Links

U.S. Department of Treasury--Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund
Created to expand the availability of credit, investment capital, and financial services in distressed urban and rural communities. The Fund's activities leverage private-sector investments from banks, foundations, and other funding sources. Since the Fund's creation, it has made more than $534 million in awards to community development organizations and financial institutions.

Community Development Venture Capital Alliance (CDVCA)
Promotes venture capital tools to create jobs, entrepreneurial capacity and wealth to advance the livelihoods of low-income people and the economies of distressed communities.

Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED)
Fosters widely shared and sustainable economic well-being. CFED promotes asset-building and economic opportunity strategies, primarily in low-income and distressed communities, that bring together community practice, public policy, and private markets in new and effective ways.

National Congress for Community Economic Development
Represents over 3,600 community development corporations (CDCs) across America. CDCs produce affordable housing and create jobs through business and commercial development activities. NCCED services the community development industry through public policy research and education, special projects, newsletters, publications, trainings, conferences, and specialized technical assistance.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Assists local community development corporations (CDCs) in their efforts to transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy communities. LISC marshals private-sector support and extends technical and financial support to CDCs in the form of grants, loans, and equity investments that match locally raised funds.

Social Venture Network
Promotes new models and leadership for socially and environmentally sustainable business in the 21st century. SVN champions this effort through initiatives, information services and forums that strengthen our community and empower our members to work together on behalf of their shared vision.

SJF Advisory Services
SJF Advisory Services seeks to promote self-sufficiency for low-income individuals by assisting sustainable enterprises to create, retain and enhance long-term jobs for the residents of economically distressed communities..

National Community Capital Association
Provides a locator database for Community Development Financial Institutions--financial institutions with community development as their primary mission. They include community development banks, credit unions, loan funds, and venture capital funds, as well as microenterprise development loan funds. These institutions find ways to make loans and investments that conventional financial institutions would consider unbankable, and they link financing to other developmental activities.

Woodstock Institute
Works locally and nationally to promote community reinvestment and economic development in lower-income and minority communities. Offers an extensive Publications List on community development finance.

Social Investment Forum's Community Investment Information
Describes investment strategies that support development initiatives in low-income communities both in the U.S. and in developing countries. Community Investment provides affordable housing, creates jobs, and helps responsible businesses get started.

ShoreBank Pacific
Lends to small businesses in the Pacific Northwest and provides information on conservation improvements that can increase a borrower's bottom line and the value of his or her business. ShoreBank Pacific assists borrowers to use energy efficiently, reduce waste and pollution, conserve natural resources, and optimize profitability.

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development
Provides access to financial programs that support development of water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities, and electric and telephone service. Promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Provides a government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the American public. These programs provide grants, loans, loan guarantees, services, information, scholarships, training, insurance, etc., to millions of Americans every day.

Grantsmanship Center and the Foundation Center
Both offer comprehensive services to assist communities and non-profit organizations obtain grant funding. Both provide extensive reference collections, often available at local libraries, on private foundations and corporations that provide grants in the U.S.

Chittenden Bank's Socially Responsible Banking Program
Facilitates positive change in local communities by providing an important source of lending capital. Offers greater interest rate discounts to community groups, educational institutions, small family farms, conservation groups and downtown revitalization projects--organizations and individuals who may not otherwise have the capacity to finance a much-needed loan.

Coalition of Community Development Financial Institutions
The Coalition's mission is to promote the work of community development financial institutions (CDFIs). It advocates on behalf of the CDFI industry and educates the public about community development finance.

Articles and Publications

Sustainable Banking: The Greening of Finance
An international collection of works relating to the greening of finance. The book includes case studies and analysis from contributors on four continents. The table of contents and a sample chapter are available online.

$mart Investments for City and County Managers: Energy, Environment, and Community Development
Provides examples of local governments that have revamped operations, increased resource use efficiency and promoted smart growth for the future.

The New York City Investment Fund: An Emerging Model For Corporate Engagement in Urban Development
Examines the Fund's efforts to rejuvenate a city's economy.

"Can Savings Support Your Community? Bank On It."
An article in The Christian Science Monitor says community investing is one of the fastest growing sectors in banking, and says anyone can participate through online banking.

National Guide to Funding for Community Development. ISBN: 0879547693
Lists funding sources throughout the U.S. for community development projects.

Funding Sources for Community and Economic Development 1999: A Guide to Current Sources for Local Programs and Projects. ISBN: 1573561975.
Offers individuals, community organizations, and governments access to the latest funding sources for community development projects at the local level.

Business Finance as a Tool for Development, ISBN 0898431123
Reviews state-of-the-art finance strategies for starting businesses using a community economic development approach.

Last updated: October 28, 2004

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