Session Tracks

OFN42 features over 100 interactive breakout sessions across 14 distinct tracks! More than half of this year's sessions are structured as workshops, build & boost, or deep-dive style sessions, allowing for more meaningful interaction, practical insights, and opportunities to apply new strategies in real-time.

Affordable Housing & Real Estate

Creating and preserving affordable housing requires coordinated investments in people, partnerships, capital, and long-term stewardship. This track follows the lifecycle of affordable housing development, exploring the relationships, financing strategies, and management practices that help communities create, sustain, and preserve affordable housing over time.

  • Wednesday builds the foundation with discussions on strengthening the affordable housing developer pipeline, financing early-stage projects, and understanding how layered capital stacks support successful LIHTC transactions.
  • Thursday focuses on the partnerships, financing tools, and execution strategies that help move projects forward, from redeveloping vacant properties and addressing heirs' property challenges to subordinate lending, construction loan management, and New Markets Tax Credits.
  • Friday turns to long-term stewardship by examining portfolio management, preserving naturally affordable housing, and exploring emerging innovations shaping the future of affordable housing.

Through workshops, panels, deep dives, and practitioner-led discussions, attendees will learn from experienced affordable housing practitioners and explore strategies they can adapt within their own organizations and communities.

Sponsored by Bank of America.

Capitalization & Fundraising

A strong capitalization strategy helps CDFIs build organizational resilience, respond to changing market conditions, and expand their long-term impact. This track explores the strategies, relationships, and financing approaches that help CDFIs strengthen their capital stack, diversify funding sources, and position their organizations for sustainable growth.

  • On Wednesday, participants will build a strong foundation by developing a capitalization roadmap and exploring innovative sources of capital.
  • Thursday builds on that roadmap by focusing on the tools, structures, and relationships that support successful capitalization, including capital agreements, market infrastructure, public capital markets, investor relations, and equity capital.
  • Friday broadens the conversation by exploring opportunities to diversify capital sources and engage in economic development efforts that can strengthen long-term capitalization strategies.

Attendees will hear directly from practitioners putting these strategies into practice and gain insights into new and evolving approaches to capitalization. The track also includes two OFN-hosted breakfasts highlighting capital solutions and products available through OFN’s investment services.

Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase.

Clean Energy & Resiliency

Community development finance is expanding to address a new wave of challenges, risks, and opportunities, from clean energy deployment and disaster preparedness to insurance affordability and resilient infrastructure. This track explores how CDFIs are responding through innovative programs and financing strategies that strengthen community resilience and support long-term community investment.

  • Wednesday examines the current landscape, exploring how CDFIs can prepare for natural disasters and adapt clean energy lending strategies in a shifting funding environment.
  • Thursday focuses on financing tools, partnerships, and market strategies that help organizations deploy capital more effectively, from regional financing ecosystems and loan participations to insurance affordability and C-PACE.
  • The track concludes on Friday by exploring approaches for scaling resilient lending through affordable housing finance and secondary markets.

Across the track, participants will gain ideas and examples for developing, expanding, and scaling financing strategies that build more resilient communities.

Healthy Communities

Healthy communities are built on strong foundations: access to healthcare, healthy food systems, cultural infrastructure, community institutions, and opportunities to build wealth across generations. This track explores how CDFIs are expanding their impact by investing in these interconnected foundations through innovative financing strategies, cross-sector partnerships, and emerging areas of community investment. From artist-led community development and anchor institutions to child savings, community health centers, regenerative agriculture, and conservation finance, participants will discover new opportunities to advance community prosperity while strengthening the long-term health and resilience of the communities they serve.

Impact, Evaluation & Research 

Strong impact measurement turns data into insights that help CDFIs improve practice, demonstrate impact, and strengthen communities. This track is designed to help participants deepen their impact journey over the course of the conference. 

  • On Wednesday, you'll hear from CDFIs that have moved from theories of change to program evaluations, exploring what they learned, the value evaluation created for their organizations, and how the process shaped future decisions.
  • Thursday shifts from the "why" to the "how," exploring how community engagement, impact measurement frameworks, and outcome measurement work together to build effective impact learning systems. 
  • On Friday, the focus turns to what's next: designing meaningful research questions and communicating findings through compelling data visualization that informs decisions and inspires action. 

Wherever you are in your impact measurement journey, the track offers practical tools, practitioner insights, and approaches you can apply to strengthen impact learning within your organization.

Lending & Portfolio Management

Strong lending practices are at the heart of every successful CDFI. As borrower needs, financing structures, technology, and market conditions continue to evolve, CDFIs must continually adapt how they originate, manage, and grow their lending portfolios. This track explores the strategies, tools, and operational practices that help CDFIs strengthen lending performance, expand access to capital, and manage risk while advancing their mission.

  • Wednesday focuses on expanding lending capacity through participations and syndicated lending. 
  • Thursday examines the lending products, operational practices, and technologies that support effective lending, including New Markets Tax Credits, consumer lending, loan repayment strategies, nonprofit lending, and loan management systems. 
  • Friday turns to inclusive lending practices, innovative capital models, and new approaches that expand access to affordable credit and strengthen community impact.

Across experience levels, participants will have opportunities to compare approaches, challenge assumptions, exchange ideas, and learn how peers are adapting their lending practices to meet an evolving marketplace.

Sponsored by Capital One.

Marketing & Communications

Each CDFI has a story to tell. How that story is communicated shapes whether it is understood, trusted, and remembered. This track explores how CDFIs can strengthen their communications and build trust through thoughtful branding, compelling storytelling, strategic use of technology, and authentic community engagement. 

  • Wednesday focuses on organizational identity, examining how CDFIs can navigate rebranding decisions and communicate clearly as they grow, merge, and evolve.
  • Thursday turns to the systems and strategies that support effective communications, from AI-enabled workflows and marketing technology to storytelling that makes complex financial concepts more relatable.
  • The track concludes on Friday by exploring relationship-centered marketing approaches that help CDFIs expand their reach while remaining grounded in authentic community connections. 

Whether you're a communications professional or marketing is just one part of your role, you'll leave with adaptable ideas for strengthening your organization's voice, visibility, and connection with the communities you serve.

Native CDFIs

Native CDFIs are pioneering innovative approaches to capitalization that reflect the priorities, strengths, and aspirations of Native communities. This track explores how those approaches are being applied to finance housing, clean energy, business development, and long-term economic growth in Native communities. 

  • Wednesday begins by examining how diverse sources of capital can work together to support Native communities, from diversified investment strategies to Indigenous housing finance. 
  • Thursday highlights Native-led financing models for clean energy and economic ecosystem development that connect capital, partnerships, and place. 
  • The track concludes on Friday by exploring how Native CDFIs are leveraging New Markets Tax Credits to expand investment and strengthen their long-term capitalization strategies.

Together, these sessions demonstrate how Native CDFIs are creating sustainable financial ecosystems that support lasting prosperity across Indian Country.

Opportunity Next

The future of community finance is being shaped by emerging technologies, changing market conditions, evolving community needs, and new approaches to mission-driven lending. As CDFIs navigate this changing landscape, they must balance innovation with purpose, adapting to new opportunities while remaining grounded in the communities they serve. Opportunity Next explores the ideas, partnerships, and strategies that are shaping the future of the CDFI industry.

  • Wednesday examines the challenges and opportunities redefining the sector, from organizational sustainability to the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence.
  • Thursday explores emerging technologies, community engagement strategies, fintech partnerships, and bold ideas that are influencing the future of community finance.
  • Friday looks ahead, highlighting how collaboration, long-term thinking, and new approaches can help CDFIs prepare for the next chapter of community development.

Designed for exploration and exchange, this track creates space to examine emerging ideas, question long-standing assumptions, and learn from practitioners testing what may come next for community finance.

Sponsored by MassMutual and Mastercard.

Organizational Growth, Operations & Financial Management

The communities CDFIs serve depend on strong, resilient institutions. Building those institutions requires thoughtful leadership, sound financial management, effective operations, modern technology, and the ability to adapt as conditions change. This track explores the decisions, management approaches, and strategies that help CDFIs strengthen their organizations and position them for long-term success.

  • Wednesday explores the internal capabilities that support high-performing organizations, from culture and change management to organization-wide technical assistance and strong data practices. 
  • Thursday examines the financial, operational, and technology decisions that strengthen organizational performance, including financial sustainability, finance leadership, technology modernization, consultant partnerships, and enterprise risk management. 
  • Friday looks beyond day-to-day operations to organizational strategy, helping leaders evaluate growth opportunities and modernize their approach to strategic planning.

Together, these sessions provide practical ideas and peer perspectives that help CDFIs build stronger institutions today while preparing for tomorrow's opportunities and challenges.

People & Talent

People are at the center of the CDFI industry. Whether you're leading a team of five or fifty, today's leaders are navigating changing workforce expectations, new technologies, evolving leadership models, and growing competition for talent. This track is designed to help leaders build stronger organizations by investing in their people.

  • Wednesday begins with OFN's Career Meets Purpose Breakfast, highlighting the growing suite of industry professional development resources available through OFN, before celebrating leadership and community during the CDFI Women's Network's 10th Anniversary session.
  • Thursday focuses on leading organizations through change, exploring organizational health, employee retention, and how leaders can prepare their workforce for the age of AI.
  • Friday concludes by examining how leaders can build workplaces where multiple generations can thrive together.

Whether you're a CEO, manager, HR professional, or emerging leader, these sessions will provide practical strategies for building healthy organizational cultures, developing people, and leading the workforce of the future.

Policy & Advocacy

Public policy shapes every aspect of the operating environment for CDFIs, from capitalization and regulation to affordable housing, economic development, and community investment. This track is designed to help attendees understand today's policy landscape while identifying opportunities to shape tomorrow's. 

  • Wednesday establishes the foundation with an overview of the political, legislative, and legal developments affecting the CDFI industry and explores how practitioners can engage through OFN's Policy Action Center. 
  • Thursday shifts to implementation, examining how CDFIs are advancing policy priorities through affordable housing, state partnerships, liquidity strategies, and collaboration with local governments. 
  • On Friday, the conversation turns to what's next, exploring how CDFIs can position themselves for emerging policy opportunities and navigate a changing regulatory landscape. 

Through practitioner insights, policy analysis, and examples, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how public policy shapes community finance—and how CDFIs can help shape public policy.

Rural & Persistent Poverty Communities

Rural and persistent poverty communities are diverse, resilient, and full of opportunity. They also often face unique challenges in accessing the capital, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to support long-term economic growth. This track explores how CDFIs are responding by building stronger rural ecosystems through innovative financing, strategic partnerships, and community-driven solutions.

  • Wednesday begins by examining how diverse sources of capital can better support rural and tribal communities and where opportunities exist to strengthen investment ecosystems.
  • Thursday focuses on implementation, exploring practical strategies for expanding into rural markets and emerging opportunities such as financing digital infrastructure.
  • On Friday, the conversation turns to scaling what works, from innovative approaches to rural homeownership to building lasting relationships through peer networking and shared learning.

Designed for organizations with deep experience serving rural communities as well as those expanding their rural footprint, these sessions will provide practical ideas, examples, and connections to help strengthen their impact.

Sponsored by Truist.

Small Business

Each small business owner's journey is different, and so are the products, partnerships, and support systems they need to succeed. This track explores how CDFIs are evolving their approaches to better serve entrepreneurs at every stage of the business lifecycle.

  • Wednesday begins by focusing on entrepreneurs themselves, exploring how CDFIs can provide meaningful support beyond the loan and expand access to capital for underserved business owners. 
  • Thursday shifts to the operational side of small business lending, equipping participants with practical strategies for designing stronger loan products, managing portfolios, building referral networks, strengthening collections, and creating partnerships that expand opportunity. 
  • Friday looks ahead to the future of small business finance, examining how demographic shifts and emerging technologies are reshaping the ways CDFIs support entrepreneurs. 

Whether you're refining an existing lending program or developing new products and partnerships, these sessions will provide practical ideas to help your organization adapt, innovate, and grow while staying grounded in the relationship-based approach that has long distinguished CDFI small business lending.

Sponsored by Wells Fargo.