We stand at an inflection point for community development finance that will determine whether CDFIs emerge stronger from current challenges or find themselves marginalized in an increasingly competitive landscape. That’s why 200+ nonprofit industry leaders, mission-focused industry partners, and investors and financing professionals headed to Charlotte, North Carolina this week for the Housing Partnership Network’s “2025 Strength Matters Financial Management Conference.”
LIIF CEO Daniel A. Nissenbaum was honored to be invited to share insights on Wednesday’s opening plenary, “A Critical Moment for Our Industry.” At a time of deep and protracted uncertainty for our industry, it is more important than ever to get together to find new ways to collaborate on strengthening and revitalizing the community development sector.
Three key takeaways:
- CDFIs leverage public subsidies. Since our 1984 inception, LIIF has served 2.6 million Americans by investing $3.8 billion, an amount achieved by leveraging every dollar of public funding with other capital.
- Our unique value proposition. CDFIs solve problems, not just lend money.
- Economic Crisis = Opportunity. CDFIs are uniquely positioned for market leadership and are solving societal and economic issues including housing supply, child care, charter schools and other community facilities.
Joining Daniel A. Nissenbaum (top photo, second from right) were the following (left to right):
- CEO Chris Hite, Sugar Creek Capital
- Executive Director Ethan Handelman, Community Economic Development Assistance Corp.
- Chief Operating Officer Andrea Ponsor, National Housing Trust
- Executive Vice President Peer Exchange, Policy and Programs Noel Andres Poyo, Housing Partnership Network
It is more important than ever to get together to find new ways to collaborate on strengthening and revitalizing the community-development sector.