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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Carsey Perspectives: Innovative Financing for Community Businesses
October 2017, English
Business owners seeking to start or expand a small business have limited options for financing. They can go to a bank for a loan, but they may have trouble qualifying for the loan due to the age of the business, absence of collateral, lack of equity in the business, thin margins, or other factors.
October 2017, English
Business owners seeking to start or expand a small business have limited options for financing. They can go to a bank for a loan, but they may have trouble qualifying for the loan due to the age of the business, absence of collateral, lack of equity in the business, thin margins, or other factors.
2017 FIR Summary
Donor Advised Funds as Investors in US Community Development
March 2017, English
This year’s Roundtable brought together impact investors and community development practitioners to explore the barriers and opportunities to involving donor advised funds as investors in community development
March 2017, English
This year’s Roundtable brought together impact investors and community development practitioners to explore the barriers and opportunities to involving donor advised funds as investors in community development
CDFIs and Online Business Lending
November 2016, English
In March 2015, the Center for Impact Finance at the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire convened the 16th Annual Financial Innovations Roundtable at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC.
November 2016, English
In March 2015, the Center for Impact Finance at the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire convened the 16th Annual Financial Innovations Roundtable at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC.
2016 FIR Summary
Linking Impact Investing Dollars with On-the-Ground Community Development
March 2016, English
The 2016 Financial Innovations Roundtable focused on “Addressing the Disconnect: Linking Impact Investing Dollars with On-the-Ground Community Development.”
March 2016, English
The 2016 Financial Innovations Roundtable focused on “Addressing the Disconnect: Linking Impact Investing Dollars with On-the-Ground Community Development.”
Scaling U.S. Community Investing
October 2015, English
Scaling U.S. Community Investing: The Investor-Product Interface, an in-depth landscape study of the U.S. Community Investing (USCI) field. The full report includes a detailed analysis of the major types of USCI products, parameters that different investors use to evaluate investment opportunities, and the barriers and opportunities to increasing investment.
October 2015, English
Scaling U.S. Community Investing: The Investor-Product Interface, an in-depth landscape study of the U.S. Community Investing (USCI) field. The full report includes a detailed analysis of the major types of USCI products, parameters that different investors use to evaluate investment opportunities, and the barriers and opportunities to increasing investment.
2015 FIR Summary
Innovations in Small Business Lending
March 2015, English
The 2015 Financial Innovations Roundtable focused on how innovations in small business lending can be harnessed to better serve small business borrowers and enhance community and economic development.
March 2015, English
The 2015 Financial Innovations Roundtable focused on how innovations in small business lending can be harnessed to better serve small business borrowers and enhance community and economic development.
CDFIs Stepping into the Breach
An Impact Evaluation
February 2015, English
In CDFIs Stepping Into the Breach: An Impact Evaluation Summary Report, published with the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, authors Michael Swack, Eric Hangen and Jack Northrup analyze the impact of financial assistance awards and recipients of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program.
February 2015, English
In CDFIs Stepping Into the Breach: An Impact Evaluation Summary Report, published with the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, authors Michael Swack, Eric Hangen and Jack Northrup analyze the impact of financial assistance awards and recipients of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program.
2014 FIR Summary
Health-Related Community Investing
March 2014, English
The 2014 Financial Innovations Roundtable focused on new practices and new opportunities for health-related community investment.
March 2014, English
The 2014 Financial Innovations Roundtable focused on new practices and new opportunities for health-related community investment.
