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Beyond the Bottom Line: Innovations in Measuring Small Business Lending
By Tamra Thetford, VP of Impact Evaluation Small business lending is crucial in America as it fuels economic growth, job creation, and community development. Small businesses build wealth, particularly for underserved borrowers, by generating income, accumulating assets, and fostering financial stability. Mission-driven lenders play a vital role by providing access to capital and financial services…
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ImpactFlex™ Investing: A New Way for Investors to Customize Their Impact Values
CNote is excited to introduce ImpactFlex™ Investing, a customizable fixed-income solution designed for accredited and institutional investors seeking to align their financial goals with meaningful social impact. This innovative offering allows you to direct your capital toward initiatives that resonate with your values, fostering positive change in communities you care about. Customize Your Impact With…
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Celebrating Black Entrepreneurs: 6 Stories of Resilience and Impact
Black History Month is a time to honor the profound contributions of Black individuals to our society. Throughout history Black entrepreneurs have demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation, driving economic growth and fostering community development. However, disparities persist. In 2022, Black-owned businesses constituted about 3% of U.S. firms, with over 194,000 enterprises employing 1.6 million people…
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CNote’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Program: Supporting Underserved Communities in Times of Need
Natural disasters strike without warning, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. In the United States, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters have been steadily increasing, affecting millions of individuals and communities each year. These events disproportionately impact underserved communities, as they often lack the resources and financial stability to prepare for and…
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The Wealth Revolution: Why Investors Are Choosing Impact Investing
In recent years, people have increasingly embraced impact investing, blending financial returns with meaningful social and environmental outcomes. This shift reflects a growing desire to align wealth with values and leave a lasting legacy that goes beyond financial success. Visionaries like Mackenzie Scott have amplified the spotlight on impact investing by directing significant resources toward…
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Supporting Small Businesses:The Critical Role of Community Banking
Small businesses are the lifeblood of local economies, driving innovation, creating jobs, and building community identity. However, they often face significant challenges—chief among them is access to affordable financing (source: sba.gov). This is where community banks step in, playing a critical role in helping small businesses thrive, fostering local economic growth, and building resilience. Small…
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Measuring Impact in Community Finance: The Cooperative Fund of the Northeast’s Innovative Technical Assistance Approach
By Tamra Thetford, VP of Impact Evaluation CNote engages with CDFI Loan Funds in impact diligence as part of CNote’s fixed income investment underwriting process. The impact diligence process allows CNote to learn about loan funds’ impact measurement and management practices. The following highlights the work the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast (CFNE) has done…
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What is a CDFI? – Community Development Financial Institutions Explained
Community Development Financial Institutions, more commonly referred to as CDFIs, are private sector, primarily nonprofit, financial institutions that provide loans and other financial resources to communities that are often underserved by traditional financial institutions. CDFIs are federally certified entities. That certification comes from the CDFI Fund, an agency within the U.S. Department of Treasury, which explains that “certification is…
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Meet Carver Federal Savings Bank, The Harlem-Headquartered CDFI Offering Tailored Small Business Lending
Lloyd Doaman has dedicated his life to community development. He began his career in finance at JPMorgan Investment Management before pivoting to community development financial institutions (CDFIs), where he helped to provide access to capital and technical assistance to small businesses, nonprofits, and credit unions. Over three years ago, Lloyd had the opportunity to join…
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Building Legacy and Opportunity: Cory Elliott’s Journey with CMT LLC and St. Louis Community Credit Union
Born, raised and educated in St. Louis, Cory Elliott has always been dedicated to serving her beloved community with excellence and creating opportunities for others. After completing her undergraduate and graduate education, she embarked on a career in healthcare, working as a hospital administrator. Her team supported the facilities and construction departments, an experience that…
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Where finance meets impact.