Why CDFIs are a Smart Choice for DAF Donors
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven lenders that expand economic opportunity in communities not served by traditional finance. For DAF donors, CDFIs offer a unique combination of local impact, transparency, and long-term community benefit.
CDFIs Deliver What Value-Driven Donors Care About
Local and place-based impact
in underserved urban, rural, and Native communities
Issue alignment
across housing, small business, climate, job creation, and health
Strong performance
and responsible lending practices
Transparent reporting
and measurable community outcomes
CDFIs Deliver Measurable Results
$124B
Financing
deployed to small businesses and entrepreneurs
3.8M
Jobs
created or maintained
3M
Housing
housing units developed or rehabilitated
16K
Facilities
built and financed for community use (health centers, schools, food access, etc.)
82%
Reach
to low-income communities
68%
Reach
to people of color
52%
Reach
to women
25%
Reach
to rural communities
CDFIs serve Black, Latino, Native, and rural communities, and other areas of persistent poverty.
These results represent the collective impact of OFN’s member CDFIs through 2023.
Impact Stories: Learn about the amazing people and places CDFIs serve.
Learn More About CDFIs (For DAF Donors & Advisors)
Types of CDFIs
Banks, credit unions, loan funds, venture funds
Overview of CDFIs
How they work to multiply impact
Deep Dive
How nonprofit CDFI loan funds work
How to Put DAF Dollars to Work with CDFIs
DAF donors and advisors can take action in two ways: through OFN, the national network of CDFIs, or directly through an individual CDFIs.
Support OFN, the National Network of CDFIs
Work Through OFN for National Impact and Issue Areas You Prioritize
A philanthropic partnership with OFN strengthens the national CDFI network and helps expand access to responsible financing across nearly 500 CDFIs nationwide. If desired, OFN can pass through donations to our members to support specific causes you care about — affordable housing, small business, job creation, and community infrastructure.
Support an Individual CDFI (Place- and/or Issue-Based Impact)
Support a CDFI Working in a Community or Issue Area You Prioritize
DAF donors seeking impact in a specific geography or issue area can recommend grants directly to CDFI loan funds. OFN can work with you to curate a list of CDFIs that meet your interests or visit OFN’s CDFI locator to find a CDFI aligned with your goals, including those focused on:
- Small business growth and entrepreneurship
- Affordable housing and homeownership
- Community services, including health centers, healthy foods, and education
- Climate-resilient and green projects
Why Philanthropic Capital Goes Further with CDFIs
The CDFI Multiplier Effect
Grants to CDFIs do more than fund a single project — they strengthen mission-driven lenders that leverage and recycle capital to generate outsized, repeat impact.
How it works:
Leverage
Every philanthropic dollar can attract additional capital for lending: CDFIs can turn $1 in grants into $9 in community financing
Lend
CDFIs finance small businesses, affordable housing, and essential community services
Recycle
As borrowers repay, capital is redeployed to support new loans and new borrowers
This cycle compounds community benefit — driving job creation, housing, and long-term economic mobility year after year.
Partner with OFN to Support Client Philanthropy
For DAF Advisors & Sponsoring Organizations
OFN works directly with donor-advised fund advisors, wealth managers, and philanthropic offices to help clients align their giving with meaningful community outcomes. Our team provides:
- Curated CDFI recommendations
- Issue- and geography-specific guidance
- Impact stories and data for client conversations
- A clear pathway for deploying philanthropic capital
Our Commitment to Impact and Stewardship
Trust & Transparency
Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that drives capital to CDFIs serving communities underserved by mainstream finance.
Legal Name
Opportunity Finance Network
EIN
20-5189202
Status
501(c)(3) Public Charity
Resource Links
Insights Brief: Unlocking Potential: Donor-Advised Funds and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) as Partners in Community Impact
