The Community Finance Academy (CFA) is where we teach communities how to raise, manage, and grow their own capital. Through hands-on training, real examples, and AI-powered tools, we help leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations design investment crowdfunding campaigns, create community investment funds, and build lasting local ownership. Our goal is simple  to give people the financial skills and confidence to turn community ideas into real, funded projects.

We created the Community Finance Academy (CFA) because too many communities have great ideas but limited access to capital and financial knowledge. Our goal is to change that by giving people the tools to fund their own projects and keep wealth circulating locally.

Through CFA, we aim to:

• Build financial confidence by breaking down complex investment and crowdfunding concepts into practical steps.

• Increase local ownership by helping communities launch their own funds, businesses, and real estate projects.

• Activate community capital by connecting residents, investors, and partners around shared goals.

• Promote economic equity by ensuring everyone—not just large institutions—can participate in building community wealth.

In short, our objective is to move communities from relying on outside funding to creating their own sustainable financial power.

Community capital financing includes creative, people-centered ways of raising and investing money to support local projects, businesses, and development. Instead of depending on banks or outside investors, communities use these tools to fund their own growth.

Examples include:

• Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF): Raising up to $5 million from everyday investors to fund local businesses, housing projects, or social enterprises.

• Community Investment Funds (CIFs): Pooled funds created by residents and partners to finance local projects that generate both returns and community benefit.

• Cooperative Ownership Models: Worker co-ops, housing co-ops, or consumer-owned ventures that give people shared stakes in the success of their enterprise.

• Community Development Loan Funds: Local lending programs that provide affordable financing to small businesses, nonprofits, or affordable housing developers.

• Direct Public Offerings (DPOs): A way for local businesses to sell shares or notes directly to community investors without going through Wall Street.

Each of these approaches helps keep wealth local, strengthens community ownership, and creates more inclusive access to investment opportunities.

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The Community Finance Academy (CFA) is different because we focus on action, not just awareness. Many community wealth programs discuss the importance of ownership and inclusion—but stop short of showing people how to actually raise and manage money. We close that gap.

Here’s what sets CFA apart:

• Hands-on Training: We don’t just teach concepts—we walk participants through real fundraising and investment processes step by step.

• AI-Powered Tools: We use modern technology to simplify complex financial work, from campaign planning and marketing to investor outreach.

• Regulated Crowdfunding Expertise: We specialize in helping communities legally raise up to $5 million under Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF), something most programs don’t cover in depth.

• Real-World Application: Every participant leaves with practical tools—like investor lists, campaign templates, and community fund blueprints—not just theory.

• Focus on Ownership: Our goal isn’t charity or dependency—it’s helping people build lasting local control and financial confidence.

In short, CFA moves beyond education to create real, investable community projects that keep wealth where it belongs—at home.

Our focus is to support all community stakeholders that create more equitable opportunities.  Small business (start up and expanding; Housing Developers; faith-based organizations, nonprofits, community development organizations and more.  

We also provide training and support for Impact/Social Investors, Donor Advised Funds, Foundations and other sources of alternative, patient and community building capital.

Yes. The CFA approach is that training and education are just the first step in a collaborative relationship designed to provide wrap-around support, intros to networks and, potentially provide access for financing for qualified opportunities.

The CFA focus is to support all communities.  However, our focus is on disinvested communities, black/brown, rural and women owned enterprises working within underserved communities.

Our philosophy is simple — communities shouldn’t have to wait for permission or outside funding to build their own future.

At the Community Finance Academy (CFA), we believe wealth building starts from the ground up. Every neighborhood already has the ideas, talent, and relationships needed to thrive — what’s missing are the financial tools and confidence to put those assets to work.

Our approach to Community Wealth Building is built on three core principles:

1. Local Ownership: People should own and benefit from the businesses, housing, and developments in their community.

2. Shared Prosperity: Economic success should be inclusive—creating opportunities for residents, small businesses, and future generations.

3. Financial Empowerment: Everyone can be an investor, not just the wealthy. With the right training and tools, communities can raise their own capital and reinvest it locally.

In essence, our philosophy is about shifting from dependency to self-determination—helping communities fund themselves, govern their own growth, and build lasting local wealth.