About Community First Fund
A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) creating opportunity and transforming communities by providing financing and support to entrepreneurs, affordable housing development, nonprofits and community-based organizations to build healthy, vibrant communities.
Focus Areas
Small business loansCommercial real estate financingHousing development / affordable housingNonprofit lendingNew Markets Tax CreditsCredit union services
Who They Fund
small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communitieslow- and moderate-income neighborhoodscommunity-based nonprofitsindividual borrowers served through credit unionslocal real estate developers focused on community projects
About Community First Fund
Community First Fund’s recent grantmaking is defined by two equal awards of $644,925 to Community First Fund Federal Credit in Lancaster, both labeled funding. That pattern points to a lender-oriented institution using grant support alongside financing tools rather than a broad, multi-grantee grant program. The organization is a Community Development Financial Institution that provides financing and support to entrepreneurs, affordable housing development, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. Its stated work also includes small business loans, commercial real estate financing, nonprofit lending, New Markets Tax Credits, and credit union services. The combination of direct financing, technical assistance, and catalytic/blended finance places the foundation in the flow of community economic development work rather than traditional philanthropy. The latest filed 990 is 2025, and the organization reports program-related investments, reinforcing that its capital is deployed through lending and investment channels as well as grants. Community First Fund’s public profile centers on neighborhood-level economic activity, housing, and community projects in Pennsylvania.
What Community First Fund Funds
In small business and entrepreneur support, Community First Fund backs underserved communities through direct financing and technical assistance. Its stated focus includes small business loans and support for entrepreneurs, which aligns with its CDFI role. In real estate and neighborhood development, the foundation finances commercial real estate and affordable housing development, using capital for projects that build community assets. It also supports nonprofit lending, reflecting a capital strategy for community-based organizations rather than only operating support. The active New Markets Tax Credit program adds another channel: it provides financing for larger projects in targeted low-income neighborhoods, especially commercial real estate or mixed-use development tied to neighborhood revitalization and job creation. Those program details show a lender focused on projects that combine place-based development with community impact.
How Community First Fund Gives
The only grant-size data provided shows a single amount at every quartile: p25 $644,925, median $644,925, and p75 $644,925. That matches the two recent grants, both for the same amount in consecutive years, which suggests a repeat funding pattern rather than many different award sizes. Community First Fund makes program-related investments, and its stated philosophy emphasizes direct financing, technical assistance, and catalytic/blended finance. The foundation accepts unsolicited applications for its New Markets Tax Credits program, indicating at least one open-entry channel within its broader financing work.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$15.9M
Total Assets
$175.1M
Total Revenue
$40M
Total Expenses
$34.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $645K and $645K, with a median of $645K.
25th Percentile
$645K
Median
$645K
75th Percentile
$645K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
DANIEL BETANCOURT
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