About CRF

CRF works to complement and amplify the scale and effectiveness of the small business ecosystem with its lending, technology and service solutions.

Tamiko, CRF Customer
Photo: Tamiko Bailey of Bailey's Premier Services

CRF's Unique Approach

Lead with impact

CRF leads with impact and focuses on providing capital not readily accessible to small businesses and communities that support small business growth.

Ensure small businesses access capital

CRF’s primary goal is to ensure small businesses have access to capital whether its through CRF lending efforts or connecting small business through our technology platform to local CDFIs who provide the capital.

Engage local communities as invited in

CRF is a national CDFI. Our consistent place-based work will only be in Minnesota, and we will engage with local communities as invited in by local stakeholders.

Help CDFIs access capital

CRF helps CDFIs access fixed-rate, long-term capital to support community development as a qualified issuer of the Bond Guarantee Program.

Work with community stakeholders on creation of programs

CRF provides loans directly to small businesses when invited to do so by: national stakeholders who are looking for a one-stop shop for their programmatic goals, local CDFIs seeking additional capacity, smaller cities and rural communities that don’t have locally-rooted CDFIs, and referral partners looking to secure capital in partnership with businesses they represent.

Innovate on financial products

CRF leverages its balance sheet in innovative ways to drive new product development beyond SBA and pilot products for CDFIs more broadly.

Developing and Advocating for Policy

CRF develops and advocates on behalf of public policies that provide equitable access to federal and state resources to revitalize underserved communities. Public funds have the power to stimulate private investment and collaboration with key stakeholders that increase the financial resources available to marginalized communities and deliver greater impact.

Learn more about CRF