Share Your Session Ideas for OFN’s 2025 Small Business Finance Forum in Austin

OFN’s Small Business Finance Forum call for sessions is now open until February 12.

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For decades, CDFIs have lent successfully to businesses in low-wealth communities across the U.S. CDFIs provide safe, responsible options when banks won’t or can’t lend. We fill small business financing gaps, offering financing and technical expertise to help small businesses launch, grow, and succeed. 

OFN’s annual Small Business Finance Forum (SBFF) is the premier event for mission-driven small business lenders, partners, and advocates serving communities from coast to coast. The forum offers engaging workshops and sessions as well as quality opportunities to connect with peers, participate in OFN training, learn about products and services for CDFIs serving small businesses, and hear from industry experts. 

Help Shape the Curriculum for the 2025 SBFF

After nearly a decade in Chicago, this year’s 12th annual forum will take place in a new location — Austin, Texas — from June 11-13! Registration will open in April.  

In the meantime, we’re seeking session proposals from a diverse and inclusive group of organizations and presenters that offer a wide range of perspectives to advance the greatest impact in areas related to the following tracks:

• Data-Driven Impact
• Innovating for the Future 
• Optimizing Operations & Strategy 
• Policy in Action 
• Scaling & Sustaining Loan Portfolios 
• The State of Small Business 

Find additional details on session tracks, topics of interest, and session types on the Call for Sessions site. 

Session proposals are due by 11:59 pm PT on February 12, 2025. 

Session Proposal Guidelines

Before submitting a session proposal, please review our guidelines and policies on the Call for Sessions site linked above for tips on creating a strong proposal. The documents are also linked below.

Download a PDF of the guidelines and policies, as well as a Microsoft Word proposal submission template to draft your proposal before submitting it online. 

New to SBFF? See our 2024 SBFF recap, including discussion topics.

Save the Dates for More OFN Events and Training

Save the dates for other 2025 OFN events and training, including the 41st annual OFN Conference!

The annual OFN Conference is one of the largest, most anticipated gatherings for CDFIs. Each year, thousands of practitioners, investors, policymakers, researchers, students, and more convene to learn, collaborate, and celebrate the work CDFIs do to expand economic opportunity.

Join us from October 20-23 in Washington, D.C., for the 41st OFN Conference! Registration will open in August.

See the full lineup of 2025 OFN events and trainings.

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Tags: CDFI Leadership, Community Development, OFN Membership, Small Business