Federal Developments and What They Mean for the CDFI Industry
Last month, we mentioned the weather warming up — and now, so has activity in Washington, especially as it relates to our work in the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) space.
On Friday, March 14, 2025, the CDFI Fund was placed in the administration’s crosshairs, raising concerns and questions about the future of community finance. We’ve heard from many of our partners and supporters asking: What does this mean for CDFI Friendly and the lending ecosystem at large?
Here’s what we can tell you right now:
CDFI Friendly does not receive direct grants from the CDFI Fund, so we are not immediately impacted by this development.
That said, what affects the CDFI industry at large affects us all — because our work depends on a strong, healthy network of CDFIs and equitable access to capital in underserved communities.
We are actively engaged with national organizations monitoring these developments closely and are staying informed in real time.
Next week, our Executive Director Sam Centellas will be in Washington, D.C. representing our region and the broader CDFI movement at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) Just Economy Conference. Sam will be:
Advocating for the CDFI industry in conversations with elected officials
Connecting with national leaders and financial justice advocates
Learning how proposed federal changes could ripple through local lending work
We encourage you to stay informed. You can read and bookmark the NCRC statement on the recent CDFI Fund news and check back for updates from the conference.
At a time when communities across the country — including ours — are working to overcome decades of disinvestment, the stakes are high. We remain committed to our mission, and we’ll continue to keep you informed as we learn more.
