The OFN 2010 Conference

This tour will travel to Sonoma and nearby counties to visit a sample of non-urban CDFI financed and assisted projects. Sites will include a self-help housing project, a wetlands restoration/mitigation credit project, a multifamily housing project, and small community water systems. The focus is on nonprofit housing development, community infrastructure for small and Native communities, and the provision of technical assistance.

Session Leader: Joel ben Izzy, Joel ben Izzy, Professional Storyteller, Story Consultant & Author
Session Panelists: Cece Derringer, Homewise and Sam Levitan, Sam Levitan Photography

It may seem counter intuitive, but the down economy is prime time for marketing to be more visible and for your CDFI to proactively reach out to customers and funders. Now is the time to focus a lens on your organization’s value, tell your story dynamically, and demonstrate your CDFI’s sustainability through thick and thin by being smart, strategic, agile communicators. A professional storyteller, a CDFI marketing director and OFN’s professional photographer share ways to cost effectively drive your organization’s marketing and fund raising while providing a return on investment.

The 2010 Native Gathering is a day of learning and discussion for Native CDFIs and those interested in this sector of the industry. This year the annual Gathering highlights Native CDFI best practices and innovations, provides guidance on how Native CDFIs can communicate more effectively with policy makers and others, offers an assessment of the state of the CDFI industry, and features a screening of First Nations Oweesta’s new ten-year impact video. There will be plenty of time for Native CDFIs to discuss their own burning issues and get feedback from this large gathering of peers and Native CDFI experts.

Session Leaders: Vikki Frank and Chasity Savage, Credit Builders Alliance

How can microenterprise, mortgage, and other consumer-oriented CDFIs integrate credit building into their lending, technical assistance, and training activities? How can the Credit Builder 5-Step model toward financial capability help? This workshop is a must for better understanding today’s credit economy and learning an asset-based approach to working with credit. By the end of this workshop you will know: how to access credit reports and scores; how to use this "financial resume" to create an action plan to build financial capability, skills, and credit; how to measure financial outcomes and self-sufficiency with credit reports; the importance of reporting borrowers’ data and how it can leverage your clients’ repayment and further your mission; and the many other tools and strategies you can find in the Credit Builders Toolkit, an online resource.

Session Leader: Jennifer Vasiloff, Opportunity Finance Network
Session Panelists: Nancy Andrews, Low Income Investment Fund; Ellen Seidman, ShoreBank Corporation; Michael Bodaken, National Housing Trust; and David Erickson; Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

In 2010 Congress and the Administration adopted major reforms to our nation's financial regulatory system. The next big agenda item will be reforming our nation’s housing finance system. The CDFI industry (particularly the significant number of organizations engaged in housing development) has a big stake in the outcome of this policy debate. The last time Congress reorganized the GSEs, the CDFI industry secured the Capital Magnet Fund and Federal Home Loan Bank membership for CDFIs. Will there be similar opportunities in the coming debate? How will CDFI business practice adapt to new structures and new players in the affordable housing market?

Session Leader: Al Cantor, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund

The CDFI field has been buffeted in recent years by the struggles of the banking industry and the shrinking asset base of foundations. The weaknesses in these two sectors - the traditional bedrock for CDFI investment capital and grantmaking - has us all looking for alternatives. The experience of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund provides an example of developing funding diversification through individuals. Al Cantor, NHCLF's longtime Vice President for Philanthropy, will explain how over a quarter century of work with individual lenders and donors has led to the investment of millions of dollars a year from individual lenders, and a promising campaign to raise at least $2 million from individuals for equity. A lively and provocative case study.

Session Leader: Doug Raymond, Drinker, Biddle & Reath
Session Panelists: Marc Rand, Opportunity Fund and Ann Cameron, Northern California Community Loan Fund

What role should the board of directors play in managing your CDFI? What are the special duties of the Chairperson? This session provides practical guidance for directors and executives who want to apply best practices and benefit from the real world experience of well-seasoned directors and board advisors. The two-part session is structured to permit members to attend one or both parts. This session, Part I, will include a background discussion of the core roles and functions of the board and Chairperson, and then, using real life situations, will explore in an active discussion with participants how the board should approach critical issues including: executive succession, planned and unplanned; teaming up with for-profit lenders and others; and organizational mergers and combinations. The next session, Part II, will pick up where Part I leaves off and continue the discussion among the panelists and participants, focusing on areas such as: crisis management; discovering fraud and managing risk; and protecting the board through D&O insurance and otherwise.

Session Leader: Adam Zimmerman, Enterprise Cascadia
Session Panelists: Merrian Fuller, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Cecilia Estolano, Green for All

Across the country local economic development jurisdictions are actively searching for financing partners that can deliver capital into emerging "clean energy" markets. In 2010 the US DOE alone awarded over $500 million to local governments and states to develop loan funds and credit enhancements to support lending to residential energy efficiency retrofit projects. While banks continue to struggle with the fall-out of the recession, CDFIs and others community development finance entities can lead community-based efforts to create smart and equitable financial products that capitalize the clean energy sector. In this session, three speakers will illustrate the scope of the opportunity in the residential clean energy sector and the tactics for putting a financing product on the ground. The primary focus will be on lending to single-family home owners and small-scale contractors in the residential retrofit market. Merrian Fuller will speak to the national movement to create clean energy finance vehicles. Cecilia Estolano will share Green for All’s ground breaking work in linking finance products with the development of small businesses and workforce options in underserved communities, and Adam Zimmerman will share from Enterprise Cascadia’s current work in financing homeowners and contractors through Clean Energy Works Portland.

Session Leader: Ellen Seidman, ShoreBank Corporation
Session Panelists: Haydee Moreno, Self-Help; Luz Urritia, El Banco de Nuestra Comunidad; and Roy Sosa, Mango Financial, Inc.

Traditional depository financial institutions have found it difficult to profitably serve low-income communities. Even when they open branches in these communities, residents often do not find the products and services useful or priced transparently. Alternative Financial Service providers have stepped in to fill the void with check cashing, remittance services, payday lending and pawn, but prices are high, and opportunities for building savings and a credit scores lacking. However, new models are emerging. In this session, we will hear about three innovative models to provide transaction services to low income neighborhoods both sustainably and responsibly – a credit union, a bank, and a new kind of non-bank provider. Panelists will discuss both their triumphs and challenges as they try to improve the financial services marketplace in underserved communities.

Session Leader: Susan Coccarelli, CS Mott Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Session Panelists: Gray Harris, Coastal Enterprises, Inc.; Steven Schwartz, California Farm Link; David Kahley, The Progress Fund; and Dorothy Suput, The Carrot Project

A growing number of CDFIs are working in the agricultural sector. For these and other CDFIs considering entry into this sector, this session will address questions such as: What are some of the inherent challenges of working in the agricultural sector and how can CDFIs mitigate risk? What types of technical assistance are available to agricultural enterprises and how can CDFIs add value? What resources are available to link farmers with qualified lenders? Join us for an engaging discussion of the challenges and opportunities of this diverse sector of our economy.

Session Leader: Carol Lamm, MACED

Preparing for the Financial Strength and Performance (FSP) assessment of a CARS™ rating can be a lot of work but with some planning and fore-thought, you can reduce the stress on staff and save time and resources. In this hands-on session, you will design and develop a plan for you and your staff to prepare for the FSP portion of a CARS™ rating and develop tools to standardize how your CDFI more efficiently responds to investor document requests. If you are already scheduled for a CARS™ rating or plan to get rated in the next year or two, this session is a must.

Session Leader: Bob Schall, Self-Help
Session Panelists: Dan Letendre, Bank of America; Andrew Ditton, Citi; Dudley Benoit, JPMorgan Chase; Andrea Phillips, Goldman Sachs; and Eileen Stenerson, Wells Fargo

The credit markets, the economy, financial system reform. All of these impact bank-CDFI relationships. In this session, representatives from the nation’s largest banks will provide their perspectives on the future of their relationship to the CDFI industry. Presentations will cover changes in the banking industry, new initiatives, and challenges banks see in working with CDFIs in the future. There will be ample time for questions and discussion.

Session Leader: Lisa Richter, GPS Capital Partners, LLC
Session Panelists: David Erickson, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco; Tina Castro, The California Endowment; and Nancy Andrews, Low Income Investment Fund

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's 2009 Commission to Build a Healthier America noted that "building a healthier nation will require substantial collaboration among leaders across all sectors, including some—for example, leaders in child care, education, housing, urban planning and transportation—who may not fully comprehend the importance of their roles in improving health." Hear how CDFIs of all types are attracting capital and grants from foundations with health missions and programs for human and sustainable community development financing initiatives that promote healthy behavior options and choices, in addition to physical and social environments that promote better health outcomes.

Session Leader: Megan Galbraith, Changing Our World
Session Panelists: Laura Kozien, ACCION USA; Chelsa Bocci, Kiva.org; and Charlotte Hill, EARN

Today, Facebook is the world's most visited Web site, 14 million people use micro-blogging site Twitter, and corporations such as JPMorgan Chase, PepsiCo, and WalMart are offering grant opportunities through online "competitions". Yet, CDFIs have been slow to invest in strong, fully integrated online marketing and social media strategies. In this session, participants will learn why it's never been more important to build online capital through insights from nonprofit organizations with a growing social media presence, a worldwide nonprofit with marked social media success, and a fundraising consulting firm. The session will make the case for investing resources in developing strong online marketing and social media strategies.

The Mission District is known for its Central American and Mexican flavor. On this tour you’ll visit projects financed by local CDFIs. Plaza Adelante is a recently renovated building owned by the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) that houses numerous nonprofits serving local Latino communities. La Cocina is a business incubator for food-related business ventures, focusing primarily on serving immigrants and women from communities of color. The recently renovated Boys and Girls Club is the oldest Club west of the Mississippi. Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of one of San Francisco’s best known neighborhoods.

The Bay Area is home to many notable transit-oriented developments, several in the East Bay. Oakland’s Fruitvale is one of the nation’s earliest examples. The newer David Brower Center and Ed Roberts Campus, both in Berkeley, showcase the evolution of transit-oriented developments. Join us as we take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train to tour these three developments to see cutting-edge examples of what’s working in this growing sector, what lessons have been learned along the way, and the pivotal role CDFIs are playing.

Session Leader: Doug Raymond, Drinker, Biddle & Reath
Session Panelists: Marc Rand, Opportunity Fund and Ann Cameron, Northern California Community Loan Fund

What role should the board of directors play in managing your CDFI? What are the special duties of the Chairperson? This session provides practical guidance for directors and executives who want to apply best practices and benefit from the real world experience of well-seasoned directors and board advisors. The two-part session is structured to permit members to attend one or both parts. Part I will include a background discussion of the core roles and functions of the board and Chairperson, and then, using real life situations, will explore in an active discussion with participants how the board should approach critical issues including: executive succession, planned and unplanned; teaming up with for-profit lenders and others; and organizational mergers and combinations. This session, Part II, will pick up where Part I leaves off and continue the discussion among the panelists and participants, focusing on areas such as: crisis management; discovering fraud and managing risk; and protecting the board through D&O insurance and otherwise.

Session Leader: James Head, San Francisco Foundation
Session Panelists: Gary Bell, Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union; Janis Bowdler, National Council of La Raza; and Cy Richardson, National Urban League

CDFIs specialize in serving economically distressed markets, many of which are characterized by high concentrations of people of color, low-income individuals, or both. Is the opportunity finance industry and those who support it—CDFIs, public and private funders and investors, policy makers—acting in the best interests of these populations? Are they cognizant of the range of effects their investment and policy decisions have on these populations? In this session, representatives of two national civil rights organizations and a community development credit union will share their observations on the ways the opportunity finance industry is succeeding from a civil rights perspective and the ways it may be falling short. We’ll then engage in a discussion of what CDFIs, policy makers, funders and investors can do to fill the gaps. Don’t miss this open discussion of an issue that is at the heart of OFN’s—and the opportunity finance industry’s—core purpose. Capital. Justice. If not now, when?

Session Leader: Joshua Simon, Northern California Community Loan Fund
Session Panelists: Dutch Haarsma, Northern California Community Loan Fund and Kirby Burkholder, IFF

Real estate consulting is a service that CDFIs can provide to our nonprofit clients. However, the role of lenders and consultants must be kept separate to maintain the integrity of each service. Northern California Community Loan Fund has created a Facility Strategic Planning process which helps nonprofit organizations to clarify their facility planning and establish their development team long before they determine the financing that will be required for their project. Joshua Simon, Director of Real Estate Development, will describe the planning process and how the hand-off is made to the development team members and, when appropriate, the lenders. We will also discuss how we keep the consulting and lending roles separate.

Session Leader: Pat Thomson, NDC's Grow America Fund
Session Panelists: Angela Butler, Carver Community Development Corporation; Charlie Spies III, CEI Capital Management LLC; and Julie Nelmark, Midwest Minnesota CDC

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program has provided substantial investment in low income areas since its inception in 2000. However, most of the transactions have been large real estate developments with total project costs over $5 million. NMTC can be used to support small business as well. Learn how NDC's Grow America Fund, CEI Capital Management LLC, Carver Community Development Corporation, and Midwest Minnesota CDC have utilized NMTC to make loans to operating businesses. Loans have been as small as $190,000 and provide small businesses the benefits of low interest and deferred principal payments.

Session Leader: Tanya Fiddler, Four Bands Community Fund
Session Panelists: Dustin Miller, USDA; Chris James, CDFI Fund; Susan Harper, Bank of America; Karla Miller, Northwest Area Foundation; and Jon Panamaroff, First Nations Oweesta Corporation

This session will highlight funding sources available for Native CDFIs including underutilized federal funding, foundation support and coordination with Native non-profit lenders. The session is followed by a Native Funders Reception where Native CDFI practitioners and potential funders can meet.

Session Leader: Joel ben Izzy, Professional Storyteller, Story Consultant & Author

How do you tell the story of your organization's work in a language that will attract investors, funders, and customers? How is our language changing as we grow to scale and develop national and organizational branding? Learn from a professional storyteller how to tell your stories more effectively in both written materials and oral presentations.

Session Leader: Wendy Baumann, Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation
Session Panelists: Ceyl Prinster, Colorado Enterprise Fund and Shawn Wellnitz, Northeast Entrepreneur Fund

Businesses need access to capital to start and grow, but a critical component of success is entrepreneurial capacity building. CDFIs provide this support using a variety of methodologies, including one-on-one business counseling, classroom-based training, coaching and mentoring, online tools, and working with other community resources. This session will explore the effectiveness of various delivery methods, how these services impact the business at different stages of the client relationship, and how to leverage staff with outside resources to maximize value for the business while minimizing cost for the CDFI. Three experienced organizations will share their strategies and delivery tactics for this essential component of CDFI lending to businesses and microenterprises.

Session Leader: Frances Pennell, Washington Access Fund
Session Panelists: Thomas Foley, J.D., World Institute on Disability; Susan Tachau, Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation; James L. Marc-Aurele, MPower Adaptive Equipment Loan Fund; and Charlie Hammerman, Disabilities Opportunity Fund

How do aging baby-boomers, veterans and people with disabilities and their families fit into the world of CDFIs? This session will provide an overview of the estimated 50 million people who comprise the "disabilities market" and why this market matters to your CDFI. Participants will discuss financing opportunities in housing, small business, and specialized products such as assistive technology and business and home accessibility modifications. We also will provide resources to help your organization identify relevant data and partnerships plus strategies for effectively marketing to and working with people with disabilities.

Session Leader: Peggy Jen, LISC
Session Panelists: Tara Siegel, Low Income Investment Fund; Bob Van Meter, LISC; and Elizabeth Richards, Chicago Community Loan Fund

Building owners that could most benefit from energy efficiency savings, such as cash-strapped nonprofit organizations, are often found to operate the least energy efficient buildings and often lack the up-front capital needed to make efficiency investments. Inefficient buildings mean higher utility costs that drain a property's operations and cash flow. CDFIs have an important role to play in supporting nonprofit organizations as they undertake green retrofits. This session will highlight examples of three CDFIs' initiatives: LISC Boston's assistance to asset managers to benchmark energy performance of over 5,000 units of housing and to access funding and financing sources for implementing green improvements; the Low Income Investment Fund's pilot Green Opportunity Fund (GO Fund) in Los Angeles which aims to provide up-front capital and technical assistance to help community facility owners retrofit their properties; and Chicago Community Loan Fund's programs on suburban retrofits and sustainable operations curriculum development. Each CDFI on this panel will share insights on the opportunities and challenges of undertaking green work. In particular, they will look at the barriers, including the cost vs. value gap and appraisal issues such as generally lower values in high-foreclosure neighborhoods, the inability of developers to pick appraisers that understand green development, and the on-going challenge of underwriting green "savings" or "premiums".

Session Leader: Leslie Hoffman, ACCION NM-AZ-CO
Session Panelists: Dawn Johnson, Community Reinvestment Fund, USA; Shaw Canale, Mountain Biz Work; and Juan Pablo Trevizo, ACCION NM-AZ-CO

This session—presented by leading industry practitioners—will help small business and community facility portfolio managers diagnose and remediate loans that have gone from bad to worse. The session will cover the formulation, negotiation and implementation of workouts as well as some practical tips on handling bankruptcy. Participants will present effective strategies, action plans, remedies, costs, consequences, and timelines associated with the litigation, foreclosure, and liquidation of collateral in the current economic environment, including real estate.

Session Leader: Ian Galloway, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

This breakfast session will bring young community development professionals together to foster future collaborations as well as discuss reasons for entering the field and strategies to improve recruitment and retention.

Session Leader: Brian Gately, National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions

Learn the pros and cons of starting up a credit union in your Native community. NFCDCU will share lessons learned to date, including what has worked as well as pitfalls to be aware of.

Session Leader: Jim Ferris, NeighborWorks Capital

Come learn about Strength Matters, a collaborative initiative among national organizations in the affordable housing field that uses a three-pronged approach to grow affordable housing organizations through best practices in financial reporting, underwriting, and policy.

Session Leader: Cheryl Neas, Opportunity Finance Network
Session Panelists: Jennifer Vasiloff and Dafina Williams, Opportunity Finance Network

2010 has been a busy year for CDFIs in Washington, and 2011 is likely to be equally eventful. Join OFN’s Policy staff for updates and discussion of issues affecting CDFIs and their communities and get the very latest news on legislative developments, pending proposals, and current issues.

Session Leader: Kristin Faust, Partners for the Common Good
Session Panelists: Ray Mendoza, CEDLI; Stephen Peelor, Century Housing; Carla Mannings, Community Housing Capital; and Kristi Dosh, Taylor English Duma LLP

Could loan participations be a vehicle to strengthen your CDFI’s liquidity and risk management? Come to a lively discussion of the many reasons why you might want to participate your loans and what the challenges are of being in a loan participation. What are the real differences between being a lead and a participant? What rights should be preserved? What language is to be avoided? The session will also cover topics such as loan servicing, accounting, and legal considerations, and provide sample documents for a participation.

Session Leader: Leslie Hoffman, ACCION NM-AZ-CO

A good portfolio starts with great lending, but even good loans can experience challenges. Managing delinquency and minimizing losses are critical components of institutional preservation. More importantly, these activities go straight to the heart of the microfinance mission. Leslie Hoffman has provided collections training to microfinance organizations across the country and will share with you some of the most important secrets to maintaining a strong portfolio. She will review the philosophy of good collections and discuss in detail the best approach and techniques to yield strong results. She will offer tips and best practices on everything from navigating client negotiations and collections systems to building the right collections protocol and staff training. This lively and hands-on session will entertain, motivate and inspire participants to enjoy - yes, enjoy - collections at a time when our clients need us most.

Session Leader: Adina Abramowitz, Consulting for Change

This session will present a framework for how Native and other CDFIs grow from start-ups to mature organizations. It will provide a roadmap for all of the internal changes required to manage as your organization increases its programs, products, and impact. We will touch on the changes in staff structure, the Board, the Executive Director’s role, and other infrastructure requirements to grow with less stress and disruption to day to day operations.

Session Leaders: Paige Chapel and Lina Page, Opportunity Finance Network; Charity Sack, NCB Capital Impact

Harness the power of your organization’s CARS™ rating to differentiate your CDFI as a standout in the field. We’ll discuss an industry case study and you will hear from NCB Capital Impact, a proactive, CARS™-rated CDFI who will share their experiences in using their CARS™-rated status to attract positive attention and build a reputation for their commitment to transparency and accountability. Session participants will develop a customized action plan for incorporating their CARS™ rated status into a proactive communications strategy. You’ll leave the session with your plan in hand! We also will talk about new CARS™ product developments and what to expect in 2011.

Session Leader: Sarah Wolff, Self-Help
Session Panelists: David Raynor, Leviticus Fund; Carla Dickstein, Coastal Enterprise, Inc.; and Mike LaFave, Neighborhood Development Center

Measuring and communicating impact can be challenging, but there is no doubt that it is important for understanding the value of CDFIs. In this session four CDFIs that have undertaken impact analysis projects will share their experiences measuring impact. Discussion will include: How have CDFIs approached measuring impact? Why undertake impact measurement and analysis projects? What challenges do CDFIs face in measuring and communicating impact? How have CDFIs used impact analysis internally and externally?

Session Leaders: Alan Branson, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta/HOPE Credit Union, and Jeannine Jacokes, Partners for the Common Good

Following an Opening Plenary overview of OFN’s 2011–2025 Strategic Plan, dive deeper into the strategic plan through a detailed discussion of OFN’s new strategic goals, what they mean, and how they should be implemented over the next 15 years. Led by OFN Board Members, this breakout session will cover the OFN goals that support and lead CDFIs in the areas of Coverage—Expanding the CDFI sector’s share of opportunity markets; Influence—Increasing the CDFI industry’s ability to shape its operating environment; and Performance—Sustaining and improving CDFI impact, portfolio, and operating results. Help shape the future of the CDFI industry by offering feedback and helping OFN think through implementation strategies to meet our strategic goals.

Session Leader: Lori Glass, The Reinvestment Fund
Session Panelists: Art Fatum, Low Income Investment Fund; Mary Mathews, Northeast Entrepreneur Fund; and Jumana Poonawala, Opportunity Finance Network

Since the fall of 2008, OFN has been tracking CDFIs’ business and strategic responses to the economic downturn and credit crunch. With these data as a starting point, in this session we will uncover the lessons that can only make the industry stronger going forward. Three CDFIs serving different regions and financing sectors will talk about what they experienced, how they responded, what worked, and what they could have done better. We’ll engage the session attendees in a discussion of the issues raised by the panelists as well as their individual experiences, culling out the most important lessons from this difficult period.

Session Leader: Matt Slepin, Terra Search Partners
Session Panelists: Nancy Andrews, Low Income Investment Fund; and Calvin Holmes, Chicago Community Loan Fund

CDFI executives participate in a discussion of key human capital and leadership issues they find in running a CDFI. The discussion will be wide-ranging, covering topics such as compensation levels and structure (including bonus structures), succession planning, accessing the talent pool both within the CDFI space and attracting outside talent, career planning, and building and managing great teams. We will approach these issues at the individual CDFI level as well as systemically for the CDFI sector as a whole. This executives-only session is limited to CDFI CEOs, CFOs, COOs, or equivalents, and CDFI Board members.

This tour will visit sites that illustrate the challenges, opportunities and future vision for urban redevelopment in San Francisco. The Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods are located in the heart of the city and are among the city’s most diverse, dense, and low-income areas. They are some of the last areas low-income people can afford to live in the city. We’ll visit a homeless prevention and social services provider that serves over 10,000 residents each year, a child care center adjacent to an affordable housing complex, and the future site of a mixed-income transit-oriented development project funded by the city and local CDFIs.

All are welcome to attend the OFN Annual Membership Meeting. OFN Members will hear from a slate of 9 board nominees and elect 4 new board members. OFN will present its financial statements and progress toward its 2010 goals. Members, come elect your new board members. Nonmembers, come learn more about Opportunity Finance Network and how it is working to advance the opportunity finance industry.

Session Leader: Raymond Lanza-Weil and Tess Colby, Opportunity Finance Network
Session Panelists: Tom Manning, Primary Care Development Corporation and Christi Coady, Michigan Interfaith Trust

CARS™ ratings are becoming a requirement of a growing number of investors. Is your CDFI ready for a CARS™ rating? Is the rating process as bad as other CDFIs say? Learn about the process, what CARS™ rates, and how to get ready for a rating. CARS™ staff and the staff of CDFIs who have survived the process will share their experiences!

Session Leader: Lina Page and Stefanie Arck, Opportunity Finance Network

With financial news headlines appearing front and center in most media outlets, CDFIs have an unprecedented opportunity to tell their story. Do you know what you need to do to be prepared for success? We’ll show you how to craft a press release that cuts through the clutter, positions your CDFI, reveals a story angle, and gives reporters the information they need to cover your story knowledgeably. We’ll provide media training pointers and touch on the practicalities of finding the right PR firm. In case of an industry set back, or even your own bad news, we’ll review best practices for managing crisis communications. Finally, we will cover effective resources and tools (some that are low-no cost!) that can help you get your name and news out to a wide audience.

Session Leader: Paige Chapel and Cecilia Walker, Opportunity Finance Network

How should an investor underwrite a CDFI? Two experienced OFN trainers will provide funders and investors with the tools they need to properly underwrite CDFIs (particularly loan funds) and to gain perspective on the CDFI industry. Topics to be covered include an overview of the CDFI industry and trends; evaluating CDFIs based on the CAMEL methodology; using CARS™ to evaluate CDFIs; analyzing CDFI financial statements and other financial-related topics; and ratio analysis for non-profit CDFIs, including peer comparisons. Funders and investors will leave the training better equipped to underwrite CDFIs and monitor their CDFI portfolio.

Session Leader: Mary Tingerthal, Housing Partnership Network
Session Panelists: Matt Perrenod, Housing Partnership Network and Keiva Dennis, National Housing Trust Community Development Fund

Neighborhood stabilization efforts are increasingly involving multifamily housing, as local collaboratives recognize the importance of quality rental housing in neighborhoods and as they strive to meet the federal requirements that 25% of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds serve households below 50% of area median income. Participants will discuss leading efforts in this area, including how NSP can be utilized to leverage private debt, fund tax exempt bonds, and preserve existing affordable housing.

Session Leader: Kellie Jewett, First Nations Oweesta

Explore a systemic approach to transforming your Native community through collaboration with key community partners, such as schools, tribal government agencies and programs, and other community-based organizations. Learn how to apply the Native Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Development Model to affect community and economic change in infrastructure, private enterprise, entrepreneur development, and access to capital.

Session Leader: David Beck, Self-Help and Mary Rogier, Northern California Community Loan Fund

Following an Opening Plenary overview of OFN’s 2011-2025 Strategic Plan, dive deeper into the strategic plan through a detailed discussion of OFN’s relationships with the OFN Membership and OFN’s approach to Leadership. OFN seeks a Membership that is broad, diverse, performance-based, and large enough to achieve its 15-year goals. It seeks to win and retain the engaged backing of a majority of CDFIs, their partners, and key government leaders in support of OFN’s industry Leadership. In this session led by OFN Board Members, you will help shape the future of the CDFI industry by offering feedback and helping OFN think through implementation strategies to meet our strategic goals.

Session Leader: Lynn Trojahn, ACCION NM-AZ-CO

Lynn Trojahn, a fundraising professional with 26 years of experience and a love of asking for money from individuals, foundations and corporations is committed to instilling in you the confidence, passion, and excitement she has learned over the decades to help transform your fundraising efforts! Lynn’s unique way of looking at philanthropy and the wealth of experience she has gathered during her career will lead to more private gifts and more fundraising enjoyment at your CDFI. Lynn will also teach you fun strategies to get your board, staff, and volunteers more engaged in fundraising.

Session Leader: Joy Hoffman, The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Session Panelists: Dan Letendre, Bank of America; Ellen Seidman, Shorebank Corporation; and Ignacio Esteban, Florida Community Loan Fund

CDFI Loan Funds have long enjoyed their status as non-regulated financial institutions. But loan funds know that this status can sometimes be an obstacle to accessing to capital. With all of the talk of financial regulation reform, it’s difficult not to think about possible CDFI loan fund regulation. What would CDFI loan funds gain from regulation? What would they lose? Would the benefits outweigh the costs? Join us for a provocative exploration of the pros and cons of regulation.

Session Leader: Pat Krackov, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Session Panelists: Rick , New Foundry Ventures; James Gutierez, Progresso Financiero; Steve Zuckerman, Self-Help; and David Augustine, Office of the San Francisco Treasurer & Tax Collector

Payday lenders are ubiquitous in many low-income communities. But with interest rates of 400% and a business model that traps most borrowers in a cycle of debt, they are prohibited by law from operating in more than 30% of the country. So what are the responsible alternatives and to what degree are they viable at scale? In this session we will showcase several innovative models for small dollar lending, representing a diverse set of approaches and organizational models, and candidly explore the difficult balancing act between the three important objectives—accessibility, responsibility and economic sustainability.

Visit the Dogpatch, one of San Francisco’s oldest industrial neighborhoods and one of the few parts of the city to escape the 1906 earthquake and fire. The Dogpatch area is currently considered a work in progress. It is home to a growing number of manufacturing businesses, many supported by SFMade, a nonprofit organization established to promote San Francisco-based companies that manufacture products within the San Francisco county limits. An SFMade representative will lead a tour of local businesses, including an artisanal chocolate manufacturer and Rickshaw Bagworks, maker of the OFN 25th anniversary bag!

The Native American Health Center in Oakland, California used a significant New Markets Tax Credit investment to build the new Seven Directions mixed-use facility. Seven Directions takes a holistic and comprehensive approach to health care for community members of the Fruitvale area. This 26,000 square foot state of the art facility features a health center, an outdoor American Indian cultural ceremonial space and 38 units of affordable housing.

Session Leader: Lori Glass, The Reinvestment Fund
Session Panelists: Ignacio Esteban, Florida Community Loan Fund and Rosa Martinez, CDFI Fund

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) can significantly expand a CDFI’s access to capital as well as its earned income potential. But many CDFIs believe this program is too complex for them. Learn what it really takes to apply for an NMTC Allocation and to manage a NMTC Program. You may find that your CDFI is more ready to access this funding source than you think.

Session Leader: Doug Bystry, Clearinghouse CDFI and Kristi Coker, Citizen Potawatomi CDC

Following an Opening Plenary overview of OFN’s 2011–2025 Strategic Plan, dive deeper into the strategic plan through a detailed discussion of OFN’s new strategic goals, what they mean, and how they should be implemented over the next 15 years. Led by OFN Board Members, this breakout session will cover the OFN goals that support and lead CDFIs in the areas of Capacity—Making capital and human resources more readily available to CDFIs; Policy—Extending CDFI roles in federal policy; and Brand—Promoting and preserving CDFI industry visibility, reputation, and brand promise. Help shape the future of the CDFI industry by offering feedback and helping OFN think through implementation strategies to meet our strategic goals.

Session Leader: Anne Dyjak and Gita Rao, Nonprofit Finance Fund
Session Panelists: Deborah Leland, Low Income Investment Fund; Noni Ramos, Enterprise Community Loan Fund; Catherine Godschalk, Self Help Ventures Fund; Michael Carroll, Rural Community Assistance Corporation; Cindy Stewart, NCB Capital Impact; and Jennifer Pryce, Calvert Foundation

This session will bring together national CDFIs in a roundtable discussion of risk management of loan funds. Panelists will discuss how risk management strategies have been augmented or revised to help loan funds survive and/or thrive during the prolonged economic slowdown; session participants will be encouraged to share their own experiences. Key topics will include risk rating methodologies, third party portfolio reviews, and diversification strategies.

Session Leader: Jon Panamaroff, First Nations Oweesta Corporation

Introductory session on New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) and how NMTC have been used and could be used in Native and tribal communities for qualifying projects. Learn the basics and find out about some new partnerships and efforts now underway for Native CDFIs and Native communities.

Session Leaders: Deborah Leland, Low Income Investment Fund and Matthew Perrenod, Housing Partnership Network

This session will focus on lessons learned in providing acquisition, predevelopment, and construction loans for affordable for-sale and rental housing. Participants and session leaders will explore strategies to resolve troubled affordable housing loans, including: (1) key factors in determining whether a deal can be salvaged without principal loss and, if not, how to minimize principal loss; (2) negotiating with the borrower and other lenders in the transaction as either the senior lender or the subordinate lender; and (3) considerations in determining whether to - and how to - take back real estate collateral. How can CDFIs best balance the risks of affordable housing real estate lending with the market needs for affordable housing loan capital going forward?

Session Leader: Greg Bischak, CDFI Fund
Session Panelists: Kristle Kilijanczyk, Boston College, School of Management and Greg Fairchild, Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia

The CDFI Fund and the MacArthur Foundation are each supporting a number of research efforts related to assessing the impact of CDFIs. These include a planned CDFI Fund evaluation of CDFIs’ impact on underserved communities and several MacArthur Foundation sponsored studies on the organizational growth and development patterns of successful, mature CDFIs and their impacts on underserved communities. In this session, the researchers will present their research goals, methodologies, and findings to date, and discuss the methodological and research challenges of conducting a thorough evaluation of the impact of CDFIs using a variety of techniques to identify peer groups of CDFIs by institutional types for longitudinal and cross sectional analysis.

Session Leader: Lina Page, Opportunity Finance Network
Session Panelists: Ceyl Prinster, Colorado Enterprise Fund; Steve Varnum, Community Loan Fund; Mary Matthews, Greenstone Group; Sherry Simmons, Northern California Community Loan Fund; and Shaolee Sen, Opportunity Fund

More and more CDFIs are re-branding their organizations. Here’s your chance to see "before" and "after" re-branding results and hear what the journey was like. Colorado Enterprise Fund, Community Loan Fund, Greenstone Group, Northern California Community Loan Fund, and Opportunity Fund have all recently re-branded. We’ll find out what triggered the re-branding, learn what was involved, and hear what advice the panelists have for other CDFIs who may be considering re-branding. We’ll invite the audience to get involved, so come prepared with your own re-branding questions.

Session Leader: Pam Porter, Opportunity Finance Network
Session Panelists: Kristi Coker, Citizen Potawatomi CDC; Hussein Samatar, African Development Center of Minnesota; Ian Galloway, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco; Kirsten Moy, Aspen Institute; and Fred Mendez, Rabobank, N.A.

OFN is sponsoring a unique effort to spotlight the vision of young CDFI leaders for the future of opportunity finance. In October, we kicked off this initiative by convening 20-25 emerging leaders for two days of discussion on topics such as: Design the CDFI you would like to lead. How would it work? What would its priorities be? What would the broader CDFI industry look like? What needs to happen now to get us where you think we need to be in 2015? 2025? Come hear some of the key findings from this meeting, and share your own thinking in this on-going dialogue about the future of the opportunity finance industry.

Session Leader: Vickie Oldman-John and Jaci Ree, First Nations Oweesta

Financial education and asset building programs have been very successful tools in combating poverty and creating opportunity in Native communities. This session will focus on a number of these, including financial education, homebuyer education, credit counseling, Earned Income Tax Credit/Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (EITC/VITA), and individual development accounts (IDAs). We will explore strategies that have been effective in incorporating these development services components into existing CDFI programs.

Session Leader: Elaine Edgcomb, The Aspen Institute
Session Panelists: Eric Weaver, Opportunity Fund; Shaw Canale, Mountain BizWorks; and Robert Boyle, Justine Petersen

For more than three years, five leading microlenders engaged in the Scale Academy for Microenterprise Development have been working to transform their institutions to dramatically increase the number of entrepreneurs they serve. Their efforts resulted in 1,658 loans in 2009 and a 61 percent growth in dollars outstanding since 2006. The Scale Academy, sponsored by the Aspen Institute’s FIELD program and AEO, supports their efforts with grants, technical assistance and peer learning. Their lessons on strategy and organizational change are summarized in a new study that will form the basis for this session. Hear from these lenders what strategies they’ve pursued, what they’ve learned and what they still are trying to learn, as they continue to face the challenges created by the economic and financial crises.

Session Leader: Judi Kende, Low Income Investment Fund
Session Panelists: Don Hinkle-Brown, The Reinvestment Fund; Rebecca Flournoy, PolicyLink; and Yael Lehmann, The Food Trust

CDFIs and state and federal governments are increasingly focusing on healthy food financing initiatives to enhance the health and productivity of children and adults in underserved areas and to stimulate economic development. This session will provide a general policy update and discuss the highly successful Fresh Food Financing Initiative in Pennsylvania and emerging programs in New York, New Jersey, and other cities and states. It will focus on the critical partnerships and collaborations required to make these programs successful, including with government agencies, funders, advocacy organizations, local municipalities, community groups and other CDFIs. This session will particularly focus on strategies for capitalization and funding, as a significant condition of the programs launched to date is raising capital to leverage government funds.

Session Leader: Elizabeth Hall Ortiz, Nonprofit Finance Fund
Session Panelists: Kim Latimer-Nelligan, Low Income Investment Fund; Tristram Coffin, Alternatives Federal Credit Union; and Joe Neri, IFF

Hear how Chief Operating Officers from across the CDFI spectrum connect the dots from the strategic plan to nuts-and-bolts implementation. Panelists will exchange ideas and share practical approaches to the most common challenges encountered when translating a CEO’s vision into reality.

Session Leaders: Doug Bystry, Clearinghouse CDFI and Diana Letsinger, Novogradac & Company LLP

With the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) program rapidly approaching its seventh year and some early funded projects nearing the end of the compliance period, many new considerations are being contemplated for project compliance. The panel will discuss a number of issues related to wind-down of NMTC transactions, including, current economic conditions and the availability of take-out financing, technical compliance requirements, put-call options and OID concerns. They will discuss real life cases of projects that are approaching termination from the program and the plan for repayment of NMTC debt. The panel will also examine the future of the program and how successful wind-down of early projects could impact future perception and allocation considerations.

Session Leader: John Moon, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Session Panelists: Anna Martin, REDF; Colby Dailey, NCB Capital Impact; and Ben Thornley, Pacific Community Ventures

This session will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with social impact data collection and evaluation. Panelists will debate new research that demonstrates the role of nonfinancial performance measurement as a critical path to growth in community finance. The session is based on a working paper commissioned by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Session Leader: Cheryl Neas, Opportunity Finance Network
Session Panelists: David Beck, Self-Help; Jeanne Golliher, Cincinnati Development Fund; and James Yacenda, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

Earlier this year, CDFIs became eligible for membership in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. At this session, hear an update on the implementation of these new regulations around the FHLB System, get CDFI and FHLB perspectives on membership, and explore outstanding issues.

Session Leader: Mihailo Temali, Neighborhood Development Center
Session Panelists: Mary Mathews, Northeast Entrepreneur Fund; Beth Sirull, Pacific Community Ventures; and Ceyl Prinster, Colorado Enterprise Fund

Like the entrepreneurs we serve, doing more with less is the challenge for CDFIs in an era of reduced funding and increased demand for services. This session will explore three successful models of delivering business development services— including training, technical assistance, advising, and coaching —that have created significant scale of impact through the creation of regional networks and effective use of partnerships with for-profit, non-profit and government entities. Expanding your impact can be sustainable and effective with this approach, but requires fresh thinking and careful negotiation and maintenance. This session will give you many examples and insights from the three organizations and models profiled, and will leave time to think through your own opportunities for growing in this way.

Session Leader: Bill Guevara, First Nations Oweesta
Session Panelists: Cindy L. Mittlestadt, Cook Inlet Lending Center and Lisa Deer, Salt River Financial Services

Native CDFIs have never been more poised to meet the housing needs of tribal communities through the development of affordable housing and the use of green subsidy to improve energy efficiency. In this session, Native CDFI practitioners will share the innovative ways they have impacted their local communities with unique products and training that improve affordability and efficiency in today’s struggling housing market.

Session Leader: Mark Pinsky, Opportunity Finance Network
Session Panelists: Trinita Logue, IFF; Alan Branson, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta/HOPE Credit Union; and Doug Bystry, Clearinghouse CDFI

This Friday morning strategic planning wrap-up session brings together the ideas and learnings from the Opening Plenary strategic planning overview, three strategic goal breakout sessions, and the informal discussions had during three and a half days of networking. Join OFN President and CEO, Mark Pinsky and OFN Board Members for this final discussion before the formal launch of the plan.

Session Leader: Cece Derringer, Homewise

Preparing for the Impact Performance assessment of a CARS™ rating can be a lot of work but with some planning and fore-thought, you can reduce the stress on staff and save time and resources. In this hands-on session, you will design and develop a plan for you and your staff to prepare for the Impact Performance portion of a CARS™ rating and develop tools to standardize how your CDFI more efficiently responds to investor document requests. If you are already scheduled for a CARS™ rating or plan to get rated in the next year or two, this session is a must.

Session Leader: Sarah Greenberg, NeighborWorks America
Session Panelists: Elyse Cherry, Boston Community Capital; Wayne Meyer, New Jersey Community Capital; Catherine Godschalk, Self-Help; and Craig Nickerson, National Community Stabilization Trust

CDFIs around the country are supporting neighborhood stabilization efforts in a variety of ways, whether leveraging HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program dollars through a variety of financing approaches or lending directly to homeowners. CDFIs are essential partners to help cities and counties stretch their NSP subsidies as far as possible and to help community organizations and others working to stabilize neighborhoods. Moderated by a national expert in neighborhood stabilization at NeighborWorks America, this panel will cover the latest developments on this front from the National Community Stabilization Trust and three CDFIs—Self-Help, New Jersey Community Capital, and Boston Community Capital—each undertaking different financing approaches to support neighborhood stabilization.

Session Leaders: Keith Timko, Real Estate Advisory and Development Services (READS) and Leah Apgar, New Jersey Community Capital

Despite the low costs of some efficiency measures, progress in the energy efficiency sector has been difficult because of market failures, fragmentation, and marketing challenges. There is some good news, however: Over half of the states in the country now have established energy efficiency targets and public dollars for energy efficiency through ratepayer boards, and state offices of clean energy are becoming increasingly common. One thing remains clear: collaboration is sorely needed among public sector agencies, CDFIs, and other nonprofits to identify, screen, and finance these much-needed energy efficiency efforts. Through a quick introduction of the landscape in New Jersey, this interactive session will yield important information about how networks of agencies collectively promoting green finance are helping to find and finance investments in energy efficiency. Representatives from New Jersey Community Capital and READS will describe their respective roles on creating a pipeline of energy efficiency projects. Session participants will be encouraged to share their own experiences so that together we can identify different energy efficiency financing "systems" and with the various types of partnerships needed to realize a successful pipeline of energy efficiency projects.