CDFI Essentials

CAMEO Network will select up to 25 organizations to participate in the cohort. These organizations will include microlenders and small business lenders from California as well as around the United States. We intentionally keep the cohort small to increase peer interaction and learning within a small group setting.

Topics include but are not limited to:

o Loan Manual Overview and Development
o Portfolio Performance Standards
o Loan Product Design; Mission; Underwriting; Outreach
o Risk Rating Systems
o Allowance for Loan Loss Reserves
o Credit Reporting
o State Guarantee and Credit Enhancement Programs
o Data Maturity and Reporting
o Closing and Servicing
o Capitalization
o Managing Troubled Loans
o Obtaining Capital from Bank CRA Funds
o Executive Leadership, Board Governance and Staffing

CAMEO recognizes the uncertainty facing the CDFI industry from shifting federal priorities to staffing and certification changes. We will adjust topics throughout the year to immediately meet the needs of our members and the field.

The pricing per organization for the Full 2026 Year (for up to 10 staff or board members) pricing is below:
Please note, we have special rates for CAMEO members certain geographic areas as listed below.

• CAMEO Member Organizations in the 9 San Francisco Bay Area Counties: $750
• CAMEO Member Organizations in Northern California or Southern California: $1,000
• CAMEO Member Organizations Outside of California: $1,300
• Organizations that are not CAMEO Members: $2,500

Additional scholarships are available for organizations with demonstrated need.

CAMEO membership pricing is typically $350 to $500 per year per organization. To learn more about CAMEO membership benefits and pricing, please click here.

We ask each organization to commit to participating in the full year. We invite up to 10 staff and/or board members to participate in each session, however, each month’s training content builds on the previous months’ content.

We request organizations designate at a minimum one staff attend all the sessions (rather than changing who attends each time) in order to fully benefit from the continuity and design of the program and peer learning. In the event of staff member transition during the year, we ask the organization to notify CAMEO and let us know who the new staff member joining the cohort will be prior to the first session they plan to attend.

“CDFI Essentials uniquely addresses every operational challenge that a CDFI faces. Each month, we learn best practices in the CDFI industry, network with both emerging and established CDFIs, and benefit from 1:1 consulting through CAMEO to address our specific concerns.” – Courntee Hawkins, Director of Business Programs, Freedom Equity

With more than 22 years CDFI and business lending executive and practitioner experience, Emily Gasner, Chief Program Officer, is our facilitator and trainer. We incorporate CDFI expert matter experts as Guest Speakers and Practitioners throughout the year.

Douglas Craven, Director of CDFI Programs, joined CAMEO in early 2024. With over 15 years of experience in small business development and lending at ECDI, the nation’s largest SBA Microloan Intermediary, Douglas brings deep expertise in the CDFI industry to his role. He supports course development, program monitoring, and live trainings, ensuring innovative and impactful offerings for microbusiness development organizations and CDFIs.

Caleb Ostrander, CDFI Program Manager and Training Specialist, joined CAMEO Network in 2025 with over eight years of experience providing technical assistance to entrepreneurs both in the U.S. and internationally. A former business owner himself, Caleb believes CDFIs play a vital role in empowering entrepreneurs with the resources they need to thrive.

The 2026 participating cohort organizations will each have the option for additional one-on-one consulting monthly from CAMEO to answer questions, provide advice, and brainstorm whatever support you need to increase your impact and start or scale your microlending.

February 9, 2026.

Contact Douglas Craven at dcraven@CAMEOnetwork.org.