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Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs: How Access to Capital Fuels Business Growth
As we celebrate Women’s Month this March, we take a moment to recognize the resilience, innovation, and impact of women entrepreneurs. Across industries, women-owned businesses are making a difference in their communities, creating jobs, and driving economic growth. Yet, for many women, access to capital remains a critical challenge. Securing funding is often the biggest…
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Disaster Recovery in Action: The Role of PCAP Loan Fund in Western North Carolina’s Resilience
Natural disasters disrupt lives, destroy infrastructure, and leave communities grappling with recovery. In their aftermath, the limitations of national disaster response mechanisms, like FEMA and SBA Disaster Relief, become clear. While essential, these programs take time to mobilize, leaving communities with urgent needs. In these critical moments, mission-driven financial institutions like Partner Community Capital (PCAP),…
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Values-Based Cash Management: A Purposeful Approach to Cash Management
In today’s financial landscape, corporations and foundations are seeking ways to align their financial strategies with their broader missions. One emerging approach is values-based cash management, a strategy that ensures where and how cash is held supports both financial goals and broader societal impact. By thoughtfully managing liquidity, organizations can help build stronger local communities…
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Beyond the Bottom Line: Innovations in Measuring Small Business Lending
By Tamra Thetford, VP of Impact Evaluation Small business lending is crucial in America as it fuels economic growth, job creation, and community development. Small businesses build wealth, particularly for underserved borrowers, by generating income, accumulating assets, and fostering financial stability. Mission-driven lenders play a vital role by providing access to capital and financial services…
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ImpactFlex™ Investing: A New Way for Investors to Customize Their Impact Values
CNote is excited to introduce ImpactFlex™ Investing, a customizable fixed-income solution designed for accredited and institutional investors seeking to align their financial goals with meaningful social impact. This innovative offering allows you to direct your capital toward initiatives that resonate with your values, fostering positive change in communities you care about. Customize Your Impact With…
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Celebrating Black Entrepreneurs: 6 Stories of Resilience and Impact
Black History Month is a time to honor the profound contributions of Black individuals to our society. Throughout history Black entrepreneurs have demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation, driving economic growth and fostering community development. However, disparities persist. In 2022, Black-owned businesses constituted about 3% of U.S. firms, with over 194,000 enterprises employing 1.6 million people…
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CNote’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Program: Supporting Underserved Communities in Times of Need
Natural disasters strike without warning, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. In the United States, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters have been steadily increasing, affecting millions of individuals and communities each year. These events disproportionately impact underserved communities, as they often lack the resources and financial stability to prepare for and…
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The Wealth Revolution: Why Investors Are Choosing Impact Investing
In recent years, people have increasingly embraced impact investing, blending financial returns with meaningful social and environmental outcomes. This shift reflects a growing desire to align wealth with values and leave a lasting legacy that goes beyond financial success. Visionaries like Mackenzie Scott have amplified the spotlight on impact investing by directing significant resources toward…
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Supporting Small Businesses:The Critical Role of Community Banking
Small businesses are the lifeblood of local economies, driving innovation, creating jobs, and building community identity. However, they often face significant challenges—chief among them is access to affordable financing (source: sba.gov). This is where community banks step in, playing a critical role in helping small businesses thrive, fostering local economic growth, and building resilience. Small…
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Measuring Impact in Community Finance: The Cooperative Fund of the Northeast’s Innovative Technical Assistance Approach
By Tamra Thetford, VP of Impact Evaluation CNote engages with CDFI Loan Funds in impact diligence as part of CNote’s fixed income investment underwriting process. The impact diligence process allows CNote to learn about loan funds’ impact measurement and management practices. The following highlights the work the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast (CFNE) has done…
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