DreamSpring leaders and staff take to the national stage to pose thoughtful solutions to pressing economic issues.
Albuquerque, NM (June 20, 2023) — DreamSpring is sharing 29 years of industry-leading knowledge on the opportunities and challenges facing the alternative financial space in national forums, podcasts, and policymaking tables. The nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Small Business Administration (SBA) lender has a roster of thought leadership engagements planned for 2023, including several impactful activities already underway.
In June, the Credit Builders Alliance Credit Building Symposium in Washington, D.C., hosted DreamSpring President/CEO Anne Haines, Vice President of Engineering Jerry Jacob, and Director of Risk Management Brian Daskalovitz. The trio of industry experts discussed tactics CDFIs can use to overcome fraud without introducing undue friction to underserved entrepreneurs.
From left: DreamSpring Vice President of Engineering Jerry John Jacob, President/CEO Anne Haines, and Director of Risk Management Brian Daskalovitz at the 2023 Credit Builders Alliance Credit Building Symposium
"Our organization made a decision to bring tech in-house to make a proprietary lending software,” Anne Haines shared from the symposium stage, “so that the blending of heart, tech, and passion could better our ability to reach people."
While she was in D.C., Anne Haines went to Capitol Hill to share information about elements of public policy that intersect with DreamSpring’s work to increase access to capital. Anne met with the offices of Senators Heinrich (D-NM), Lujan (D-NM), and Tillis (R-NC), as well as a lead staff member of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship to continue to broaden awareness and support with policymakers and elected officials for DreamSpring’s mission of economic equity and inclusion.
At the end of the month, the Opportunity Finance Network Small Business Finance Forum will feature DreamSpring Operations & Innovation Officer Francisco Lopez in two sessions. His panel discussions include underwriting for minority enterprises and small business owners using nontraditional data sources, alongside representatives from Optus Bank, Ascendus, and FinRegLab; as well as leveraging crowdfunding platforms to support underserved borrower capitalization with speakers from Honeycomb Credit and AltCap.
As part of "Scaling Impact" and its focus on nonprofits with experience in significantly increasing their reach, podcast host Sean Boyce is recording a series of episodes with DreamSpring at the mic. In production is a sit-down with DreamSpring Head of Stakeholder Engagement Amber Kani on a partnership approach to fundraising, as well as a conversation on ecosystem-building with DreamSpring Community Engagement Officers Shaundra Jacobs and Meghan Rauker. Recording will continue over the summer, with topics on diversifying and expanding boards of directors, as well as building trust in the digital age.
About DreamSpring
DreamSpring is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender dedicated to accelerating the economic inclusion and strength of underserved communities. Founded in 1994, the organization provides rapid access to capital and customized wrap-around support to the most vulnerable small business owners in 27 states, focusing on communities including people of color, women, low- to moderate-income earners, people with disabilities, and start-ups. To date, DreamSpring has issued more than 48,796 loans totaling over $538 million to small businesses that support an estimated 65,138 jobs. Learn more at DreamSpring.org.