Community Development Resources

What Community Development Resources does

Community Development Resources (CDR) is a Nebraska-based non-profit 501(c)(3) and U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) headquartered at 912 N. 70th Street in Lincoln. Founded in 1994 as the Self Employment Loan Fund of Lincoln (SELF) and reincorporated as an independent non-profit in 2001, CDR provides capital and technical assistance to underserved entrepreneurs — specifically low-income, minority, and women business owners — across the state of Nebraska.

CDR's product portfolio is structured around three SBA-linked loan programs and a fee-free crowdfunded microloan channel. SBA Microloans range from $1,000 to $50,000 over 1- to 6-year terms at 7.75-8.50% interest with a $40 application fee; SBA 504 Loans range from $100,000 to $5 million over 10-, 20-, or 25-year fixed-rate terms with 90% loan-to-cost financing. Kiva Nebraska offers 0% interest crowdfunded loans of $1,000-$15,000, with CDR acting as the local Kiva Hub. In 2022-2023 CDR formally expanded its mission to include flexible financing products for affordable housing developers in Lincoln. Underpinning these loan products is a Business Consulting program offering individual consulting, group workshops, and tuition reimbursement through a Southeast Community College collaboration. Technology infrastructure is limited to a standard web portal for borrower access and application submission — no proprietary lending platform or AI-enabled underwriting.

CDR generates revenue primarily through interest income on its loan portfolio, supplemented by application fees and grant funding (notably a $10,000 FNBO Impact Grant in 2023 via the ECHO Collective partnership supporting female immigrant entrepreneurs). Distribution relies on direct origination from the Lincoln office plus a deep channel network: nine-plus Nebraska bank partners (Pinnacle, Cornhusker, Wells Fargo, FNBO, Union Bank, US Bank, Access, West Gate, Dundee, Great Western) for SBA 504 first-mortgage origination, the Kiva crowdfunding platform, and referral relationships with SCORE, the Nebraska Business Development Center, Lincoln Community Foundation, and Cooper Foundation. The organization is governed by a board with representatives from key bank and community partners and is led by Executive Director Farshad Maltes, hired in December 2023 after a seven-year leadership transition.

Name

Community Development Resources

Legal name

Community Development Resources

Website

https://cdr-nebraska.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Development Resources (CDR) is a Nebraska-based non-profit CDFI providing SBA Microloans, SBA 504 Loans, affordable housing financing, business consulting, and Kiva crowdfunded microloans to low-income, minority, and women entrepreneurs across Nebraska.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Finance

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

Keywords

• Small business lending
• SBA microloans
• SBA 504 loans
• Technical assistance
• Affordable housing financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: CDR generates revenue through interest charged on SBA Microloans (7.75-8.50% rates) and SBA 504 loans (competitive fixed rates). As a CDFI and nonprofit, revenue supports mission activities.
2. Kiva Microloans: 0% interest, fee-free crowdfunded microloans from $1,000 to $15,000 through Kiva partnership. CDR serves as local Kiva Hub for Lincoln area entrepreneurs.
3. Grants and Impact Funding: Grant funding from organizations like FNBO ($10,000 Impact Grant) to support training and loan programs for underserved populations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Community Development Resources is a non-profit CDFI that provides SBA Microloans ($1,000–$50,000), SBA 504 long-term fixed-rate loans ($100,000–$5 million), Kiva crowdfunded 0% interest microloans ($1,000–$15,000), affordable housing development financing, and one-on-one business consulting and technical assistance workshops. It serves Nebraska-based small businesses, entrepreneurs, and affordable housing developers who lack access to traditional bank financing.

Product overview

Community Development Resources (CDR) is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering a portfolio of financial products and technical assistance services for small businesses and affordable housing in Nebraska. The core offerings include SBA Micro Loans (1,000 to 50,000) for startup and growth capital, SBA 504 Loans (100,000 to 5 million) for long-term fixed-rate financing, and Affordable Housing financing. These are supported by Business Consulting services providing individual and group consulting, workshops, and tuition reimbursement programs. CDR also partners with Kiva to offer crowdfunded 0% interest microloans. The organization serves as a one-stop resource for capital access and business development support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SBA Microloans Small business microloans ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 with 1-6 year terms, designed for new and existing small businesses needing startup capital, inventory, machinery, equipment, improvements, or working capital. Interest rates are 8.50% for loans under $10,000 and 7.75% for loans $10,000 and over, with a $40 application fee. Targeted at Nebraska-based underserved entrepreneurs, including low-income, minority, and women business owners.
• SBA 504 Loans Long-term, fixed-rate financing for small businesses ranging from $100,000 to $5 million with 10, 20, or 25-year terms, used for property acquisition, building expansion, and long-term equipment purchases. Features 90% loan-to-cost financing with 10-20% equity required for start-ups. Distributed through partner banks including Access Bank, Cornhusker Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Union Bank, Wells Fargo, and First National Bank of Omaha.
• Affordable Housing Financing Flexible financial products designed to encourage affordable developers to expand housing development in the Lincoln, Nebraska area. Provides financing tailored to the needs of affordable housing developers and organizations as part of CDR's broadened community development mission.
• Business Consulting and Technical Assistance Technical assistance program offering individual consulting, group consulting, workshops, classes, and reimbursement for approved workshops and seminars to support small business development. Includes one-on-one pre-loan and post-loan technical assistance for borrowers.
• Kiva Nebraska Crowdfunded Microloans Crowdfunded microloan program providing 0% interest, fee-free loans from $1,000 to $15,000 for entrepreneurs, with no credit score or collateral requirements. CDR serves as the local Kiva Hub partner for the Lincoln area and uses Kiva's social underwriting approach instead of traditional creditworthiness metrics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 175,000 small businesses supported with over $100 billion in SBA 504 financing nationwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• KivacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Kiva as local Hub for crowdfunded microloans. CDR serves as Kiva Lincoln Hub, enabling 0% interest microloans ($1,000-$15,000) for underserved entrepreneurs. Kiva uses social underwriting approach instead of traditional creditworthiness metrics.
• Lincoln Partnership for Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership with Kiva and CDR as local Kiva Hub to unlock access to capital for Lincoln area entrepreneurs and small business owners.
• ECHO CollectiveflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership funded by $10,000 FNBO Impact Grant to provide training, loan funds, and support to female immigrants wanting to start or own a small business.
• Southeast Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Business Consulting Program with potential tuition assistance. CDR provides reimbursement for approved workshop and seminar attendance.
• Access BankmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program, providing first-mortgage financing alongside CDR's second-mortgage CDC loan.
• Pinnacle BankmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program with representation on CDR board (Mark Hesser).
• Union Bank & Trust CompanymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program with representation on CDR board (T.J. Casady).
• First National Bank of OmahamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program and Impact Grant provider.
• Cornhusker BankmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program with representation on CDR board (David Shiffermiller).
• Wells Fargo BankmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program and rate calculation services (Wells Fargo Corporate Trust Services provides debenture rate calculations).
• West Gate BankmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program with representation on CDR board (Carl Sjulin).
• Dundee BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program.
• Great Western BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program.
• US BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBank partner for SBA 504 loan program.
• SCOREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentorship partner providing business guidance to CDR loan applicants and small business clients.
• Nebraska Business Development CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner providing business development resources and support for entrepreneurs.
• Opportunity Finance NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of community development financial institutions supporting CDFI industry.
• Association for Enterprise OpportunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association supporting microenterprise development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kiva: Global crowdfunded microloan platform. CDR is both a Kiva Hub partner and a functionally similar 0% interest, no-collateral microloan provider, making Kiva the closest mission-aligned peer.
• Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA): State housing finance agency combining small business lending and affordable housing programs. CDR's new ED Farshad Maltes previously worked here; comparable mission and product mix at a larger scale.
• Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI): Maine-based CDFI providing SBA 504, small business loans, and affordable housing financing. Comparable combined small-business + affordable housing CDFI with technical assistance.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: National CDFI focused on small business microloans and entrepreneur support for low-income and minority borrowers, similar underserved target market and CDFI/SBA intermediary model.
• LiftFund: San Antonio-based CDFI providing SBA microloans, small business loans, and technical assistance to underserved entrepreneurs across multiple states. Directly comparable CDFI microlender with bundled TA.
• Justine PETERSEN: St. Louis-based CDFI offering SBA microloans, small business lending, and housing counseling. Comparable CDFI model combining SBA microlending with TA and housing-adjacent services.
• Grameen America: Microfinance organization providing small-dollar loans and financial services to low-income women entrepreneurs. Comparable mission and microenterprise focus, though group-lending methodology differs.
• Great Plains Community Capital: Nebraska CDFI providing SBA 504 and small business lending with bundled technical assistance. Comparable SBA 504 + microloan + TA stack in the same state.
• Nebraska Enterprise Fund: Nebraska-based CDFI providing small business loans, microloans, and technical assistance to underserved entrepreneurs. Closest regional peer operating in the same geography and same target segments.

Others

• Opportunity Finance Network: National membership and advocacy network for CDFIs. CDR is listed among OFN members. Industry infrastructure/association rather than a direct lending peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Community Development Resources