Let’s Build and Grow a Remarkably Successful CDFI!
Experienced CDFI professionals are eager to help you create, certify, and fund your CDFI while developing strategies to enhance sustainability, performance, and mission impact!
Creation, Certification and Capital
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Take our Introduction to Community Development Finance workshop to provide your team with an overview of the CDFI industry, with a focus on the fundamentals of making mission-based loans, organizational requirements, certification requirements and funding strategies. Next? Together, we'll assess the feasibility of launching a CDFI or co-create a Business Plan to detail the foundations, operations, and direction of your organization, prepare for certification, and cultivate funders. Click here for more!
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Whether you are an emerging CDFI seeking initial certification or an existing CDFI that will need to recertify, F|A will guide your organization through a process to definitively assure that you'll meet certification requirements. Our Certification Assessment will result in a report card identifying which certification criteria you already meet and which need some work, and provide clear direction on how to fully meet the certification tests. Once you “pass”, our team can prepare your CDFI Certification application with you. Click here for more!
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There are three reasons why F|A is the consulting firm of choice for preparing CDFI Fund applications: (1) we are your peers - seasoned CDFI professionals with real life experience in all areas of operations; (2) we created myFund Workbook- an proprietary tool that guides you through the application, ensures clean and cohesive data, and provides insights into your organization's financial health, allowing us to create the most compelling case for your CDFI; and (3) an enviable success rate for our clients! Click here for more!
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Let F|A serve as your CDFI Compliance Officer. We create your compliance framework and guide you through the reporting requirements. Click here for more!
Growth Impact Services
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What’s holding your organization back from realizing growth and increased impact? Let us evaluate your loan fund operations against industry standards and best practices. After a deep-dive review of how your loan fund operates on paper and in reality, we'll deliver a detailed ‘gap analysis,’ laying out the improvements necessary to achieve the performance and impacts you aspire to. Not enough? Then our CDFI consultants work with you to frame out an initial 18-month implementation plan. Click here for more!
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A capitalization plan is a road map to ensure you have the appropriate resources to manage risk and pursue your mission and goals. It provides a rationale for capital requests and places the capital within the context of the CDFI’s operations and organizational sustainability strategy. Click here for a summary of the process to develop your plan to (1) build strong, resilient programs based on your vision and mission and (2) sustain these programs through strategic and collaborative use of resources.
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Does your organization need a roadmap for growth over its next five years? Our skilled facilitators will guide your team through a structured process, defining both where you want to go and how to get there. Click here for more!
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What People Are Saying
“I want to take a moment to thank the F|A team for your stellar work on this year's CDFI FA application. I'm immensely proud of the end-product, and believe we have a great shot at being awarded again for the 5th year in a row.”
Nathanial Owen, former Director, Fondo Adelante MEDA, San Francisco, CA
“I run out of words to express my sincere gratitude for all of the blessings that Friedman Associates have bestowed upon Chi Ishobak. Their team is so easy to work with, provide so much valuable insight and guidance, and excel at telling our story. F|A set Chi up for the success we have experienced. Y’all are the best!”
Sean Winters, Executive Director, Chi Ishobak
“We were very impressed with the analysis of loan fund operations conducted by F|A. Their recommendations were valuable, and identified tools to strengthen our CDFI operations and activities in the City of Detroit and the region.”
Mary Seaberg King, former Senior VP, Invest Detroit
