Supporting Community Development Financial Institutions Amidst Legal and Political Challenges

CDFIs, which play a crucial role in providing financial services to underserved communities, are under threat from lawsuits alleging reverse discrimination following the Supreme Court's June 2023 decision overturning affirmative action.Despite these challenges, leaders of CDFIs dedicated to serving women and people of color entrepreneurs remain committed to their missions.However, they face operational and funding difficulties, which could be exacerbated under a potential Trump administration.The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) must support Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) by establishing a legal support fund, launching an awareness campaign, advocating for state-level funding, and fostering partnerships with other financial institutions to address the legal, operational, and funding challenges outlined in this memo.By supporting CDFIs, CalOSBA can help ensure continued access to capital for marginalized communities, promoting economic equity and resilience.