Client:
Opportunity Finance Network.
Need:
To identify challenges and successful strategies of deployment for CDFIs.
Description:
In July 2013, Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) engaged FUND Consulting to expand on an existing research project that FUND had completed, which surveyed CDFI clients about their deployment strategies. OFN asked FUND to expand on this research and to develop the third memo in its Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Growth Collaborative Technical Assistance Memo series, with a focus on deployment for CDFIs providing small business lending. In order to gain insight into the challenges and strategies of deployment, FUND distributed the online survey to a total of 103 CDFIs that primarily finance small businesses. The survey was completed by 62 CDFIs of various types, including loan funds, banks, and a venture fund. FUND’s team then interviewed five respondents as case studies to gain further insight into their deployment, marketing, and capitalization strategies. FUND’s team used the online survey results and interview responses to develop an in-depth memo highlighting the challenges and best practices of CDFIs in their approaches to deployment. Two members of the FUND team presented the findings from the memo at OFN’s annual conference in October 2013. OFN has published this memo on their website and it is now available to CDFIs nationwide at http://ofn.org/sites/default/files/Deployment_Strategies_TA_Memo.pdf.