Community Reinvestment Fund

A CHANCE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING. Imagine if everybody was given a chance to succeed. We exist to create those opportunities. Since 1988, Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) has driven more than $2.4 billion in loans, investments and bonds to change lives and transform economically challenged neighborhoods into thriving communities. By investing in community partners, local small business ecosystems, and small business owners, CRF reinvents the flow of capital and brings new economic opportunity to communities across the country. JOINING TOGETHER MANY PARTNERS TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE. Partnership lies at the center of our work. We collaborate with community leaders, nonprofits, financial institutions, foundations and more to create new strategies and technologies that build stronger local economies, create jobs and support economic mobility. CRF connects on-the-ground community organizations with national partners to address systemic inequities and break the cycle of income inequality. We also work to ensure public policies are in place to support investment in underserved areas and advocate for government programs that provide fair access to capital. MULTIPRONGED APPROACH TO HELPING COMMUNITIES. CRF brings together market knowledge, problem-solving, loan structuring, relationships with investors and program management to solve complex community development challenges. We know that investing in a business or community facility creates a long-term ripple effect, increasing the number of jobs as businesses grow and brings greater prosperity and development to the area. OUR HOPE FOR COMMUNITIES. Our ten-year goal is to impact one million lives and deploy $1 billion in capital annually to build vibrant and healthy communities where they are needed most. Please join us in elevating economic opportunity for all. OUR TIMELINE 2018 CRF and U.S. Bank partner to expand access to credit for small businesses. 2016 CRF launches Detroit Home Mortgage to help home buyers overcome the appraisal gap problem in the city. 2015 CRF launches SPARK, its online small business loan origination platform. CRF launches Connect2Capital, an online small business lending marketplace. 2008 CRF and Frank Altman receive the Social Capitalist Award (“45 Social Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing the World”) from Fast Company Magazine. 2000 Frank Altman and others create the New Markets Tax Credit program. 1990s Northwest Area Foundation, Norwest (now Wells Fargo), Dayton-Hudson (now Target), and US West (now Qwest) foundations give $5.6 million in seed money to jump-start CRF. 1989 CRF issues first debt offering. 1988 Frank Altman, along with Warren Hanson, President and CEO of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, conceive the CRF concept in response to uncertain community development funding.