Overview

Held annually from 2014-2016, the Small Business Leader Award for Mission-Driven Lenders (SBLA) recognized innovation and growth in mission, impact, and financial sustainability among mission-driven small business lenders. Supported by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Surdna Foundation, and OFN, the purpose of the national award was to reward excellence, build broad-based recognition, and create momentum among CDFIs and other mission-driven lenders.

Each winner was honored at the annual OFN Conference and received grant funding up to $75,000.

Awardees

The following organizations received Small Business Leader Awards.

2016

  • Accion, serving Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas
  • Carolina Small Business Development Fund
  • Community Reinvestment Fund, USA
  • Montana & Idaho CDC

2015

  • Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Meda)
  • Pathway Lending (finalist)
  • PIDC Community Capital (finalist)

2014

  • New York Business Development Corporation
  • Opportunity Fund (runner-up)
  • Business & Community Lenders of Texas (finalist)
  • Bridgeway Capital (finalist)

Related

Current Initiatives

Learn about OFN’s current initiatives aimed to help CDFIs increase their impact.

Learn More
Opportunity Finance logo

Finance Justice Fund

Aims to bring more than $1 billion in capital to those needing it most.

Learn More
Opportunity Finance logo

OFN Membership

Learn how to become an OFN member.

Join us!
Opportunity Finance logo

Looking to invest corporate and philanthropic capital in people and places needing it most?

Invest in CDFIs