Investing in People, Investing in Success: How Internal Job Quality Can Strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions
Senior Research Associate
Challenges with hiring, retaining, and supporting staff are common across many Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and the wider nonprofit sector. These patterns have consequences for both workers and employers, lowering employee morale, increasing turnover, and diminishing productivity. Conversely, maintaining and strengthening capacity are essential to mission-driven organizations’ ability to provide critical services to their communities.
As shown by CDFIs in the Shared Success demonstration, improving job quality within small business support organizations presents a promising strategy: better jobs can drive better outcomes for staff, organizational performance, and the communities and small businesses that these organizations serve.
This brief illuminates how leaders from these CDFIs see job quality as a value-aligned and mission-oriented strategy to increase staff engagement, employee retention, and organizational success. It shares key lessons and takeaways that could be used to implement internal job quality practices to strengthen CDFIs and other small business support organizations.
Shared Success, a project of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, shows how building better jobs can simultaneously uplift workers while also driving small business success.
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.
To receive occasional emails about our work — including new publications, commentary, events, fellowships, and more — join our mailing list.
For news and updates every day, connect with us on the social media platform of your choice.
The post Investing in People, Investing in Success: How Internal Job Quality Can Strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions appeared first on Aspen Institute.
Student loans can be a major part of paying for college, and understanding interest rates is key to managing costs. If you’re wondering, “what...
Publications Archives UnfavoriteFavorite March 19, 2026 Shared Success, and Economic Opportunities Program Bryn Morgan Senior Research Associate Challenges with hiring,...
Colleges are facing mounting pressure from multiple directions: federal policy, financial strain, and shifting student behavior. This week’s developments show...
