The Carsey School's Center for Impact Finance (CIF) brings together a range of public and private sector organizations for financial product development, policy design, applied research projects, network building, timely information, and trainings. CIF's staff and fellows are highly regarded researchers and practitioners uniquely qualified to work across multiple disciplines; they address the complex issues surrounding impact finance as a tool to bring better, sustainable, solutions to societal challenges. CSCIF offers opportunities to educate individuals and move organizations forward by:
Actively engaging stakeholders from the finance, government, U.S. non-profit, international NGO, and for-profit sectors, as well as communities defined by either geography or mission.
Designed to create and study financial approaches and tools.
Working with communities of potential lenders and borrowers to fashion financing mechanisms, in some cases developing specific programs and instruments. For example: Working with CDFIs and community foundations, USCIF designed a tool to help CDFIs gain access to long-term fixed-rate Federal Home Loan Bank financing, enabling them to offer a needed financing product to new homeowners in their community.
Educating, training, and mentoring the next generation of community and development finance practitioners
Programs are offered in New Hampshire, North Carolina, other U.S locations, and online. Our diverse group of alumni includes Community Development Financial Institution leaders, bankers, managers of domestic and international non-profit organizations, as well as foundation staff and practitioners from grassroots, faith-based, environmental, health-oriented and sustainable development organizations.
Helping organizations understand and utilize data
Our expert analysts conduct applied research projects that move the field of impact finance forward. Our courses train practitioners on the importance of data analysis in evaluating and implementing their programs.
