Higher Educations and CDFIs

Overview

OFN partnered with The Jessie Ball duPont Fund to encourage colleges and universities to explore innovative investments in their communities, using the financial resources of higher education and the lending expertise of CDFIs. Through a publication and a series of presentations, the two organizations sought to engage leaders in higher education and community development finance, inspire their thinking, and encourage their collaboration in community development opportunities.

Jessie Ball DuPont logo

Publication

The Partnerships for Community Impact: Higher Education and CDFIs Working Together report highlights five examples of higher education-CDFI partnerships, involving projects in Philadelphia (TRF and LaSalle University), Chicago (IFF and University of Chicago), Durham, N.C. (Self-Help and Duke University); New Orleans (Hope and Delgado Community College), and multiple communities in North Carolina (LCCU and University of Virginia).

The projects ranged from development of childcare facilities, housing, and grocery stores to encouraging small business development and providing research and evaluation support for community projects.

Read Report

Related

Current Initiatives

Helping OFN members and partners deliver lasting change where it's needed most.

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 in a higher education for students in low-income communities?

Invest in CDFIs