A history of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which enhance access to capital in under-resourced communities, traces their trajectory from Benjamin Franklin’s microlending, to credit unions, to grassroots support for CDFIs, and, ultimately, national policy support. The book Democratizing Finance: Origins of the Community Development Financial Institutions Movement includes discussion of MacArthur’s leading role in building this field from its earliest days. Author Clifford Rosenthal was interviewed on the Opportunity Finance Network about the MacArthur-supported book and hopes it serves as a resource for investors, policymakers, and researchers.
