Microlending CDFIs around the nation need access to robust, best-in-class training specific to their impactful work providing lending capital to under-resourced entrepreneurs. However, few (if any) resources exist that provide ongoing educational opportunities and skill development to staff and board members of microlenders.
CAMEO Network is in an ideal position to fulfill this need given our track record delivering training. For the past five years, CAMEO Network has developed training as part of its CDFI Incubator for California microlending organizations that consistently sell out and have waiting lists. Each year an increasing number of microlenders around the country register for our classes and reach out to us for additional training resources to start new CDFIs or grow existing ones.
CAMEO Network committed at CGI to provide microlending best practices information, education, and training to more than 5,000 staff members of more than 400 CDFIs over three years. CAMEO Network anticipates that this professional training will allow CDFIs to increase their lending five-fold—deploying $500 million to 20,000 entrepreneurs over the three-year commitment period.
CAMEO Network is partnering on this project with Appalachian Community Capital (ACC), led by Donna Gambrell, a former CDFI Fund Director. ACC is a membership network of 30 CDFIs in 13 states which has invested $20 million in micro/small business CDFIs.
Sponsorship Opportunities
CAMEO Network seeks sponsors for course development and delivery to be created and implemented by CDFI experts and consultants using the latest technology. The catalog is comprised of 45 courses. The budget to build out the new courses and deliver them at least once exceeds $1 million. Each course is a 2–3-hour session with an initial investment from CAMEO Network.
Our investment: CAMEO Network has invested over $500K the past 5 years to develop curriculum, consulting, and resources for CAMEO Network’s Academy including its signature Microlending Essentials (underwriting training) and CDFI Essentials (a year-long training cohort introducing key microlending and risk mitigation topics). This includes investment in our online Learning Management System. We are poised to include new courses that are vital to the sustainability and impact of microlending in the U.S. We invested additional funds in 2022 to develop and offer the first two new courses of the Academy.
Sponsor Levels
LEAD SPONSOR: $300,000
VISIONARY SPONSOR: $100,000
COURSE SPONSOR: $15,000
- Support the Academy’s outreach, promotion, and delivery infrastructure plus course evaluation, ongoing trainer recruitment, training, and onboarding and participant certification.
- Discounted course pricing and access to advance registration before it’s made available to the public.
- Listing as a Lead Sponsor.
- Sponsor one full set of one
functional series in a course
catalog including any additional new courses within the same series. - Discounted course pricing and access to advance registration before it’s made available to the public.
- Listing as a Visionary Sponsor.
- One or more courses in
the course catalog may be sponsored for $15K per course. - Sponsoring a course supports the curriculum development and first-time delivery of the course.
- Listing as a Course Sponsor.
Courses
Past Courses
All past courses can be found and purchased via CAMEO Academy, our online learning platform.
2025
- Strategic Management Framework Course Series – Delivered March 20 – April 10
Designed specifically to support microlending / small business lending CDFIs in understanding the components of a robust strategic management framework essential to a strong performing CDFI. This training course series is offered with the support and partnership of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and Appalachian Community Capital.- SMF 101: Overview of a CDFI Strategic Management Framework
- SMF 102: Strategic Goal-Setting
- SMF 103: Multi-Year Projections
- SMF 104: Developing an Annual Operating Plan and Functional Feedback Loop
- Technology Training Series – Delivered May 15-29
The Technology Series is designed to help CDFIs build strategic, effective, and sustainable technology systems. Each session will offer practical tools and insights to strengthen operations and support long-term growth through tech-driven solutions.- Technology Strategy
- Technology Deployment
- Technology Management
- Overview of Lending Functional Alignment – Delivered June 3
A training session for building effective, mission-aligned microlending operations. This session offers tools to strengthen your internal operations while deepening trust and collaboration across your local ecosystem. - CDFI Foundations Series – Delivered June 5-26
Strengthen your team’s understanding of the CDFI field from historical roots to certification eligibility requirements. Whether you’re onboarding new staff and board members or preparing for CDFI Certification/Recertification, these courses are timely and essential.- Training 1: CDFI History and Impact
- Training 2: Understanding the CDFI Certification – Seven Tests
- Training 3: Understanding the CDFI Certification Application
- Intake, Application, and Loan Packaging/Pre-Loan Technical Assistance – Delivered June 24
A training session designed to strengthen your microlending origination process and improve loan deployment outcomes. - Strengthening People Practices Series: Human Resource Management & Development – Delivered August 21-18
Led by veteran HR executive Shannon Mick, this practical and engaging course covers the building blocks of human resources management through a mission-aligned, equity-informed lens.- Course I – HR Foundations: Structural and Legal Basics
- Course II – HR Techniques: People-centered Culture
- CDFI Microlending Origination and Portfolio Management Series 1: Microlending Origination – Delivered September 11 – October 30
- Course 1: Overview of Lending Functional Alignment
- Course 2: Pipeline Development and Building a Mission-driven Sales Team
- Course 3: Intake, Application, and Loan Packaging/Pre-Loan Technical Assistance
- Course 4: Microloan Underwriting
- Course 5: Loan Approval and Loan Committee
- CECL Implementation for CDFIs – Delivered November 4
A one-hour CECL training geared for CDFIs that are already implementing CECL or just getting started. This training will help your organizations build a stronger foundation for compliance, management and audit readiness. Our trainer, Gasper Magallanes, CFO at Working Solutions CDFI, will share his experience and best practices which will be valuable for organizations with fewer resources. - CDFI Microlending Origination and Portfolio Management Series 2: Portfolio Management – Delivered November 6 – December 4
- Course 1: Overview of Portfolio Management Functions
- Course 2: Loan Closings, Disbursements, Servicing, and Annual Credit Reviews
- Course 3: Delinquency Management
- Course 4: Portfolio Performance Oversight and Review
- Financial Management for Small Business – Delivered December 17
This training will help you build an understanding of the purpose, structure, and key components of the three main financial statements — the Profit & Loss Statement, the Balance Sheet, and the Statement of Cash Flows — while also identifying the key financial health ratios and indicators derived from them. You will learn how to interpret financial health data to assess a business’s financial stability and flag potential issues early, as well as develop a clear understanding of cash flow and how it differs from profitability. The training will also cover cash flow strategies to support struggling small businesses, and will equip you with practical ways to communicate financial concepts accessibly to entrepreneurs, ultimately improving the quality and impact of the technical assistance you provide to applicants and borrowers.
2024
- Strategic Management Framework Course Series – Delivered February 8-29
Designed specifically to support microlending / small business lending CDFIs in understanding the components of a robust strategic management framework essential to a strong performing CDFI.- SMF 101: Overview of a CDFI Strategic Management Framework
- SMF 102: Strategic Goal Setting
- SMF 103: Multi-Year Projections
- SMF 104: Developing an Annual Operating Plan and Functional Feedback Loop
- SBA Microloan Program: 102 Compliance and Reporting – Delivered March 21
Learn the basics of SBA Microloan program lending compliance and reporting, equipping each participant with the knowledge and skills to navigate organizational policies, intermediary relationships with SBA, and TA grants successfully. - CDFI Certification Series – Delivered April 3-10
- Understanding the CDFI Certification – Seven Tests
- Understanding the CDFI Certification Application
- CDFI Microlending Origination and Portfolio Management Series 1: Microlending Origination – Delivered April 25 – May 28
- Session 1: Overview of Lending Functional Alignment
- Session 2: Pipeline Development and Building a Mission-driven Sales Team
- Session 3: Intake, Application, and Loan Packaging/Pre-Loan Technical Assistance
- Session 4: Microloan Underwriting I
- Session 5: Microloan Underwriting II
- Session 6: Loan Approval and Loan Committee
- CDFI Microlending Origination and Portfolio Management Series 2: Portfolio Management – Delivered July 11 – August 1
- Session 1: Overview of Portfolio Management Functions
- Session 2: Loan Closings, Disbursements, Servicing, and Annual Credit Reviews
- Session 3: Delinquency Management
- Session 4: Portfolio Performance Oversight and Review
- CDFI History and Impact – Delivered September 18
An in-depth session exploring the history and current state of non-traditional lending in the United States. We’ll discuss how these themes influence CDFIs and the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). You’ll learn what is a CDFI and why CDFIs are important in our community. This is a perfect opportunity for your new staff and new board members to learn about our impactful industry. You will also gain insights into the CDFI industry today, including the types of work being done, and learn how to define and differentiate CDFIs. - SBA Microloan Program 101 – Delivered September 19
Learn about becoming an intermediary lender in the SBA Microloan Program. We’ll break down the program’s structure and functionality, guiding you through the loan application process and its key requirements. You will also gain insights into the performance of applications and learn how to better support the small business owners you work with through this program.
2023
- Strategic Management Framework Course Series – Delivered March 15 – April 5
Designed specifically to support microlending / small business lending CDFIs in understanding the components of a robust strategic management framework essential to a strong performing CDFI.- SMF 101: Overview of a CDFI Strategic Management Framework
- SMF 102: Strategic Goal Setting
- SMF 103: Multi-Year Projections
- SMF 104: Developing an Annual Operating Plan and Functional Feedback Loop
- SBA Microloan Program Basics – Delivered November 2
Learn about becoming an intermediary lender in the SBA Microloan Program. We’ll share what you need to know about the SBA’s application process as well as the benefits and challenges of securing micro-lending capital loans and technical assistance (TA) grants. - CDFI Governance Series – Delivered November 28 – December 12
A course designed to educate CDFI staff and leadership on the key principles of CDFI governance.
For more information, including a copy of the course catalog, please email Douglas Craven.