TACOMA, Wash.–The CDFI Fund has announced it will open three FY 2026 funding rounds on June 30, and of interest to credit unions is the Notice of Funding Availability for its the Small Dollar Loan Program, according to CU Strategic Planning.
The company said that today notices related to the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program and the Bank Enterprise Award Program will be published, “but neither is relevant to CDFI credit unions.”
The FY 2026 SDL Program makes an estimated $9 million available to help Certified CDFIs establish or expand affordable small dollar consumer loan programs. The program provides grants for Loan Loss Reserves, Technical Assistance, or a combination of both.
“The application window is short, with applications due by July 30; this isn’t surprising given that the applications will have to be processed and awards announced before the government’s September 30 fiscal year-end in order to take advantage of remaining FY2025 funds,” CU Strategic Planning said.
Materials are Ready
CU Strategic Planning added that for the credit unions with which it is currently working it will have core application materials ready and will move into finalization once the CDFI Fund releases the application instructions. The company added that it is unable to take any more clients for 2026 SDL Program applications.
“The timing of these NOFAs is notable,” CU Strategic Plannin said “”These are the first CDFI Fund funding opportunity notices since OMB released the remaining $289 million in FY 2025 funding that was appropriated for CDFI Fund grant programs in April.”
CU Strategic Planning added that the 2025 CDFI Program Financial Assistance awards and remaining Technical Assistance awards are still pending. We’re hopeful that today’s announcement means we’ll be seeing the 2025 FA/TA announcements soon, followed by the FY 2026 FA/TA NOFA.
