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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Scaling Equitable Solar Finance
May 2021, English
The U.S. solar photovoltaics industry has taken off over the past decade, but without deliberate action low- and moderate-income communities could be left behind in the transition to clean energy. Drawing on substantial literature related to multiple dimensions of low-income solar finance and interviews with key informants in the field, authors Eric Hangen, Rebecca Regan, and Sarah Boege.
May 2021, English
The U.S. solar photovoltaics industry has taken off over the past decade, but without deliberate action low- and moderate-income communities could be left behind in the transition to clean energy. Drawing on substantial literature related to multiple dimensions of low-income solar finance and interviews with key informants in the field, authors Eric Hangen, Rebecca Regan, and Sarah Boege.
Bringing Solar Energy to Low- and Moderate-Income Communities
April 2021, English
The U.S. solar photovoltaics industry has taken off over the past decade, but without deliberate action low- and moderate-income communities could be left behind.
April 2021, English
The U.S. solar photovoltaics industry has taken off over the past decade, but without deliberate action low- and moderate-income communities could be left behind.
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.
Behavioral Finance of Impact Investing
April 2020, English
Donor-advised funds present a unique opportunity to promote impact investing into the local community, including Community Development Financial Institutions that serve their local communities.
April 2020, English
Donor-advised funds present a unique opportunity to promote impact investing into the local community, including Community Development Financial Institutions that serve their local communities.
CDFIs Can Make the SBA PPP Loan Program Work for Smaller, Minority-Owned, and Women-Owned, Small Businesses
April 2020, English
As currently being implemented by the Small Business Administration, the loans made available through the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, part of the CARES Act recently enacted to address the COVID-19 crisis, are likely to significantly bypass smaller small businesses and those that are minority- or women-owned.
April 2020, English
As currently being implemented by the Small Business Administration, the loans made available through the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, part of the CARES Act recently enacted to address the COVID-19 crisis, are likely to significantly bypass smaller small businesses and those that are minority- or women-owned.
2019 FIR Summary
Aligning Capital, Training, and Economic Mobility
April 2019, English
The 2019 FIR, co-hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on April 24-25, focused on “Aligning Capital, Training, and Economic Mobility.”
April 2019, English
The 2019 FIR, co-hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on April 24-25, focused on “Aligning Capital, Training, and Economic Mobility.”
The Potential Role For CDFIs in the Opportunity Zones of the Investing in Opportunities Act (IIOA)
March 2019, English
The Opportunity Zones legislation was designed to mobilize new levels of capital into low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities – areas that have historically been overlooked and underserved by mainstream capital markets. As longstanding financial partners to LMI communities, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), it would seem, are positioned to play a pivotal role.
March 2019, English
The Opportunity Zones legislation was designed to mobilize new levels of capital into low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities – areas that have historically been overlooked and underserved by mainstream capital markets. As longstanding financial partners to LMI communities, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), it would seem, are positioned to play a pivotal role.
2018 FIR Summary
Financial Innovations to Improve Economic Resiliency in Rural Communities
March 2018, English
The 2018 Financial Innovations Roundtable was entitled “Financial Innovations to Improve Economic Resiliency in Rural Communities”, and brought together impact investors and community development practitioners to explore the barriers and opportunities for how mission-based financial institutions can support rural communities.
March 2018, English
The 2018 Financial Innovations Roundtable was entitled “Financial Innovations to Improve Economic Resiliency in Rural Communities”, and brought together impact investors and community development practitioners to explore the barriers and opportunities for how mission-based financial institutions can support rural communities.
