Jobs are on everyone’s minds these days, but for Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF), the focus on jobs began in 1988, when the national nonprofit was founded.

The vision was clear: Improve lives, strengthen communities. The tools were innovative and effective: Connect communities with capital, and through a national network of local lenders, help provide cash for small business owners and entrepreneurs to expand their businesses and hire new employees.

Key fact: Small firms employ half of all private sector employees. What’s more, Federal Reserve findings estimate that small firms annually generated up to 80 percent of new jobs during the past decade. And, as the Wall Street Journal notes, small businesses pay local taxes and support local real estate economies by filling smaller commercial store fronts and office spaces.

In the current economic downturn, small businesses nationwide find themselves hamstrung by a critical lack of funds. Now more than ever, these businesses and their local banks need the financial resources available through CRF.

Join us on the March for Jobs. Advocate, Donate or Share. Support the continued work of CRF. Thank you for committing your time and resources.

Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) Overview

• National nonprofit headquartered in Minneapolis.
• More than $1 billion in loans supported small businesses, community facilities and affordable housing units.
• 41,219 jobs created or retained nationwide.
• More than 541 minority- and women-owned businesses funded.
• Funding provided in 46 states plus Washington, D.C.