Stories

CDFIs

  • Ivan Parra: Founding of the Credit Union

    An experienced community organizer and trainer, Ivan Kohar Parra cofounded three organizations that engage hundreds of grassroots leaders in social change. He is cofounder of the Latino Credit Union, a member-owned non-profit financial institution offering a full package of ethical, bilingual financial services, affordable credit options and financial education to thousands of immigrants....

  • Ivan Parra: Founding of the Credit Union, Focus and Strategy

    An experienced community organizer and trainer, Ivan Kohar Parra cofounded three organizations that engage hundreds of grassroots leaders in social change. He is cofounder of the Latino Credit Union, a member-owned non-profit financial institution offering a full package of ethical, bilingual financial services, affordable credit options and financial education to thousands of immigrants....

  • Martin Eakes: Self Help's Tithing Principles

    Martin Eakes is co-founder and CEO of Self Help Credit Union and the Center for Responsible Lending. He holds a law degree from Yale, a master's from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs at Princeton, and a bachelor's degree from Davidson College. A native of North Carolina, Eakes is a nationally recognized expert on...

  • How Small Foundations Can Achieve Outsized Impact

    A foundation doesn’t need a large staff to make program-related investments (PRIs) that advance its mission. Investing through intermediaries l ike c ommunity development financial institutions (CDFIs) can increase philanthropic impact by generating measurable benefits and modest financial returns while recycling philanthropic capital.

    With their expertise for re-lending and...

  • Martin Eakes: Income Inequality and Beginning of Self Help

    Martin Eakes is co-founder and CEO of Self Help Credit Union and the Center for Responsible Lending. He holds a law degree from Yale, a master's from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs at Princeton, and a bachelor's degree from Davidson College. A native of North Carolina, Eakes is a nationally recognized expert on development finance and has been honored by the John D. and Catherine...