Brightpoint Brightpoint
Fort Wayne, IN – Brightpoint Development Fund recently completed the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) recertification process through the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
CDFI certification is the gold standard for mission-based lenders and is essential to Brightpoint Development Fund’s continued ability to deliver affordable and alternative financing where traditional financial services are out of reach. Recertification enables Brightpoint Development Fund to maintain eligibility for U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund programs and to attract Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) funds, making it possible to help individuals, families, and entrepreneurs in our community overcome financial obstacles and achieve long-term stability.
Brightpoint Development Fund is proud to be among the first organizations in Indiana to complete recertification under the Treasury’s new guidelines, underscoring its commitment to financial inclusion and institutional accountability.
Eric Ogle, Fund Manager for Brightpoint Development Fund led the recertification effort. “Recertification as a CDFI ensures that we can continue serving our communities with flexible, affordable financial tools and resources,” says Ogle. “It’s more than a compliance milestone—it’s a reflection of our commitment to helping people achieve financial independence and supporting community-driven growth.”
The CDFI designation has been instrumental in Brightpoint Development Fund’s ability to attract significant investment. It was a key factor in securing a $2.5 million grant from the City of Fort Wayne, a $500,000 investment from the Allen County/Fort Wayne Capital Improvement Board, and a $2 million Equity Equivalent (EQ2) investment from Old National Bank.
Founded in 2011, Brightpoint Development Fund, a subsidiary of Brightpoint, is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable business loans, financial education, and housing development services. It is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) micro lender and a U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI.)
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Brightpoint is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving nearly 55,000 people across northeast Indiana each year. Through a wide range of programs, Brightpoint helps communities, families, and individuals remove the causes and conditions of poverty. All Brightpoint services are provided without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, ancestry, or status as a veteran.