Thirty years ago, a vision for equitable opportunity became law.
In 1994, the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act created the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund — a bold, bipartisan initiative that reimagined how America invests in its overlooked communities. It marked the beginning of a movement built on trust, fairness, and hope — and the beginning of our journey.
For Ascendus, this was the moment that made our mission possible. The CDFI Fund empowered organizations like ours to deliver not just capital, but confidence — to equip small business owners with the tools to rise, thrive, and lead. It recognized that access to credit is not a privilege, but a pathway — one that transforms households, businesses, and communities from the ground up.
Over the past three decades, the CDFI Fund has become a cornerstone of financial inclusion — supporting over 1,460 certified CDFIs, awarding $85 billion in capital, and helping millions of entrepreneurs build lasting financial health. That same spirit lives within Ascendus today. With $420 million deployed to more than 56,000 entrepreneurs, we continue to expand the promise of economic mobility for those historically left out of opportunity.
This story began with collaboration. The Riegle Act passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support — proof that when leaders unite behind shared values, transformative change is possible. That unity continues to guide our work, reminding us that every loan and every coaching session is part of something larger: a national journey toward equity, empowerment, and financial ascension.
As we look ahead, we remain guided by the same conviction that inspired the creation of the CDFI Fund — that when a belief is truly collective, it rises unmistakably: a shared conviction that every American deserves a path #ThisWayUp.
For more information, visit the CDFI Coalition 30th Anniversary Report.