Category: Community Partners
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Why should funders care about CDFI data capacity?
This piece is co-authored by CNote and PCV’s Radiant Data Hub. CNote is a fintech platform that leverages technology and data to streamline the flow of capital, providing investors confidence their capital is deployed efficiently and responsibly, in order to strengthen a financial system that funds underserved communities, having deployed more than $645 million dollars…
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Bringing Banking to the Bedside: How MSUFCU and Sparrow Are Supporting Caregivers in Mid-Michigan
In February 2024, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) announced a groundbreaking partnership with Sparrow Health System, set to bring a new credit union branch directly into E.W. Sparrow Hospital’s lobby in Lansing, opening in summer 2024. Designed as a virtual branch, it features 24/7 ATM access, video teller machines, and private meeting space…
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Stupski Foundation Transforms Sidelined Dollars into Community Impact with CNote
As funders consider how best to support communities in this moment, Stupski Foundation stands as a compelling example of what happens when foundations transform endowment dollars into community investments to multiply their philanthropic impact. Stupski Foundation is a time-bound, private foundation committed to returning all of its resources to communities in Hawaiʻi and California’s San…
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Helping Tannersville Thrive: A Story of Housing and Hope
When a Village’s Workers Can’t Afford to Stay The Village of Tannersville, nestled in New York’s Greene County in the Catskill Mountains, is known for its charm: painted storefronts along Main Street, sweeping mountain vistas, a seasonal hum of visitors. Yet behind the postcard image lies a problem that has grown steadily worse—affordable housing. As…
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From First Responders to Long-Term Stabilizers
When federal paychecks are delayed, when inflation eats away at household budgets, or when a natural disaster shuts down a community, the institutions that step in quickly are the community-rooted credit unions and banks such as certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs). They have been called “financial first responders,” a…
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Building Dreams, One Member at a Time: How Peoples Advantage Federal Credit Union is Transforming Communities
In Petersburg, Virginia, homeownership dreams feel within reach—even for those who’ve been told “no” countless times before. At Peoples Advantage Federal Credit Union (PAFCU), being a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) means more than just offering loans. It means creating pathways to prosperity for underserved communities through innovative programs that traditional banks simply won’t provide.…
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Preserving Community: How Self-Help and LA Más Kept Families in Their Homes
America is losing affordable housing at an alarming rate. Every day, naturally occurring affordable housing—existing properties with below-market rents—disappears as gentrification drives up property values and displaces long-time residents. In Northeast Los Angeles, this crisis is playing out in real time, with rising rents pushing out families who built their lives in communities they can…
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How Community Banks Help Communities Bounce Back After Disasters
Disasters leave more than physical damage in their wake. Families are displaced, small businesses close their doors, and entire communities are left wondering how they will rebuild. Federal aid often arrives quickly, but it can only go so far. Once the initial response ends, there is often a gap between short-term relief and long-term recovery.…
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Investing in Healthcare Education in South Arkansas
In Arkadelphia, Arkansas, access to healthcare isn’t always guaranteed—and neither is access to the workforce needed to provide it. To address both gaps, Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) launched a full-track nursing program, one of only a few in the state, to strengthen the region’s pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals. But establishing a program of this…
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The Unsung Backbone: How Community Financial Institutions Support Childcare and Adultcare Providers
By Tamra Thetford In the intricate community infrastructure web, childcare and adultcare services often operate behind the scenes, yet they are foundational to economic stability and social well-being. These services enable parents to participate in the workforce, support the aging population, and foster intergenerational connections. However, providers in these sectors frequently encounter financial hurdles that…