OFN Successfully Puts Members in the Media Spotlight

OFN has had success with our timely pitching of Member stories. We’ve got a nose for news, and connect the right CDFI to the right reporter for excellent results. We’ve scored some great placements in national media outlets, including the recent examples below.

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• In July 2010, OFN was contacted by a BusinessWeek reporter who requested to speak with a small business borrower who had to have initially approached a bank, but ultimately received funding from a CDFI. OFN put out the call to our Members, and got a few responses… We packaged up the pitch with all the examples we had received and contacted the reporter. New Hampshire Community Loan Fund landed in the spotlight, with coverage of their story in an issue in August of 2010.

• When OFN President and CEO Mark Pinsky was contacted by BusinessWeek in September of 2010 to write an editorial piece on CDFIs, we were thrilled to capitalize on the opportunity to raise national awareness of CDFIs. To show the great impact CDFIs have on the low-wealth and low-income communities they serve, Mark featured memorable Member success stories we pulled from Member Profiles. In his piece, Mark used a borrower success story from Members Accion Texas and The Reinvestment Fund as examples of CDFIs at work. This piece was published in October of 2011, and is one of the crown jewels of our press clipping collection.

• OFN replied to a November 2010 reporter inquiry requesting to speak with a young women who bought her house out of foreclosure. OFN forwarded the reporter information on a borrower who saved her home by working with 2010 $5.5 million NEXT Awardee, Boston Community Capital (BCC.) While the interviews and information took some time to gather, it all paid off! The article featuring member BCC is slated to be published this summer in the national women’s publication, Redbook.

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