The Center for Financial Inclusion
The Center for Financial Inclusion is an independent think tank housed at Accion that conducts research, pilots solutions, and convenes the global inclusive finance sector to inform policymakers, financial service providers, investors, and researchers on responsible and inclusive financial systems.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Center for Financial Inclusion does
The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) is an independent think tank founded in 2008 by Accion International and housed at Accion, with all staff employed by Accion. CFI's core function is to conduct research, pilot innovative solutions, and convene the global inclusive finance sector in order to inform policymakers, financial service providers, investors/donors, and researchers on responsible and inclusive financial systems. The organization operates across six thematic research areas — Consumer Protection, Responsible Data Practices, Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Women's Financial Inclusion, Digital Public Infrastructure for Inclusive Finance, and Micro and Small Enterprises in the Digital Economy — supported by two flagship global convenings (Financial Inclusion Week, Responsible Finance Forum) and two specialized community initiatives (Global DPI Insights Community, PROTECT Initiative).
CFI's product surface is research and knowledge artifacts rather than technology. Outputs include reports, briefs, articles, working papers, a public Resource Library, and convening programming, distributed primarily through its website, LinkedIn, YouTube, email newsletter, and in-person events. CFI has no proprietary technology platform, no consumer-facing app, and no disclosed API; the organization's competitive asset is proprietary primary-research datasets (notably the 20,000+ MSE 'Small Firms, Big Impact' survey across five emerging markets) and a recognized brand in consumer protection and responsible finance.
The business model is grant-funded nonprofit, not commercial. CFI does not sell products or services and has no pricing model; operating support comes from a concentrated set of institutional donors including the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MetLife Foundation, and GIZ, with co-development partnerships with IIF and others. CFI operates from a single Washington, DC headquarters and serves a global footprint spanning the United States, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Singapore.
The Center for Financial Inclusion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Center for Financial Inclusion
- Legal name
- Center for Financial Inclusion
- Website
- http://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Center for Financial Inclusion is an independent think tank housed at Accion that conducts research, pilots solutions, and convenes the global inclusive finance sector to inform policymakers, financial service providers, investors, and researchers on responsible and inclusive financial systems.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Center for Financial Inclusion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Financial Inclusion Research and Advisory
- NAICS
- Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME, Microfinance & Financial Inclusion Facilities (BPADACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Financial Regulation, AML/CFT & Tax Transparency Cooperation (BPADANAL)
Keywords
Where The Center for Financial Inclusion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Center for Financial Inclusion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding and Donor Support: As an independent think tank housed at Accion, CFI operates primarily through grant funding from foundations and donors including the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and MetLife Foundation.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The Center for Financial Inclusion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) is an independent think tank that conducts research, pilots innovative solutions, and convenes the inclusive finance sector to advance inclusive and responsible financial systems for underserved populations globally. It produces research publications and knowledge products across six thematic areas and hosts global convenings such as Financial Inclusion Week and the Responsible Finance Forum.
Product overview
The Center for Financial Inclusion is an independent think tank housed at Accion that advances inclusive financial systems through research, convenings, and collaborative initiatives. The organization offers a portfolio of research programs covering Consumer Protection, Responsible Data Practices, Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Women's Financial Inclusion, Digital Public Infrastructure, and Micro/Small Enterprises in the Digital Economy. These research areas are supported by global convenings including Financial Inclusion Week and the Responsible Finance Forum, as well as specialized initiatives like the Global DPI Insights Community and the PROTECT Initiative. The organization disseminates findings through a Resource Library containing reports, briefs, and articles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Research and Insights
- Financial Inclusion Week
- Responsible Finance Forum Global convening focused on responsible finance, bringing together experts to discuss and advance responsible financial solutions for underserved populations.
- Global DPI Insights Community A global network and research community focused on digital public infrastructure, supporting research proposals and sharing insights on DPI developments relevant to inclusive finance.
- PROTECT Initiative Initiative focused on safeguarding financial inclusion clients from fraud and scams through research and stakeholder engagement.
- Resource Library Online repository of research publications, including articles, briefs, and reports on financial inclusion topics, made freely available to the inclusive finance sector.
- Research Fellows Program Research fellowship program created to encourage independent researchers to conduct financial inclusion research aligned with CFI's mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20,000+ MSEs surveyed representing 1.7 million businesses
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Center for Financial Inclusion
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Center for Financial Inclusion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Center for Financial Inclusion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- AccioncoreAccion founded CFI in 2008 to serve as an independent think tank on inclusive finance. CFI is housed at Accion, and all CFI staff are employed by Accion. Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy.
- Institute of International Finance (IIF)supportingIIF partnered with CFI on the 'Mainstreaming Financial Inclusion: Best Practices' initiative and the inclusive insurance report to advance efforts of financial institutions to reach customers at the base of the economic pyramid.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Center for Financial Inclusion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab): J-PAL applies rigorous randomized evaluation research to poverty reduction globally, including financial inclusion product and policy testing — comparable to CFI as an evidence-driven research organization targeting the same underserved populations with parallel methodologies.
- CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor): CGAP is a financial inclusion think tank housed at the World Bank Group that conducts applied research, advisory, and convenings on inclusive finance — virtually identical mission and model to CFI, and the most direct competitive peer in shaping global financial inclusion agendas.
- FSD Africa: FSD Africa conducts research, advisory, and convening work to develop deeper financial markets across Sub-Saharan Africa, with similar financial-sector deepening research outputs and funder base as CFI, though regionally focused.
- Bankable Frontier Associates: Bankable Frontier Associates is a financial inclusion advisory firm (now part of DAI Global) providing research and consulting to donors and FSPs on inclusive finance strategy — closely comparable to CFI's provider-facing research and direct advisory support work.
- Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA): IPA generates and disseminates evidence on programs serving the poor, including in financial inclusion and consumer protection — mirrors CFI's research-and-evidence positioning and shares overlapping funder relationships with Mastercard and Gates.
- Microfinance Transparency: Microfinance Transparency promotes responsible pricing disclosure and fair practices in microfinance through ratings and research — comparable to CFI's consumer protection and responsible finance agenda within inclusive finance.
- GSMA Mobile for Development (Mobile Money): GSMA's Mobile Money programme conducts industry research, market intelligence, and convenings on mobile money and digital financial services for underserved populations — directly comparable to CFI's research-plus-convening model in the digital finance inclusion space.
Broad incumbents
- UNCDF (UN Capital Development Fund): UNCDF is a UN development finance institution supporting inclusive finance and local development capital globally — operates at larger scale and broader mandate than CFI but addresses overlapping themes including digital finance and MSE finance.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Center for Financial Inclusion social profiles
Digital presenceThe Center for Financial Inclusion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Center for Financial Inclusion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Center for Financial Inclusion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Center for Financial Inclusion M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Center for Financial Inclusion
What does The Center for Financial Inclusion do?
The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) is an independent think tank that conducts research, pilots innovative solutions, and convenes the inclusive finance sector to advance inclusive and responsible financial systems for underserved populations globally. It produces research publications and knowledge products across six thematic areas and hosts global convenings such as Financial Inclusion Week and the Responsible Finance Forum.
Is The Center for Financial Inclusion a public or private company?
The Center for Financial Inclusion is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Center for Financial Inclusion founded?
The Center for Financial Inclusion was founded in -1.
Where is The Center for Financial Inclusion based?
The Center for Financial Inclusion is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Center for Financial Inclusion make money?
One revenue line is on record: grant Funding and Donor Support.
Who are The Center for Financial Inclusion's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab), CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), FSD Africa, Bankable Frontier Associates, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), Microfinance Transparency and GSMA Mobile for Development (Mobile Money). UNCDF (UN Capital Development Fund) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Center for Financial Inclusion have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Center for Financial Inclusion.
What industry is The Center for Financial Inclusion in?
The Center for Financial Inclusion's product category is Financial Inclusion Research and Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADACAI, SME, Microfinance & Financial Inclusion Facilities, with a secondary code of BPADANAL, Financial Regulation, AML/CFT & Tax Transparency Cooperation. Its NAICS code is 5223 and its SIC code is 9721.