“…these disadvantages don't mean that these teenagers can't be competent workers, superlative contributors, and successful learners. It doesn't mean that these teenagers are any less valuable to the St. Louis Science Center or society as a whole than others. But it does mean that they need different scaffolds and support mechanisms to succeed.”
From:
http://museumtwo.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-does-it-really-mean-to-serve.html
I cited this quote because a common word kept popping up called “underserved people.” This idea seems to relate to people of low social economic abilities. Some of these institutions’ seems to be applying this term to those the find financing for.
http://www.opportunityfinance.net/
Conference Opportunity Finance Network Conference November 14-17 2011 Minneapolis Hilton, MN.
From their about page…
“OFN’s Core Purpose & Vision OFN exists to align capital with social, economic, and political justice. This is OFN’s purpose. OFN will pursue this purpose for as long as it takes to achieve. When capital and justice are aligned, all people will have the resources and opportunities to act in the best interests of their communities, themselves, and future generations. This is OFN’s vision.”
“Knowledge Sharing Knowledge Sharing delivers knowledge sharing services, including our Annual Conference (the premier opportunity finance industry event attracting more than 700 attendees); regional meetings; consulting services; publications; informal technical assistance; and Member Staying Connected conference calls.”
I say this is a 4 out of 5. I am not much for the overall design interface because it does not seem to clearly show what this organization can do. It seems to have great sample documents for business planning. The Who Are you button seems confusing unless you fall under member, investor, or donor. Plus after clicking many links to look into joining the group, it is unclear how to join or actually get funds. I bumped up the rating because the conference seems to be a place where all these answers could be found.
http://www.microenterpriseworks.org
From their about page…
“Mission: AEO supports the development of strong and effective U.S. microenterprise initiatives to assist underserved entrepreneurs in starting, stabilizing, and expanding businesses. ”
“Vision: Every individual in the U.S. has access to resources and services for creating wealth, assets and healthy communities.”
I love the “For Entrepreneur option” clearly labels in the top over bars. The “Find an AEO Member in Your Community” leads to a quick survey that can help you find members that rank from banking instruction to consultants. I am also very excited because that they clearly have a easy way to join the organization, but still unclear how they actually help businesses even tough They seem to have great initiatives relate to things like “Green Tech”.
Their events are webinars which I really like.
http://www.aeoworks.org/index.php/site/page/category/events/
However, There don’t seem to be many AEO members in states I want to try and develop a business. Plus, I was really interesting in the find a mentor page, but depressed with the coming soon part. Not to mention, I do not see their fees for membership.
I give this a 4 out of 5,
http://www.cdfi.org/
From their about page…
“The CDFI Coalition is the unified national voice of community development financial institutions. Our mission is to encourage fair access to financial resources for America's underserved people and communities.”
This CDFI seems to be a more political group of business and community leaders working towards maintaining rights and laws that protect people of low economic backgrounds from losing rights and access to resources that can make them financially independent.
Given their successful grant awards the program seems to do what is set out to do http://cdfi.org/index.php?page=advocacy-3a-3.
Memberships dues are also clearly shown with a free newsletter. So overall I give this site a 4 out of 5.
http://cfed.org/
5 reason I feel this site is pretty awesome…
# 1, use of social media such as twitter.
# 2, http://cfed.org/programs/admf/ program like the American Dream Match Fund, and how to join them.
# 3 http://cfed.org/about/features/ success stories in way they help.
#4 http://cfed.org/newsroom/video/ An amazing newsroom.
# 5 http://cfed.org/about/team/careers/ Jobs
5 out of 5
http://www.cdvca.org/
From their about page…
"CDVCA promotes the field by combining advocacy, education, communications, and best-practice dissemination through conferences and workshops. CDVCA makes its expertise available to CDVC funds by providing consulting services and technical assistance."
The good…
1. Events and a Conference
2. Workshops and Training
3. Ways to get Funding
4. Have clear membership page.
5. “Fund and Consulting Services”
The Bad…
1. Interface makes it hard to navigate between text and information.
2. Hard to find success stories related to funds.
4 out of 5
http://www.ncif.org/
NCIF Social Performance Metrics is an amazing tool to look at lending trends.
They do have a conference http://www.ncif.org/index.php/comms/conference-main/. However, it seems this institution seems more about helping keep business open through their funds.
So 2 out of 5 if you are looking for start-up funds, but 4 out of 5 if you are a an established business looking for money.
http://www.natfed.org/
2 out of 5, issues with loading screens. Unclear to how their information helps because the design interfered with my ability to access their network. It’s clear they use credit unions to help people, but I am having a hard time seeing the interest or how these credit unions could help in financing an business Their news about credit union seems valid, but I having hard time shifting through all the information.
http://www.eda.gov/
Useses social media to develop it’s contenct over servie like twitter and Youtube. However, the video seemsed uncaler about what EDA really does.
“WINNING THE FUTURE:Promoting Rural Small Business Development”
From About Page:
“A bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA's mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.”
They seem to offer some interesting tools and services; for example,
Economic Development Project Evaluation Tool which helps run the likelihood of a plans success. However, you have to have a certain version of Microsoft Office to run the program that allows for macros to run to run it. Sigh my MAC version of Office 2008 wont’ run it.
Also their does not seem to be a clean cut path to grant money related to stating a business, but more in investing in programs that can certain jobs quickly such as building roads. Even though it has use of social networks, the un clarity of the site leads me to a 2 out of 5 rating.
http://www.firstnations.org/
This seems mainly to be about Native American funding. So I am not going to rate this because I don’t feel it something everyone has access too. There are tones of great workshops and information to be had, but again I am Native American enough.
http://www.oweesta.org/
Sigh, this site represents a subsidiary of the last institutions. I feel if I understood the needs of Native Americans more, and came up with a good idea to develop these site could be very helpful. The papers and research are really good for looking at small community living as far as developing a small economy that is self sustaining. I guess I could use the research to propose “green” programs for non-Native Americans.
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