*While general tickets for this are $10, we never want cost to be a barrier, therefore there is a free ticket option available upon checkout for anyone who needs it!

Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and Nonprofit Lenders differ from traditional banks and lenders in that they are dedicated to delivering responsible, affordable lending to help business development efforts in local communities, particularly those needing revitalization.

By financing community businesses—including small businesses, microenterprises, nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate, and affordable housing—these organizations help spark job growth and retention in hard-to serve markets across the nation.

By putting community first, these lenders are profitable but not profit-maximizing. They put community first, not the shareholder. For more than 30 years, they have had a proven track record of making an impact in those areas of America that need it most. In addition, in the last economic downturn, they were the highest performing asset class for investors.

Moderator:

Dr. Stephanie Gripne: Executive Director, Impact Finance Center

Panelists:

Chrystel Cornelius: Executive Director at Oweesta

• Chrystel Cornelius is the Executive Director of First Nations Oweesta Corporation. As the only national Native CDFI intermediary, Oweesta’s mission is to provide opportunities for Native people to develop assets and create wealth by assisting in the establishment of strong, permanent institutions and programs, contributing to economic independence and strengthening sovereignty for all Native communities. Ms. Cornelius has worked with Native communities for most of her professional career, with 20 years experience working in the Native and rural economic development field. She has a particular focus on implementing financing structures and financial products that propel individual and community wealth building efforts in marginalized Native communities throughout the nation. She is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians located in North Dakota.

Sean Doherty: Executive Director at the Impact Development Fund

• As the Executive Director at the Impact Development Fund, Sean aims to bring flexible capital to Colorado's underserved communities. Sean moved to Colorado from Maryland in 2015 where he spent over 25 years in commercial banking, brokerage, and community development finance. IDF has been providing financing capital throughout the state since 1999 in support of affordable housing and nonprofit facilities projects. Prior to joining IDF, Sean was the CFO for Baltimore Community Lending, another CDFI focused on the development needs of the City of Baltimore.

Mike O'Donnell: Executive Director at Colorado Lending Source

• As the Executive Director at Colorado Lending Source, Mike's mission is to encourage more startup firms in the US make this world a simpler, happier place. Mike transformed the Colorado Lending Source from an average SBA lender to an incredibly diverse, mission-focused, economic development organization with a team of people intent on helping small businesses startup and grow up. Mike is passionate about small business & entrepreneurship, and thus, Colorado Lending Source is the leading state-wide educational provider of a range of accessible, lower-cost lending options for both startups and seasoned businesses, including the character-based Colorado Main Street micro-loan program. Mike completed his undergraduate degree and MBA in Australia and now resides in Colorado.

Cass Walker Harvey: Executive Director at First Southwest Community Fund

• Cass Walker Harvey is Executive Director at First Southwest Community Fund, an impact investing fund serving rural entrepreneurs in Colorado. Originally from England, Cass Walker Harvey has spent the past decade building inclusive innovation ecosystems in the USA, Latin America, and the UK. Cass has also founded two non-profits: SelvaKids, which aims to provide sustainable solutions to increase educational resources in the Amazon, and Girls Thinking Global, which aims to increase collaboration and best practices in the non-profit sector to improve opportunities for adolescent girls worldwide.

This event will be held online over zoom.

Please email info@impactfinancecenter.org for more information.