Calvert Foundation Database

Dear CDB-list:

I've gotten some good and provocative comments from the list regarding phase
1 of the community investment database that we're rolling out. Feedback from
the many 'stakeholders' of the Foundation have been good generally, and
constructive, in particulars. I thought I'd clarify a few points that seem
to cross through a number of people's queries from the CDFI community:

Most importantly: These profiles are only the first phase of this service.
They were developed last summer. Each and every summer we'll be thoroughly
updating them, and adding to their number. We'll be using at least two fully
dedicated MBA interns from June to August (10 weeks) to work on
development...not to mention that certain amounts of staff time will be
resourced to this project..all this to say, we are very committed to pushing
Community Investment Profiles forward in functionality, breadth, etc.

Every group will therefore get a full crack at updating info in less than a
month. This was a planned coincidence. Major functionality, and data
search-ability with be added, with the feedback of groups and users
incorporated, and this was also planned, as far as timing of roll-out.

> We will be able, going forward from the summer, to do superficial updating
> on an ongoing basis...however, we won't be able to do major overhauls to
> financials or narratives until each summer roles around, and we don't
> necessarily envision adding new profiles in those interim months --
> although that may be possible, and we'd like to.
>
For the time being, we can barely afford to develop information on groups
from our 'investment universe' (although that may change at some future time
if resources are available). We wish we could do this level of information
development, coordination and quality supervision for a much broader number
of CDCs, CDLFs and MFIs, and maybe someday we will be able to do so, but for
now we are limited to a 30 from our core universe (this 'core universe'
currently consists of 80 non-profit uninsured loan funds, and 20 CDCUs and
CD Banks). We will add 30 more from our portfolios this summer, and perhaps
more. The next step could be securing grant monies and widening beyond our
universe...although first things first.

> Finally, this isn't a rating service -- its a resource to allow people
> with interest to explore community development finance from the vantage
> point of Calvert Foundation's activities. This also isn't analysis, its
> program material and audited numbers, presented in a global portfolio
> structure, with certain functionalities built in.
>
> Please feel free to give me feedback on any and all points, and I'd
> especially be interested in any ideas you have on leveraging this work in
> partnerships, linking up to places on the web that you know of, etc. We
> are excited and committed to this initiative, and feel that it has the
> potential to really develop interest in a number of broader markets, and
> foster interaction between these support markets and CDFIs. We also have
> just begun with this, and it will continue to evolve and grow as long as
> we continue it.
>
Thanks again for everyone's interest, and good work.

> Kind Regards,
> Timothy Freundlich
> Development Officer,
> Calvert Foundation
> http://www.calvertgroup.com/foundation
> mailto://foundation@calvertgroup.com
> mailto://timothy.freundlich@calvertgroup.com (personal)
> 800-248-0337
> 301-951-4832 (direct)
> fax 301-654-2960
>
> NEWSFLASH!!!!!! Visit our new Community Investment Profiles DATABASE on
> the web at http://www.socialfunds.com/sites/cal...nity/index.cfm


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One final note, for an alpha listing with links to the profiles currently
online - use this link:

http://socialfunds.com/sites/calvert...ty_listing.cfm

Kind Regards,
Timothy Freundlich


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