40th Annual Community Development Finance Conference Convenes 2,500 in Los Angeles
Mission-driven lenders and partners gathered for four days of learning, collaborating, and networking at OFN’s largest-ever national industry convening.
Read time: 6 minutes
What a month it’s been since OFN40! Even though a lot has happened since we gathered in Los Angeles for our 40th annual conference, the conversation continues. If you didn’t make it to the conference or you want to relive the highlights, don’t miss our recap.
From October 21-24, nearly 2,500 mission-driven lenders and partners joined us in Los Angeles for the 40th Annual OFN Conference, our largest-ever convening! Over four days, we celebrated four decades of progress and explored the path forward for community development finance.
OFN President and CEO Harold Pettigrew opened OFN40 by showing how community development finance is made by history to meet this moment, address climate risk in the decisive decade ahead, and build the infrastructure to scale our impact. Check out his keynote speech here.
“This all started with an idea. A pebble dropped into an ocean of possibility, with a simple notion that the conditions in our communities can be better. That capital not only can, but should be a force for good,” Pettigrew shared.
OFN and MassMutual Foundation also announced a new $25 million grant to launch a CDFI innovation initiative to scale impact.
Highlights
This year’s sold-out conference was the largest ever, with attendees representing more than 500 CDFIs, nearly 100 investors and funders, and more than 10 government agencies. The event also welcomed nearly 1,000 first-time attendees.
- 5 plenary moments featuring remarks from distinguished public and private sector leaders, including CDFI Fund Director Pravina Raghavan and Dennis Duquette, Head of Community Responsibility and President of the MassMutual Foundation at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
- A screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Barber of Little Rock” featuring OFN member People Trust and a conversation with the filmmakers
- 160+ expert-led breakout and networking sessions across 15 tracks featuring over 400 speakers
- 5 interactive training workshops on topics including CDFI 101; CDFI certification; operationalizing equity, inclusion, and accessibility into lending practices; consumer lending; and financial management
Interested in future training? Learn more.
- Inaugural CDFI Research Symposium hosted with University of New Hampshire’s Carsey School of Public Policy
- 9 CDFI-led tours highlighting impact across the L.A. region, as well as onsite CDFI-funded taco trucks and ice cream
- Special 40th anniversary exhibit, highlighting four decades of conferences and impact
- 50 scholarships awarded to first-time attendees
- Expo with more than 40 exhibitors
- Presentation of 2024 OFN40 Awards to the following remarkable individuals and organizations
- Adina Abramowitz (posthumous) – Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance
- Community Preservation Corporation – Outstanding CDFI
- Inclusive Action for the City – Emerging Growth CDFI Award
- Gustavo Lasala, PeopleFund – Executive Leadership Award
- Elissa Sangalli, Northern Initiatives – Rising Star Award
- Coastal Enterprises, Inc. – Adina Abramowitz Impact Award for Organizational Growth & Change
- LA Más – Justice Award
- 2024 OFN Board Election: Congratulations to Skya Ducheneaux, John Holdsclaw IV, Nelly Rojas-Moreno, and Arlo Washington for being elected to the OFN Board
Plenary Recordings, Photos, Session Content, and More!
Watch plenaries and other videos from the event, and see photos, breakout session materials, media coverage, and more – for free!
Check out photos from each day of the conference, plus the photo booth gallery!
Access breakout session decks from the conference.
Conference-related press releases and media coverage:
- Opportunity Finance Network and MassMutual Foundation Announce $25 Million Innovation Partnership to Scale the CDFI Industry
- Community Development Finance Trailblazer Adina Abramowitz Posthumously Receives 2024 Ned Gramlich Award for Responsible Finance
- Opportunity Finance Network Launches New Industry Awards to Recognize Exceptional CDFI Industry Leadership
- Remarks by U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Counselor for Racial Equity Janis Bowdler at the Opportunity Finance Network 2024 Conference (external)
Get Your Limited Edition OFN40 Swag!
Celebrate 40 years of creating economic opportunity with an OFN40 t-shirt, tank, or sweatshirt! Visit our online store to purchase your official OFN40 swag, and more.
Keep the #OFN40 Conversation Going
Share your insights and keep the #OFN40 conversation going on social media, CDFI Connect, and the OFN blog.
If you’re interested in contributing a guest blog post to OFN focused on a session topic or other conference themes and insights, please contact OFN’s communications team at [email protected].
Finally, stay tuned for more details about 2024 OFN events and save the date for the 2025 OFN Conference — October 20-23 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.!
Stay Connected with OFN
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Photos: Sam Levitan Photography
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