Entrepreneurship and philanthropy in times of change: How more flexible capital can help fix the small business financing gap

For small businesses, access to capital often determines what’s possible and what’s not — from expanding a storefront, to upgrading online ordering systems, or making payroll through a slow season.

CDFI networks, such as an industry associations or coalitions, function as conveners that capture and reflect the collective voice of members and help their members in many different ways.

The key question that emerged from our work in 2025 was: How do we help small business support organizations not only weather these shifts, but turn them into opportunity?

How Alabama leaders are coordinating partnerships, data, and technology to strengthen the small business ecosystem and expand access to resources statewide.

CDFIs share the same mission but their approaches often differ. Increasingly, however, they are finding ways to collaborate. How can we make these collaborations more sustainable and inclusive?

Having more consistent definitions and standards about community lending data is one of the six shifts identified in our survey of small business support leaders.

By Araba Sapara-Grant Maria worked in the flower district in Manhattan for many years, but her dream of opening her own mobile flower shop seemed untenable.

Six key shifts—from flexible capital to stronger partnerships—could transform the U.S. small business ecosystem and improve long-term entrepreneur success.

The creative economy is one of the worlds fastest growing sectors, representing $2 trillion in economic activity globally and potentially comprising 10% of GDP by 2030.

How Our Village United’s ELEVATE program combines wellness, funding, and mentorship to help underserved entrepreneurs grow resilient, scalable small businesses.

The fifth Mastercard Strive USA Summit recently took place in Lawrence, Kansas in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Mastercard Strive USA significantly grew its portfolio, impact, and voice in Year 2 and set the stage for strengthening small business ecosystems further in Year 3.

Discover how Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) provide mission-driven financing, expand access to capital, and help underserved entrepreneurs grow sustainable businesses in the U.S.

To create an equitable economy, grantmakers should address the financial and training hurdles that cause so many entrepreneurs to fail.

A two-year Mastercard Strive USA grant has paved the way for investment platform CNote to strengthen their organizational capacity.

A unique and first-time partnership between two mission-driven organizations, Next Street and Community Reinvestment Fund USA.

This conversation on the role of local government in helping small businesses succeed took place at the Mastercard Strive USA Summit in St. Louis, Missouri, between Tishaura O.

This article highlights key themes and moments from the fourth Mastercard Strive USA Summit held in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Inclusiv will serve as a critical backdrop as it moves forward with its recent $1.87 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Clean Communities Investment Accelerator grant.

This article highlights key themes and moments from the third Mastercard Strive USA Summit held in St. Louis, Missouri.

The technical support entrepreneurs need to launch and grow their businesses can vary widely.

This article highlights key themes and moments from the second Strive USA Summit in Washington, DC, on April 17, 2024.

This conversation took place at the Mastercard Strive USA Summit in New York City between Kevin D.

Participants at the first Mastercard Strive USA Summit spoke about how to access and leverage the once-in-a-generation investments being made by the federal government.