Lending to small and micro businesses is a challenging undertaking for a nonprofit organization and requires the development of dozens of systems and capacities, one of which is quality underwriting. Few trainings exist for staff on the fundamental skills for consistent, quality microloan underwriting, so we developed one!

Also, when coaching and training staff understand underwriting basics, they can help their clients be more successful at applying for loans.

CAMEO offers Microlending Essentials (MILES), a microlending underwriting class for the CDFI and business-coaching nonprofit community several times a year. This introductory training covers multiple analyses: global cash, credit history, debt-to-income, and bank statement. Participants also underwrite and write credit memos for three actual microloan applications.

About the instructor

The MILES training is taught by Emily Gasner, VP of Strategic Initiatives and CDFI Incubator Director. Emily spent the last 20 years as co-founder and leader of Working Solutions, an award-winning nonprofit microlender and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Emily led all aspects of social impact and investing.

What makes this training unique and valuable?

The participants apply the analyses they learn to three actual microloan applications.
We provide a practice underwriting criteria grid that introduces participants to the fundamental structure that every lender should use to guide decision making.
We provide a credit memo form that 1) walks participants through each step of the underwriting process; 2) compares each deal’s particulars to sample underwriting criteria; and 3) provides a format for presentation to a loan committee.
We introduce the elements of a loan program needed to run a quality loan program - the infrastructure, capacities, and policy pieces.
We explore various for roles a loan committee in the microlending approval process.
We delve into the differences in ‘point of view’ between business coach and loan underwriter roles.
We consider how an organization’s target market impact loan product design, underwriting criteria, and loan processing.
We discuss mission, scale, impact, and technology – prompting participants to consider their future direction and choices.

Topics

Microlending Overview
Underwriting Criteria
Credit Memo Introduction
Application and Eligibility
Required Documents
Amortization
Credit Report
Credit History and Current Debt
Global Cash Analysis
Bank Statements
Profit and Loss Statement
Debt to Income Ratio
Projections
Collateral, Character, Character
Write three Credit Memos
Make Loan Recommendations
Present Credit Memos
Group Discussion

Participants apply these topics to three actual microloan applications, using supporting documents and writing up credit memos for each.

Class Dates

We are offering this five-part class online: 9:30am – 12:30pm PST, Monday, October 25 through Friday, October 29, 2021.

Pricing

Cost: $507.95 for CAMEO members and $657.95 for nonmembers. Please email Liza Rivera at lrivera@CAMEOnetwork.org for a special $150 discount code for CAMEO members.

Please only purchase one ticket per organization as space is limited.

To learn more about CAMEO's membership benefits, visit: https://cameonetwork.org/cameo-membership/join-cameo/

Please note that refunds will only be accepted until Friday October 15, 2021, before EOD.

Testimonials

I believe that you taught us a golden rule that is often missed: As a lender (and more generally as a businessperson), we are actively trying to reach a ‘yes’ without compromising our standards. -- Mohammed Al Ani, International Rescue Committee

I started this session with minimal understanding of the underwriting process and am walking away feeling well-equipped to help my organization with our loan program. This course shed light on the importance of a structured process and has encouraged us to review how to scale our growth and impact. – Alejandra Garcia, Leadership for Urban Renewal Network (now called Inclusive Action for the City )

Great training for small CDFIs that don't have in-house training. I'd give it 5 stars.

As a business coach, this training helped me understand how the loan process works. I have more knowledge to prepare clients before they apply for a loan. – Edwin Rodriguez, MEDA

For any questions regarding the class content discussed above, please email Emily Gasner egasner@CAMEONetwork.org. For program and class logistics email Liza Rivera at lrivera@CAMEOnetwork.org .

Registrations are closed

Microlending Essentials: Virtual October 2021