The Center for Impact Finance conducts applied research and evaluation that explores how community lenders structure and deliver financial products, manage operations, and contribute to broader community and economic outcomes. Our research helps community lenders, funders, and investors understand and respond to market needs, to help them develop new products and programs, and to inform strategic and business planning. CIF’s practitioner-driven research and evaluation aim to strengthen continuous learning about what works to improve lender offerings and operations and support positive outcomes for communities.
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2020 FIR Summary
Expanding the Field of Climate Finance
November 2020, English
The 2020 FIR offered an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) face as they address these risks and how these institutions can help increase individual, institutional, and community-wide resilience.
November 2020, English
The 2020 FIR offered an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) face as they address these risks and how these institutions can help increase individual, institutional, and community-wide resilience.
2022 FIR Summary
Advancing Clean Energy Equity
June 2022, English
The June 16-17, 2022 FIR focused on advancing clean energy equity and was co-hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Clean energy technologies are better than ever, with costs continuing to decline. Yet the low-income and under-resourced communities – particularly communities of color, Native communities, and other traditionally marginalized populations – that are disproportionately impacted by climate and severe weather-related events lag in clean energy investments.
June 2022, English
The June 16-17, 2022 FIR focused on advancing clean energy equity and was co-hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Clean energy technologies are better than ever, with costs continuing to decline. Yet the low-income and under-resourced communities – particularly communities of color, Native communities, and other traditionally marginalized populations – that are disproportionately impacted by climate and severe weather-related events lag in clean energy investments.
2023 FIR Summary
Climate, Equity, & Social Drivers of Health
June 2023, English
Thie June 15–16, 2023 explored the connections among climate, equity, and the social drivers of health. The overlapping disasters of the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and the climate crisis call for integrated solutions and investments that address the complexity of interconnected burdens on disadvantaged communities.
June 2023, English
Thie June 15–16, 2023 explored the connections among climate, equity, and the social drivers of health. The overlapping disasters of the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and the climate crisis call for integrated solutions and investments that address the complexity of interconnected burdens on disadvantaged communities.
2024 FIR Summary
Equitable Climate Finance
June 2024, English
This Financial Innovations Roundtable brought together Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, awardees, sub awardees, and partners, as well as experienced practitioners, thought leaders, and investors from across the ecosystem needed for efficient and effective implementation.
June 2024, English
This Financial Innovations Roundtable brought together Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, awardees, sub awardees, and partners, as well as experienced practitioners, thought leaders, and investors from across the ecosystem needed for efficient and effective implementation.
2025 FIR Summary
Innovative Financial Strategies to Increase the Supply of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
June 2025, English
The Roundtable brought together lenders, investors, developers, researchers, and state and local officials to examine innovative financial strategies to support naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH).
June 2025, English
The Roundtable brought together lenders, investors, developers, researchers, and state and local officials to examine innovative financial strategies to support naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH).
The Promise and Responsibility of Community Finance
Developing Practical Solutions to Scale up Integrated Community Development Strategies
April 2009, English
Community development finance has played an important role in community revitalization over the past 30 years and may be even more important in the current financial climate. But today community development finance institutions (CDFIs), as well as many community banks and credit unions face significant funding stress.
April 2009, English
Community development finance has played an important role in community revitalization over the past 30 years and may be even more important in the current financial climate. But today community development finance institutions (CDFIs), as well as many community banks and credit unions face significant funding stress.
Financial Innovations Roundtable
Developing Practical Solutions to Scale up Integrated Community Development Strategies
April 2009, English
Essays from national experts affiliated with the “think-do” tank , the Financial Innovations Roundtable, housed at the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.
April 2009, English
Essays from national experts affiliated with the “think-do” tank , the Financial Innovations Roundtable, housed at the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.
Capital Markets, CDFIs, and Organizational Credit Risk
Summary Report
October 2010, English
Can Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) get unlimited amounts of low cost, unsecured, short- and long-term funding from the capital markets based on their organizational credit risk? Can they get pricing, flexibility, and procedural parity with for-profit corporations of equivalent credit risk?
October 2010, English
Can Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) get unlimited amounts of low cost, unsecured, short- and long-term funding from the capital markets based on their organizational credit risk? Can they get pricing, flexibility, and procedural parity with for-profit corporations of equivalent credit risk?
