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"Small Dollar Loan Program" is currently closed and not accepting applications.
Small Dollar Loan Program is sponsored by Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). The Small Dollar Loan Program helps Certified CDFIs expand consumer access to mainstream financial institutions and provide alternatives to high-cost small dollar loans for unbanked and underbanked communities.
It provides Loan Loss Reserves awards to defray costs of establishing or maintaining a small dollar loan program, and Technical Assistance awards for technology, staffing, and other eligible activities.
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The Small Dollar Loan Program was created to help Certified CDFIs address the issue of expanding consumer access to mainstream financial institutions and provide alternatives to high cost small dollar loans. * Launched in 2021, the CDFI Fund has provided more than $40. 2 million in SDL Program awards to CDFIs through three program rounds.
Download SDL Program Fact Sheet (English) › Download SDL Program Fact Sheet (Español) › At least one quarter of American households do not have a bank account or rely on costly payday lenders and check-cashing outlets to pay their expenses. The Small Dollar Loan Program (SDL Program) is intended to expand consumer access to financial institutions by providing alternatives to high-cost small dollar lending.
The SDL Program provides grants for Loan Loss Reserves and Technical Assistance to enable Certified CDFIs to establish and maintain small dollar loan programs. These grants will help unbanked and underbanked populations build credit, access affordable capital, and allow greater access into the mainstream financial system.
SDL Program grants may only be used to support small dollar loan programs that offer small dollar loans to consumers that: * are made in amounts that do not exceed $2,500; * must be repaid in installments; * have no prepayment penalty; and, * have payments that are reported to a least one of the consumer reporting agencies that compiles and maintain files on consumers on a nationwide basis.
SDL Program grants cannot be used to provide direct loans to consumers. To be eligible to apply for a Small Dollar Loan Program award, your organization must be a: * Partnership between a Certified CDFI and any Federally Insured Depository Institution with a primary mission to serve targeted Investment Areas; or, * Partnership between two or more Certified CDFIs.
Please view the Notice of Funds Availability for the SDL Program to learn more about eligibility requirements for the program.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Certified CDFIs are eligible. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The published deadline was June 30, 2026, which has passed. Check the official notice for any future application windows before investing time in a proposal.
Small Dollar Loan Program is funded by Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
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