Raza Development Fund

What Raza Development Fund does

Raza Development Fund (RDF) is a Phoenix-headquartered nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) founded in 1999 that provides flexible financing, New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation services, and tailored technical assistance to Latino-serving and other community-based organizations across the United States. Its core products are community development lending (with flexible terms, structures, and rates tailored to borrower needs), federal NMTC program intermediation that connects private investors with large-scale community projects such as schools and health facilities, and post-close strategic planning and financial management support. RDF serves four primary verticals — healthcare organizations, educational institutions, affordable housing developers, and small businesses/entrepreneurs — with named borrowers spanning community health centers (Mountain Park Health Center, Esperanza Health Centers), charter schools (Carlos Rosario), housing developers (Self-Help Enterprises), community organizations (Chicanos Por La Causa, MAAC), social enterprises (Kitchen of Purpose), and small manufacturers (JM Custom Iron Work).

The organization's business model combines interest income from a $625M asset base, NMTC-related transaction and allocation fees, programmatic grants from the federal CDFI Fund, and charitable donations channeled through its website and GiveSmart integration. Its go-to-market is community-led and relationship-driven, relying on direct engagement, partnerships with intermediary organizations such as UnidosUS and Préstamos CDFI, and co-investment syndicates with institutional partners including JPMorgan Chase. The May 2026 launch of the California-based Pivot Fund signals a deliberate geographic and product-line expansion focused on community healthcare, and the 2023 federal CDFI Fund award and 2025 $24.5M Uvalde school co-investment demonstrate sustained access to programmatic and institutional capital. As a CDFI regulated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, RDF operates under federal non-discrimination standards and is prohibited from distributing profits, reinvesting surplus instead into its mission of unlocking lasting prosperity in underserved American communities.

Name

Raza Development Fund

Legal name

Raza Development Fund

Website

https://razafund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Raza Development Fund is a Phoenix-based nonprofit CDFI founded in 1999 that provides flexible financing, New Markets Tax Credits, and technical assistance to Latino-serving and community-based organizations in healthcare, education, housing, and entrepreneurship across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Finance

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSABAKAG

Housing & Urban Development Banks (Public)

Financial & Insurance/Banking (Commerical, Retail & Consumer)/Development & Public Sector Banking (DFIs, Postal/Savings Banks)

SECONDARYFSANAJAK

Community Development & Affordable Housing Funds

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Impact / ESG & Sustainable Investment Funds

SECONDARYFSALAKAF

Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans)

Financial & Insurance/Mortgage & Housing Finance/Housing Finance Agencies & Government-Sponsored Housing Programs

SECONDARYBPAGAEAN

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Community development lending
• CDFI financial services
• New Markets Tax Credits
• Affordable housing financing
• Nonprofit community finance

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Community Development Lending: RDF generates revenue through providing loans and financing solutions to community organizations. As a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution), they offer flexible financing with tailored terms, structures, and rates for organizations in underserved communities.
2. New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) Program Administration: RDF participates in the federal NMTC program, helping organizations access funding for large-scale projects by connecting them with private investors who receive tax incentives. RDF acts as an intermediary facilitating these transactions.
3. Technical Assistance and Strategic Guidance: Beyond financing, RDF offers tailored technical assistance and strategic guidance to strengthen organizational and leadership capacity of local organizations, including strategic planning and financial management support.
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: RDF receives donations from individuals and organizations to support their mission of unlocking lasting prosperity in communities across America.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Raza Development Fund is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that provides flexible financing, New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program administration, and tailored technical assistance to community organizations in health, education, housing, and entrepreneurship. It operates as a specialized CDFI lender and advisor serving Latino and other underserved communities across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flexible Financing for Growth Provides attainable capital for community organizations in health, education, housing, and entrepreneurship, offering financing solutions tailored to their unique needs with flexible and accessible terms, structures, and rates.
• New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) Federal program that helps organizations access funding for large-scale projects by offering tax incentives to private investors for projects like schools, healthcare facilities, and community centers that create jobs and drive economic growth in underserved communities.
• Tools & Guidance for Organizational Sustainability Tailored technical assistance and strategic guidance to strengthen the operational and leadership capacity of local community organizations, covering strategic planning and financial management.
• Investor Portal Online portal providing quick access to investment documents, reports, and strategic insights for bond investors and institutional supporters.
• Client Portal Online portal for viewing account details, resources, and support tailored to the needs of RDF's client community organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.6 billion invested in community organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Open for Business ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2024RDF supports JM Custom Iron Work through the Open for Business Program, which helped expand the family business in Phoenix with support for business growth and stability.
• UnidosUSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2022RDF partnered with UnidosUS for the Count On Us AZ Campaign celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, showcasing Latinos' significant contributions to Arizona's economy and culture.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Préstamos CDFI: Préstamos CDFI is a Latino-focused Community Development Financial Institution offering small business and community lending in underserved markets. It is a direct peer, having partnered with RDF and JPMorgan Chase on the $24.5M Legacy Elementary deal in Uvalde, TX.
• Hope Credit Union: Hope Credit Union is a CDFI- certified credit union serving underserved communities across the Deep South with consumer, small business, and community development loans. It is a direct peer as a CDFI lender competing for the same mission-driven deals and federal allocations.
• Reinvestment Fund: Reinvestment Fund is a CDFI that finances healthy food access, education, housing, and community development, and operates one of the largest NMTC allocation pipelines. It is a direct peer to RDF in CDFI lending, NMTC program administration, and community-focused underwriting.
• Capital Impact Partners: Capital Impact Partners is a CDFI providing loans and technical assistance to underserved communities, with focus areas spanning health, education, and housing. It is a direct peer given overlapping mission, product set, and CDFI/NMTC operating model.
• Self-Help Federal Credit Union: Self-Help is a CDFI credit union focused on responsible financial services for underserved, primarily rural communities, including affordable housing finance through Self-Help Enterprises. Self-Help Enterprises is a select RDF customer, making Self-Help a directly comparable CDFI.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is one of the largest US community development intermediaries, financing affordable housing, health, education, and economic development. It is a broad incumbent peer with deeper geographic reach and larger AUM than RDF, operating in overlapping sectors.
• Enterprise Community Partners: Enterprise Community Partners is a major national CDFI and affordable housing organization providing financing, policy, and development support. It is a broad incumbent peer given its national footprint and overlapping affordable housing and community development focus.
• NCB (National Cooperative Bank): NCB is a CDFI-certified bank serving cooperative and community-based organizations with financing for housing, healthcare, and community facilities. It is a broad incumbent peer given overlapping CDFI status, mission-aligned lending, and comparable sectors.

Others

• Opportunity Finance Network: Opportunity Finance Network is the national CDFI industry association, providing capital, policy advocacy, and capacity building to its CDFI members including RDF. It is an 'OTHERS' peer as an ecosystem enabler and trade body rather than a direct lending competitor.
• National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB): NALCAB is a national network of more than 100 Latino-led asset-building organizations, including CDFIs and housing counseling agencies. It is comparable as a peer ecosystem organization supporting the same Latino-focused community development mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rdffund
• Facebookfacebook.com/razadevelopmentfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rdffund
• Instagraminstagram.com/rdffund
• Xx.com/razafund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Raza Development Fund