Community Development Financial Institution Consulting
As an existing or aspiring Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), you play an important role in generating economic growth and opportunity in some of the most distressed communities in the United States. Similar to your mission, Baker Tilly cares about community sustainability and supports banks, credit unions, loan funds and venture capital providers looking to make a positive impact where they live, work and play through CDFI consulting services.
Baker Tilly has over 20 years of experience in the CDFI industry and our model for delivery services revolves around providing the unique and specialized services that you need and helping you accomplish your immediate and long-term goals. This suite of services we offer is unparalleled in the industry in terms of the breadth of solutions provided to CDFIs by a professional services firm.
CDFI solutions to meet your needs
At Baker Tilly, we are structured around industry-specialized practice groups, allowing us to provide focused training and continuing education to our team. Our understanding of your industry and mission, paired with targeted experience working with CDFI, Community Development Entity (CDE) and other community development clients, will not only help you thrive now, but as you evolve over time.
Program services
- Certification assessments, plans and application formation
- CDFI and Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) compliance
Funding applications, including:
- Financial Assistance/Technical Assistance and Native Initiatives
- Healthy Foods Financing Initiative
- Bank Enterprise Award
- Small Dollar Loan Program
- Capital Magnet Fund (CMF)
- New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC)
- Other federal and nonfederal applications for CDFIs
These services include:
- Impact studies
- Strategic planning services
- Market analyses
- Surveys
Benefits of CDFI certification
By becoming CDFI-certified, your organization will be able to:
- Access grant capital. The CDFI Fund has multiple funding programs geared to providing financing capital and operational support to CDFIs.
- Participate in federal recovery programs. In 2021, the federal government recognized the significance of CDFIs and their connection and ability to quickly deploy funds to low-income communities. Over $10 billion in funding was made available to CDFIs through the CDFI Fund’s Rapid Response and Equitable Recovery Programs and Treasury’s Emergency Capital Investment Program.
- Increase industry impact. As CDFIs continue to gain visibility, additional federal agencies, foundations and private sector corporations are recognizing CDFI certification and developing initiatives focused on certified CDFIs.
- Be recognized by regulators.










