The Community Development Finance Association (CDFA) is the trade association for Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) in the UK. CDFIs provide credit and financial services to markets that are underserved by the high street banking sector. In the UK, CDFIs serve three main markets: micro, small and medium businesses; social enterprise

Social enterprise

A social enterprise is an organization that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit....

s; and individuals who are financially excluded

Financial exclusion

Financial exclusion is the unavailability of banking services to people living in poverty. It is believed to be one factor preventing poor people from exiting poverty, by forcing them to manage their finances on a cash-only basis and restricting their access to equitable sources of credit.Financial...

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Aims

A non-profit organisation, the cdfa's stated mission is to support the development of a thriving and sustainable community development finance sector that provides finance for disadvantaged and underserved communities and, as a consequence, contribute to the increasing prosperity of these communities.

Activities

The cdfa supports CDFIs through:

• Its engagement with government on behalf of CDFIs and the communities they serve.
• Development and training programmes for both organisations and individuals.
• Its 'Change Matters' performance framework and Code of Practice.
• A programme of events and networking opportunities.
• Offering its members advice, information and consultancy when they need it.