What CDFI Friendly Bloomington does

CDFI Friendly Bloomington (CFB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, that operates as a regional connector between underserved borrowers and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) across a 13-county Indiana Uplands service area. Founded in 2019 with $4 million in initial funding, CFB focuses on affordable housing developers, small businesses, child care providers, and nonprofit organizations that cannot access traditional bank financing. The organization is a certified CDFI by the U.S. Treasury and is positioned as part of the nation's first CDFI Friendly city initiative. To date, CFB has facilitated more than $29 million in CDFI investment into the region, supported the creation or retention of 424+ housing units, and delivered 275+ hours of technical assistance.

CFB offers three core services: Technical Assistance (planning, budgeting, and loan preparation support), CDFI Networking (introductions to mission-based lenders), and Enhancement Lending (gap financing from CFB's own loan funds). In 2026, the organization announced a $2.25 million line of credit partnership with Old National Bank, German American Bank, and First Financial Bank, and a $50,000 loan program with Allies for Community Business providing $500–$500,000 loans to Bloomington entrepreneurs. All borrower-facing services are provided free of charge. The underlying operating model is relationship-based facilitation—there is no proprietary technology platform; intake is handled via website forms, partner referrals, and direct meetings.

The revenue model is donation- and grant-funded, with key supporters including Old National Bank, Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association, IFF, First Financial Bank, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Regions Bank, German American Bank, Regional Opportunities Initiative, and Cinnaire. Operating with 2–10 staff (Executive Director John Zody and Program Coordinator Emma Yoder, plus a Board of Directors), CFB monetizes impact rather than charging fees, and measures success in capital facilitated, housing units produced, and technical assistance hours delivered rather than revenue.

Name

CDFI Friendly Bloomington

Legal name

CDFI Friendly Bloomington

Website

https://cdfifriendlybtown.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CDFI Friendly Bloomington is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects underserved affordable housing developers, small businesses, child care providers, and nonprofits with Community Development Financial Institutions across the 13-county Indiana Uplands region, providing free technical assistance, networking, and enhancement lending.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CDFI Friendly Bloomington operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations. Key donors include Old National Bank, Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association, IFF, First Financial Bank, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Regions Bank, German American Bank, Regional Opportunities Initiative, and Cinnaire.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CDFI Friendly Bloomington is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that acts as a connector and facilitator between underserved borrowers and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). It provides free technical assistance, introductions to mission-based lenders, and enhancement lending to support affordable housing developers, small businesses, and child care providers across the 13-county Indiana Uplands region.

Product overview

CDFI Friendly Bloomington is a nonprofit organization that operates as a connector and service provider, not a traditional product company. The organization offers three core services: Technical Assistance (hands-on guidance for loan preparation), CDFI Networking (introductions to mission-based lenders), and Enhancement Lending (gap financing from CFB's own funds). These services are delivered through a network of partnerships with Community Development Financial Institutions, regional banks, and public sector partners. Additional programs include the Solar and Energy Efficiency Loan (SEEL) Program (a joint initiative with IFF and the City of Bloomington), the Allies for Community Business $50,000 loan program for entrepreneurs, and a $2.25 million regional line of credit partnership with three banks. All services are provided free of charge to borrowers seeking financing for affordable housing, small businesses, or child care facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technical Assistance Hands-on guidance to help clients plan, budget, and prepare for financing. Staff help borrowers think through projects, develop budgets, and connect with partners for further assistance. Provided free of charge to borrowers.
• CDFI Networking Connections and introductions to Community Development Financial Institutions that are equipped to help finance borrower projects. CFB maintains an extensive network of CDFIs and facilitates introductions after learning about client projects.
• Enhancement Lending Additional lending from CFB's pool of funds in partnership with other CDFIs. CFB has loan funds available for projects in the region to enhance financing packages, working alongside other CDFIs when necessary for project financing.
• Solar and Energy Efficiency Loan (SEEL) Program A partnership with IFF and the City of Bloomington providing low-interest loans for solar installation, appliance and lighting upgrades, and weatherization. Combines IFF financing with City of Bloomington grants ($2,500-$10,000 per organization) and commercial energy audits. Targets nonprofit organizations, schools, early childhood centers, libraries, medical facilities, and grocery stores.
• Allies for Community Business Partnership Program $50,000 loan program with Allies for Community Business (A4CB) for Bloomington entrepreneurs providing access to loans from $500 to $500,000, plus business coaching. Targets entrepreneurs in Bloomington's Urban Enterprise Zone seeking to start or grow small businesses.
• Regional Bank Line of Credit Partnership $2.25 million line of credit with Old National Bank, German American Bank, and First Financial Bank to provide increased access to capital for affordable housing, child care, and small business projects across the 13-county region.

Quantifiable outcome

• $29 million+ in CDFI investment facilitated in the region
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CDFI Friendly AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization partnered with Bloomington community to create CDFI Friendly Bloomington. Working to replicate the Bloomington model in more than a dozen states. Helps CDFIs invest in important markets they otherwise would not be able to serve.
• Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. (ROI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development organization partnered with CDFI Friendly Bloomington. Partnered on grants distributed ($40,000) and coordinated approach to improve early childhood education access in the Indiana Uplands.
• The Gayle & Bill Cook Center for EntrepreneurshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization providing practical tools and resources for students, engaging the community, and fostering entrepreneurship. Board member Troy Phelps represents this organization.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CDFI Friendly America: National organization that co-created and actively replicates the CDFI Friendly city model that CFB pioneered; provides the franchising and network infrastructure of which CFB is the flagship implementation.
• Cinnaire: Regional CDFI that has directly invested in multiple CFB-facilitated projects (e.g., $5.28M for Bloomington Housing Authority renovation); operates a similar community development lending model into LMI communities.
• IFF: Mission-driven CDFI lender for nonprofits, schools, early childhood centers, and community facilities; CFB's partner on the SEEL program and a comparable capital provider to the same target segments.
• Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF): National nonprofit CDFI that provides loans and capital to mission-driven lenders serving low-income communities; financed CFB-facilitated deals (e.g., Mobile Mulligans) and operates a similar connector/aggregator role.
• Allies for Community Business (A4CB): Midwest CDFI providing loans ($500-$500K) and business coaching to underbanked entrepreneurs; direct lending partner with CFB via the $50K program and serves overlapping small business borrowers.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI that lends into and develops affordable housing, small business, and community development projects; comparable in mission and target segments but operates at far greater scale across the U.S.
• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): National CDFI industry association and capital intermediary that aggregates capital and supports hundreds of CDFIs serving underbanked communities; comparable as a connector/capacity-builder for CDFI lending.

Emerging players

• Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution: CDFI lender focused on under-served communities in the Western U.S., with comparable affordable housing, small business, and community facility lending; smaller regional footprint than LISC but similar mission.

Regional players

• Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County: Local community foundation and key CFB donor/board partner; comparable as a regional philanthropic capital aggregator supporting the same Monroe County service area and beneficiary segments.
• Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI): Indiana Uplands economic development organization that partners with CFB on grants and early-childhood education programming; serves the identical 11-county footprint and overlapping community development mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cdfifriendlybtown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdfi-friendly-bloomington
• Xx.com/cdfifriendlybtn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 CDFI Friendly Bloomington