Community Development Innovation Review
The Community Development Innovation Review focuses on bridging the gap between theory and practice, from as many viewpoints as possible. The goal of this journal is to promote cross-sector dialogue around a range of emerging issues and related investments that advance economic resilience and mobility for low- and moderate-income communities.
-
Americans Need a Digital Identity System, Stat!
Waldo Jaquith, State Software Collaborative, Georgetown University’s Beeck Center
A digital identity system has the potential to close gaps in access to financial services.
-
Global Developments in Inclusive Financial Systems
Mayada El-Zoghbi, Center for Financial Inclusion
What can we learn about fintech and financial inclusion from other countries?
-
The Role of Public and Private Capital in Digital Infrastructure for Finance in the United States
Kabir Kumar and Tilman Ehrbeck, Flourish Ventures
Investments in digital infrastructure can facilitate innovation and financial inclusion.
-
Designing for Whom? Lessons from a Coordinated Relief Effort to Reach Student Loan Borrowers Most in Need
Maria Lajewski and Nataly Sabharwal, Financial Health Network
The development of two interventions focused on vulnerable student loan borrowers during the height of the pandemic provide key design lessons.
-
CDFI and Fintech Partnerships: A Promising Avenue for Affordable, Fast, and Equitably Distributed Small-Business Capital
Gwendy Brown and Luz Urratia, Accion Opportunity Fund
CDFIs and fintech can leverage each sector’s unique expertise for greater impact. This article shares key lessons for successful partnership.
-
Understanding Community Development Financial Institutions and their Impact in Low- and Moderate-Income Neighborhoods
This issue of the Community Development Innovation Review is a collection of research papers designed to expand our understanding of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and their impacts in vulnerable communities across the country.
-
Supporting Entrepreneurs: A Longitudinal Impact Study of Accion and Opportunity Fund Small Business Lending in the U.S.
Cross-organization Writing Team From: Accion, Opportunity Fund, and Harder+Company Community Research
For nearly 30 years, Accion Opportunity Fund has offered business capital and advice to the small businesses often left behind by conventional lenders—women, people of color, and entrepreneurs with limited income, little or no collateral, or imperfect credit. This type of mission-based, small-dollar lending has grown in recent decades with the recognition of the strong […]
-
Capital-Raising Among Depository Minority-Owned CDFIs Before the Covid-19 Pandemic
Maude Toussaint-Comeau, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; Robin Newberger, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; Darline Augustine, City University of New York, Brooklyn College
Capitalization is a fundamental aspect of viability of banks, at all periods, but especially so for smaller banks during periods of financial crisis. Minority banks, including those that are certified as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) were hit particularly hard during the financial crisis. Even as the economy recovered, analysis of data up to 2013 […]
-
A Qualitative Model for the Evaluation of Community Development Financial Institutions
Caroline Smith Loyas, Impact Seven, Inc.
This paper addresses a gap in evaluation research of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in the United States and models a qualitative interview process that CDFIs can employ to develop a better understanding of how their lending affects borrowers and communities. The CDFI industry was established to deliver capital and technical assistance to borrowers, projects […]
-
Addressing the Capitalization and Financial Constraints of CDFI Microlenders
Brett Simmons, Revolve; Jonathan Brereton, Revolve; Joyce Klein, Business Ownership Initiative, The Aspen Institute
Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) loan funds face a common capitalization challenge as they seek to grow—they must raise the net assets to enable the additional debt financing needed to support an expanding portfolio. Among CDFIs that focus on microlending—making small dollar loans of up to $50,000 to small businesses—the financial challenges are even greater, […]