Career Meets Purpose Hub

Marketing and Communications

Overview

Marketing and communications professionals at CDFIs are storytellers, strategists, and brand ambassadors. They translate mission and impact into compelling narratives that inspire action and build trust. From developing communication strategies and producing annual reports to managing websites, coordinating with media, and creating digital content, these professionals connect the dots between increased capital access and community outcomes.

A core part of this work is making community development finance clear, human, and engaging for a wide range of audiences. Communications teams help borrowers understand and trust CDFI products and services, while demonstrating results and credibility to funders, investors, regulators, and policymakers. They collaborate across departments to surface impact stories, support capital raising, and position leaders as trusted voices in the field.

Effective communication ensures that the work of CDFIs is visible, understood, and championed by the communities they serve and the partners who make it possible. These roles call for adaptability, creativity, and heart — qualities that help amplify voices, elevate stories, and inspire collective action.

Two OFN Conference attendees walking and talking in between sessions

What Do Marketing & Communications Professionals Do?

  • Develop communication strategies. Create consistent messaging and content that highlight organizational mission and impact across multiple audiences.
  • Manage digital presence. Oversee websites, email campaigns, and social media platforms to engage borrowers, funders, and community partners.
  • Produce publications and materials. Write and design newsletters, impact reports, annual reports, and collateral that share outcomes and success stories.
  • Support fundraising and business development. Collaborate with colleagues to craft proposals, presentations, and materials that demonstrate impact and attract resources.
  • Plan and coordinate events. Organize in-person and virtual events that build visibility, highlight community impact, and strengthen stakeholder relationships.
  • Serve as media liaisons. Build relationships with press, draft and distribute releases, and position organizational leaders as thought leaders.
  • Manage external vendors. Coordinate with consultants, designers, and PR firms to enhance communications capacity and reach.
  • Steward brand identity. Ensure consistent use of visual and narrative elements to build recognition, credibility, and trust with key audiences.

Key Skills and Sample Job Titles

Communication Skills

Marketing and communications professionals translate organizational work into clear, compelling messages. They tailor stories to resonate with a range of audiences, from borrowers and partners to funders and policymakers.

Professional Development Resources

Practitioner Resource Library

Access a curated library of tools and resources for marketing and communications professionals, including:

  • Compelling Narratives: Mastering the Craft of Effective Storytelling
Find Resources

Trainings

Explore OFN’s growing course catalog of training, designed to help enhance the knowledge and skills you need to make greater impact in your role. Training for marketing and communications practitioners includes:

  • CDFI 101: Orientation to the Industry
  • Pitch Perfect: Optimizing Your Capitalization Approach
Learn More

Peer Learning

OFN members are invited to join the Marketing & Communications Peer Learning Community. This is a virtual space to network, share information, and problem-solve with peers on an ongoing basis.

OFN also hosts an annual Marketing & Communications Summit, a gathering designed to build community, share strategies, and develop actionable solutions for recruiting, retaining, and supporting CDFI teams. The Summit is open to all.

Connect and collaborate with peers in the dedicated Marketing & Communications community on CDFI Connect—an online networking and knowledge-sharing platform for the industry.

Learn More

Faces of the Industry

Ariel Fugate headshot
Timothy Newsom headshot
Valarie Lee headshot
Domenica Good headshot
Bobby Burch headshot
Ariel Fugate headshot
Timothy Newsom headshot
Valarie Lee headshot
Domenica Good headshot
Bobby Burch headshot

“Every day at my CDFI brings a new challenge—whether it’s telling stories about the incredible work of the small businesses and organizations in Eastern Kentucky that we support or shaping policy and narrative change. Not only is the work we do multi-faceted, but the audiences we need to reach are varied and the communications field itself is also always evolving!”

— Ariel Fugate, Communications Manager, Mountain Association

“In my role, I value the chance to apply over 20 years of creative marketing and design experience to make a meaningful impact. Growing up in a low-income family, I saw firsthand the importance of community-based organizations. My work now focuses on raising awareness of affordable housing issues and ensuring resources reach the families and communities that need them most. That’s good and meaningful work!”

— Timothy Newsom, Officer, Marketing & Communications, Capital for Change, Inc.

“When I found Locus, I didn’t know what a CDFI was! As I learned more, I saw how deeply the CDFI mission aligned with my values. I was ready to leave the corporate world and do meaningful work Monday through Friday, and it was clear Locus could offer that opportunity.”

— Valerie Lee, VP, Director of Brand Strategy, Locus

“The constant learning and variety keeps me energized—one day I'm crafting content about our portfolio companies achieving new milestones in their work, the next I'm developing materials about our fund manager education program, all while supporting economic justice and generational wealth-building.”

— Domenica Good, Senior Marketing Manager, Boston Impact Initiative

“I was drawn to my role at AltCap because it allows me to blend creativity with purpose-driven work. I’m inspired by the leaders and community builders we work with every day and I'm proud to amplify the voices of entrepreneurs and communities that are too often overlooked. Seeing how access to capital transforms communities and creates opportunity for families keeps me motivated and reminds me why this work matters.”

— Bobby Burch, Director of Marketing and Communications, AltCap

“Every day at my CDFI brings a new challenge—whether it’s telling stories about the incredible work of the small businesses and organizations in Eastern Kentucky that we support or shaping policy and narrative change. Not only is the work we do multi-faceted, but the audiences we need to reach are varied and the communications field itself is also always evolving!”

— Ariel Fugate, Communications Manager, Mountain Association

“In my role, I value the chance to apply over 20 years of creative marketing and design experience to make a meaningful impact. Growing up in a low-income family, I saw firsthand the importance of community-based organizations. My work now focuses on raising awareness of affordable housing issues and ensuring resources reach the families and communities that need them most. That’s good and meaningful work!”

— Timothy Newsom, Officer, Marketing & Communications, Capital for Change, Inc.

“When I found Locus, I didn’t know what a CDFI was! As I learned more, I saw how deeply the CDFI mission aligned with my values. I was ready to leave the corporate world and do meaningful work Monday through Friday, and it was clear Locus could offer that opportunity.”

— Valerie Lee, VP, Director of Brand Strategy, Locus

“The constant learning and variety keeps me energized—one day I'm crafting content about our portfolio companies achieving new milestones in their work, the next I'm developing materials about our fund manager education program, all while supporting economic justice and generational wealth-building.”

— Domenica Good, Senior Marketing Manager, Boston Impact Initiative

“I was drawn to my role at AltCap because it allows me to blend creativity with purpose-driven work. I’m inspired by the leaders and community builders we work with every day and I'm proud to amplify the voices of entrepreneurs and communities that are too often overlooked. Seeing how access to capital transforms communities and creates opportunity for families keeps me motivated and reminds me why this work matters.”

— Bobby Burch, Director of Marketing and Communications, AltCap