Podcast: Everything Co-op Interview about Capital Impact’s 2020 Co-op Innovation Award

By Alison Powers, Cooperative & Community Initiatives Manager

In early 2020, Capital Impact Partners, in partnership with the National Cooperative Bank, awarded a total of $100,000 to three awardees, – ChiFresh Kitchen, The Guild, and the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative – through its Co-op Innovative Award. Capital Impact’s Co-op Innovative Award aims to increase co-op development in communities with low incomes and/or communities of color. This year, the Co-op Innovation Award focused on organizations educating new audiences on the impact and potential of the cooperative model to disrupt income inequality, steward community ownership, and create strong vibrant places of opportunity.

CDC Small Business CEO Kurt Chilcott and Capital Impact Partners CEO Ellis Carr

Alliance Video Series – CEO Conversations: What Problems We’re Solving

Ellis Carr is now the president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance. Kurt Chilcott, formerly president and CEO of CDC Small Business Finance, has transitioned to Board Chair of the combined organization. We invite you to learn more about our new enterprise at www.investedincommunities.org

 

CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners recently announced a new alliance between the two companies.

We recognized that we had a special opportunity to create greater change together than we could individually in the communities we serve and beyond. This is an exciting journey we are embarking on and we want to share how the idea of creating an alliance came about and our vision for the future.


Tune in to the third video of our new series, “CEO Conversations” where CDC Small Business Finance’s CEO Kurt Chilcott and Capital Impact Partners CEO, Ellis Carr discuss what problems the alliance will be focused on solving.

CDC Small Business CEO Kurt Chilcott and Capital Impact Partners CEO Ellis Carr

Alliance Video Series – CEO Conversations: Addressing the Wealth Gap at Scale

Ellis Carr is now the president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance. Kurt Chilcott, formerly president and CEO of CDC Small Business Finance, has transitioned to Board Chair of the combined organization. We invite you to learn more about our new enterprise at www.investedincommunities.org

 

CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners recently announced a new alliance between the two companies.

We recognized that we had a special opportunity to create greater change together than we could individually in the communities we serve and beyond. This is an exciting journey we are embarking on and we want to share how the idea of creating an alliance came about and our vision for the future.


Welcome to the second video of our new series, “CEO Conversations,” where CDC Small Business Finance’s CEO Kurt Chilcott and Capital Impact Partners CEO, Ellis Carr discuss the new alliance.

CDC Small Business CEO Kurt Chilcott and Capital Impact Partners CEO Ellis Carr

Alliance Video Series – CEO Conversations: A New Alliance

Ellis Carr is now the president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance. Kurt Chilcott, formerly president and CEO of CDC Small Business Finance, has transitioned to Board Chair of the combined organization. We invite you to learn more about our new enterprise at www.investedincommunities.org

 

CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners recently announced a new alliance between the two companies. 

We recognized that we had a special opportunity to create greater change together than we could individually in the communities we serve and beyond. This is an exciting journey we are embarking on and we want to share how the idea of creating an alliance came about and our vision for the future. 

Capital Impact Partners CEO Ellis Carr and CDC Small Business Finance CEO Kurt Chilcott

Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance Announce Alliance

As of July 1, 2021, Ellis Carr is now the president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance. Kurt Chilcott, formerly president and CEO of CDC Small Business Finance, is transitioning to Board Chair of both organizations.


In 2020, Kurt Chilcott and Ellis Carr sat down for a video series of conversations about our alliance. You can also watch the whole video series here.

By Ellis Carr, President and CEO

Since 1982, Capital Impact Partners has helped people build communities of opportunity that break barriers to success. We have done that through learning and evolving with a range of investors, donors, community partners, and other Community Development Financial Institutions. 

As we looked to the future, we saw a tremendous opportunity to do more, give more, and make a bigger difference. With that in mind, more than a year ago, we began conversations with CDC Small Business Finance. Together, we recognized how our similar visions and complementary expertise, services and financing products could create a change that neither of us could accomplish independently.

Audio Blog: Expanding Opportunity for Diverse Real Estate Developers in the Time of COVID-19

Editor’s note: This conversation took place virtually to protect all participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. There may be sound issues, as this was a live webinar.

As COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact communities of color, it is important that supporting diverse developers does not stop. As not only business owners, but community builders, diverse developers come from, live within, and understand the investments that often disinvested communities want for themselves and future generations. However, because of systemic disinvestment, diverse developers have far fewer opportunities to engage in their chosen profession or create the lived environments that would support communities of color.

Ellis Carr, President and CEO, and Dan Varner, Board Chair

2019 Annual Report Letter: Through Crisis, We Partner with Communities to Build Strength and Sustainability

By Ellis Carr, President & CEO, and Daniel Varner, Board Chair

Over the past several weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the world for all of us. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been—and will continue to be—affected by this devastating event.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to those who are serving on the front lines during this crisis: doctors, nurses and other health care workers, pharmacists and grocery store employees, restaurant owners and delivery crews and everyone who has sewn masks and donated food and supplies to those in need. We are truly indebted to them for their sacrifice and hard work.

Woman heads food to another

COVID-19 Response: An Open Letter from CDFI Leaders to Our Supporters

“Those closest to the problem are closest to the solutions.” Bryan Stevenson

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) were first certified by the U.S. Treasury 25 years ago to provide financing in communities left behind by the mainstream financial system. CDFIs have long been “first responders” to many small and growing businesses in communities throughout America and are very much on the front lines of the economic response to coronavirus (COVID-19). There are more than 1,000 CDFIs at work in all 50 states managing $185 billion in loans and investments to historically underserved small businesses, nonprofits, affordable housing projects, unbanked consumers building credit, and farms and grocery stores which provide healthy food.

COVID-19 Relief Programs and Resources for Nonprofits

American small businesses and nonprofits are facing an unprecedented economic disruption due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Paycheck Protection Program is open again to small businesses across the country, including nonprofits. This time, lenders proximate to communities have the opportunity to lend to businesses and organizations that need the funding before it opens up to others.  

In addition, a number of programs are being offered by state governments and local municipalities to assist businesses and nonprofits with whatever needs they have right now. This page will be updated continually through this economic crisis to provide you with links to programs and resources you can investigate as a way to support your operations.