CDFI Certification

Step 2: Application Process

An entity seeking certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) must submit a CDFI Certification Application through the CDFI Fund’s Awards Management Information System (AMIS).

Non-Certified Organizations

Non-certified organizations may apply for CDFI Certification at any time. 

Organizations Certified as of CDFIs as of December 7, 2023 (Updated 6/10/2026)

All organizations that were Certified as CDFIs as of December 7, 2023 were required to reapply for CDFI Certification using the revised CDFI Certification Application following a set schedule provided by the CDFI Fund in June 2024. Organizations that failed to meet this deadline lost their CDFI Certification.

Currently Certified CDFIs that are waiting for the CDFI Fund to render a final decision on their CDFI Certification Application submissions will: 1) retain their status as Certified CDFIs while their CDFI Certification Application is under review; and 2) remain eligible to apply for all CDFI Fund programs where CDFI Certification is an eligibility requirement—provided they abide by ACR reporting requirements and have no material event affecting their CDFI Certification status. 

At this time, any currently Certified CDFI may not submit a new CDFI Certification Application in AMIS unless directed to do so by the CDFI Fund. 

Timing of Application Reviews

The CDFI Fund is currently reviewing CDFI Certification Applications on a rolling basis based on date of submission. Due to a considerable backlog of Applications under review, the CDFI Fund is unable to provide an estimate for how long it will take to finalize CDFI Certification Application decisions. 

Transaction Level Reporting Modifications

Under the revised CDFI Certification policies, all new Applicants as well as all currently Certified CDFIs will be required to submit a Transaction Level Report (TLR), both as part of an initial CDFI Certification Application and then on an annual basis as part of their Annual Certification and Data Collection Report (ACR) submission package. 

New Applicants will complete and submit an abbreviated version of the TLR—which has fewer data fields than the full-length version—prior to the submission of their CDFI Certification Application. This abbreviated TLR will be used to assess compliance with applicable Target Market percentage benchmarks in the Applicant’s proposed Target Market(s). In this abbreviated TLR, Applicants must report on origination activity for their most recently completed fiscal year prior to the submission of their CDFI Certification Application. 

The version of the TLR submitted by Certified CDFIs—whether in reapplying for CDFI Certification or as part of their ACR—will vary by award status. CDFIs with an active Assistance Agreement (for a CDFI Program, NACA Program, or CDFI ERP award) will continue to submit the full-length version of the TLR which will be used to satisfy the TLR requirement of the Certification Application as well as the ACR. CDFIs that do not have an active Assistance Agreement will submit the new abbreviated version of the TLR to satisfy the TLR requirement of the CDFI Certification Application as well as the ACR.

The CDFI Fund has developed guidance and information materials below to help you understand the new CDFI Certification Application requirements and policies, as well as how to apply for CDFI Certification. Material and information related to previous rounds of requests for comments on the CDFI Certification Application and related tools, as well as updates related to this process can be accessed on the CDFI Fund website.

Questions regarding the CDFI Certification Application should be directed to the Office of Certification Policy and Evaluation (OCPE) via an AMIS Service Request (preferred), by email to ocpecert@cdfi.treas.gov, or by phone to (202) 653-0423. 

AMIS related training manuals can be found on the CDFI Fund’s AMIS page at amis.cdfifund.gov.

Entities should review applicable CDFI Fund program application, guidance materials, Notices Funding Availability (NOFAs) and Notices of Guarantee Availability (NOGAs) for requirements related to CDFI Certification.