current or prospective lenders in the development finance industry. Each session will combine historical background and framing of a challenge in the lending community with a deep dive into strategies to address the issue. This education will be followed by examples or case studies to demonstrate how these strategies can be implemented by lenders to benefit underserved borrowers. Technical topics covered in this Learning Series will include understanding risk, borrower examination and review, loan fund capitalization, underwriting, and program design.
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-Agenda
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
| Tue 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Evaluating Risk
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Historical Background
Overview on the history of risk assessment in lending, how this evaluation impacts access to capital, and the underlying philosophies that shape our understanding of risk in contemporary loan programs.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Technical Strategies & Best Practices
Discussion on how lenders can best define risk, evaluate potential borrowers, and manage risk across their portfolios in order to reduce barriers to capital while maintaining rigorous lending practices and ensuring the longevity of the loan fund.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Example Programs
Presentation of specific programs that use fair and effective strategies for risk assessment and borrower evaluation in a way that both increases access to capital and prioritizes the sustainability of the loan fund.
Moderator(s)
- Ariel Miller, Senior Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies
- Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, President and CEO, The Center by Lendistry
Speaker(s)
- Lynn Fernandez, Sr. Credit Administrator – Specialty Products, Lendistry
- Shelly Gross-Wade, Principal Consultant, Bay Crossing Consulting
- Siena Kane, Engagement & Operations Manager, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
- Joy Melton, Loan Fund Manager, Northwest Regional Planning Commission
- Joel Moyer, Portfolio Manager - Fair Food Fund, Fair Food Network
- Marie Peters, Fund Director, B: Side Capital & B: Side Fund
- Everett Sands, Chief Executive Officer, Lendistry
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Tuesday, June 27, 2023
| Tue 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Fund Capitalization
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Historical Background
Brief discussion on how loan funds have been traditionally capitalized and an overview of why certain sources of capital can inhibit fair lending practices.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Technical Strategies & Best Practices
Discussion of key considerations and best practices for identifying and securing funds to establish and grow equitable lending programs.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Example Programs
Presentation of specific programs that have acquired flexible capital for their lending activity and how these funds are maintained to provide an evergreen financial resource available to the community.
Moderator(s)
- Ariel Miller, Senior Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies
- Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, President and CEO, The Center by Lendistry
Speaker(s)
- Brett Doney, President & Chief Executive Officer, Great Falls Development Authority
- Kerrington Eubanks, Sr. Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships, Lendistry
- Joseph Gray, Senior Director of Multicultural Community Investment, Grow America
- Armeer Kenchen, Executive Director, North Carolina Rural Center
- Krysta Pate, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Ownership Initiative
- Rosa Rios Valdez, CEO, BCL of Texas
- Everett Sands, Chief Executive Officer, Lendistry
- Ladylaura Simao, Head of Lendistry Capital Partners and Public Private Partnerships, Lendistry
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Tuesday, July 25, 2023
| Tue 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Underwriting Strategies
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Historical Background
Overview on the history of underwriting strategies in lending and the ways that this can impact a borrower’s success over the life of a loan.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Technical Strategies & Best Practices
Discussion on how lenders can develop and implement new underwriting policies in a way that sets up borrowers for success and strengthens their financial health over time.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Example Programs
Presentation of specific programs that demonstrate the technical application of alternative underwriting strategies and approaches in order to improve access to capital among underserved borrowers.
Moderator(s)
- Ariel Miller, Senior Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies
- Janet Perez Shensky, Senior Managing Director, Strategic Partnerships, Lendistry
Speaker(s)
- David Graber, Director, Green Affordable Housing, Solar and Energy Loan Fund
- Anna Mackley, Chief SSBCI Officer and Bond Program Manager, Virginia Small Business Financing Authority
- Jose Luis Rojas, Chief Operating Officer, Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF)
- Everett Sands, Chief Executive Officer, Lendistry
- Larry Trujillo, Senior Advisor, American Lending Center
- Daniel Wallace, Chief Investment Officer, Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
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Tuesday, September 26, 2023
| Tue 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Identifying Your Target Market
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Historical Background
Brief discussion on the history of how lenders have worked to reach underserved borrowers and the range of potential target markets within a community.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Technical Strategies & Best Practices
Breakdown of the data collection, network building, and outreach tactics that direct lender organizations should be using to identify who is in their small business community and to understand those borrowers’ unique financing needs.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Example Programs
Presentations from a variety of direct lenders discussing the metrics they use to assess their community demographics and identify underserved small business borrowers.
Moderator(s)
- Ariel Miller, Senior Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies
- Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, President and CEO, The Center by Lendistry
Speaker(s)
- Jason Burak, Manager - Small Business Unit, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Tom Durkee, Director of Tribal Business Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
- Adriana Eiriz, Vice President, Sales and Partnerships, Accion Opportunity Fund
- Topiltzin Gomez, Head of Capital Strategies, Honeycomb Credit
- Brenda Guess, Assistant Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development
- Rachel Jimenez, PR & Digital Content Strategist, Raza Development Fund, Inc.
- Francisca Montoya, Director, Innovative Economic Solutions, Raza Development Fund, Inc.
- Everett Sands, Chief Executive Officer, Lendistry
- Roy Southerland, Chief Investment Officer, Invest Newark
- Kazandra Zelaya, Research & Data Analyst for Community Impact Assessment, Raza Development Fund, Inc.
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Tuesday, December 5, 2023
| Tue 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Program Design
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Historical Background
Overview on how loan fund programs have traditionally been designed and the ways that this has limited access to capital for certain groups of borrowers.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Technical Strategies & Best Practices
Discussion on how program design can be proactive in reducing barriers to capital and increasing the reach of loan funds to new borrowers.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Example Programs
Presentation of innovative loan fund program designs that work to remove barriers from the start and demonstrate how both new and existing programs can adopt these design approaches.
Moderator(s)
- Ariel Miller, Senior Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies
- Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, President and CEO, The Center by Lendistry
Speaker(s)
- Nicole Johnson, Community Development Champion, The Industrial Development Authority of the City of Tucson
- Everett Sands, Chief Executive Officer, Lendistry
- Brett Simmons, Managing Director and Principal, Revolve
- Craig Teamer, Director of Finance & Special Projects, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
- Sophia Zisook, Senior Director, Partner Management, Accion Opportunity Fund
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-Location
The 2023 Equitable Lending Learning Series will take place on Zoom.
Webinars will be recorded and placed online for participants to access afterwards. Attendees who miss a webinar will have access to the online recordings as well.
-Registration
CDFA has provided two options to register for the Equitable Lending Learning Series.
Individual Sessions
CDFA Members: $200
Non-Members: $250
Full Series
Participants can register for the full series and receive a significant discount:
CDFA Members: $600
Non-Members: $900
These events will be recorded and archived for future access. Only attendees who purchase either an individual session or the full series will have access to the online recordings.
Group Rates
Groups of 5 or more attendees from the same organization will receive a 50% discount off the price of each registration. Contact CDFA for more information.
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