Publications & Events

BOI shares findings from its research, evaluation, and peer learning activities in a variety of formats. Our publications share emerging and best practices, document data findings, and identify critical industry and market trends. Browse our publication topics below, or search our full list of publications here.

We also host public events and webinars that highlight industry trends, share research results, and illuminate strategies for addressing issues relating to business ownership and economic opportunity. Many of our events are co-sponsored with our colleague programs at the Aspen Institute.

Explore the Archive

All Publications from the Business Ownership Initiative

Entering the Relationship: Finding and Assessing Microenterprise Training Clients
Publications

Entering the Relationship: Finding and Assessing Microenterprise Training Clients

This training module explores how program practitioners can conduct market research, develop effective marking strategies and appropriately screen and assess incoming clients.

Connectors and Conduits: Reaching Competitive Markets from the Ground Up
Publications

Connectors and Conduits: Reaching Competitive Markets from the Ground Up

This 45-page report presents findings from the multi-year Access to Markets demonstration project, which explored innovative ways for microenterprise programs to help entrepreneurs place their products in more lucrative markets.

Scaling up Microenterprise Services
Publications

Scaling up Microenterprise Services

This 125-page volume summarizes the experience of eight organizations that spent two-years exploring ways to expand the scale of their services and their client base.

Research Brief No. 2 – Improving the Climate for Self-Employment: Recommendations for TANF Reauthorization
Publications

Research Brief No. 2 – Improving the Climate for Self-Employment: Recommendations for TANF Reauthorization

This research brief presents the findings from one-year outcomes experienced by TANF recipients who pursued self-employment and highlights the policy context and issues they confronted when preparing for and engaging in self-employment.

FIELD Forum Issue 13 – Marketing Strategies for Scale-Up: FIELD’s Grantees Share Their Experiences
Publications

FIELD Forum Issue 13 – Marketing Strategies for Scale-Up: FIELD’s Grantees Share Their Experiences

How can U.S. microenterprise programs expand their outreach and serve ever-larger numbers of emerging entrepreneurs with business development and financial services?

FIELD Forum Issue 11 – Helping Make Entrepreneurs “Tech Savvy”: The Experiences of Four FIELD Grantees 
Publications

FIELD Forum Issue 11 – Helping Make Entrepreneurs “Tech Savvy”: The Experiences of Four FIELD Grantees 

Presents the experiences of four grantees offering technology services to clients.

Credit Evaluation Grids for Microenterprise Lenders
Publications

Credit Evaluation Grids for Microenterprise Lenders

This publication details the use of credit evaluation grids, a tool that can dramatically streamline and standardize the process of underwriting microenterprise loans.

Improving Microenterprise Training and Technical Assistance: Findings for Program Managers 
Publications

Improving Microenterprise Training and Technical Assistance: Findings for Program Managers 

Describes the makings of effective training and technical assistance by examining the findings from research projects undertaken by five FIELD grantees.

Making the Connection: People, Incorporated of Southwest Virginia/Appalmade
Publications

Making the Connection: People, Incorporated of Southwest Virginia/Appalmade

This publication explores the three marketing strategies used by Appalmade to promote products created by home-based crafters in the Appalachian region.

Making the Connection: Neighborhood Development Center
Publications

Making the Connection: Neighborhood Development Center

This report explores three distinct strategies to help low-income entrepreneurs reach new markets.

Research Report No. 1 – Microenterprise as a Welfare to Work Strategy: Client Characteristics
Publications

Research Report No. 1 – Microenterprise as a Welfare to Work Strategy: Client Characteristics

This report on FIELD’s Welfare to Work Learning Assessment summarizes findings from the first wave of TANF clients enrolled in microenterprise programs.

Research Brief No. 1 – Microenterprise as a Welfare to Work Strategy: Client Characteristics
Publications

Research Brief No. 1 – Microenterprise as a Welfare to Work Strategy: Client Characteristics

This research brief on FIELD’s Welfare to Work Learning Assessment summarizes findings from the first wave of TANF clients enrolled in microenterprise programs.

About the Business Ownership Initiative

The Business Ownership Initiative, an initiative of the Economic Opportunities Program, works to build understanding and strengthen the role of business ownership as an economic opportunity strategy.

About the Economic Opportunities Program

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

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More from the Business Ownership Initiative

Metrics that Matter: Improving Financial Analysis of CDFI Small Business Lenders
Podcasts Videos

Metrics that Matter: Improving Financial Analysis of CDFI Small Business Lenders

CDFI boards, leadership teams, investors, and regulators have long relied on a familiar set of financial metrics to assess organizational performance.

From Crisis to Continuity: Optimizing CDFI Capital and Partnerships for Natural Disaster Response
Publications

From Crisis to Continuity: Optimizing CDFI Capital and Partnerships for Natural Disaster Response

Traditional emergency aid through SBA or FEMA takes time, and lower-income communities often face significant approval hurdles. Speed is essential to business survival.

The New Era of Small Business Finance: Access, AI, and Accountability (Highlight reel)
Videos

The New Era of Small Business Finance: Access, AI, and Accountability (Highlight reel)

VIDEO — Highlight reel from “The New Era of Small Business Finance: Access, AI, and Accountability,” a forum hosted by the Aspen Institute’s Business Ownership Initiative and the Responsible Business Lending Coalition on March 5, 2026.

The Changing Role of Small Business Ownership
Videos

The Changing Role of Small Business Ownership

VIDEO — This discussion is the first of three that took place as part of “The New Era of Small Business Finance: Access, AI, and Accountability,” a forum hosted by the Aspen Institute’s Business Ownership Initiative and the Responsible Business Lending Coalition on March 5, 2026.

Main Street Challenges and Policy Solutions
Videos

Main Street Challenges and Policy Solutions

VIDEO — This discussion is the third of three that took place as part of “The New Era of Small Business Finance: Access, AI, and Accountability,” a forum hosted by the Aspen Institute’s Business Ownership Initiative and the Responsible Business Lending Coalition on March 5, 2026.

Innovations Driving Small Business Lending Forward: It’s Not All About AI
Videos

Innovations Driving Small Business Lending Forward: It’s Not All About AI

VIDEO — This discussion is the second of three that took place as part of “The New Era of Small Business Finance: Access, AI, and Accountability,” a forum hosted by the Aspen Institute’s Business Ownership Initiative and the Responsible Business Lending Coalition on March 5, 2026.

To Help Small Businesses Recover From the L.A. Fires, Invest in Community Lenders
Blog Posts

To Help Small Businesses Recover From the L.A. Fires, Invest in Community Lenders

Nonprofit lenders often deploy funds faster than the government but need more capital to meet demand.

Integrating a Job Quality Practice in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs): A Q&A
Publications

Integrating a Job Quality Practice in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs): A Q&A

This Q&A provides insights and lessons from the work of 11 CDFIs that participated in Shared Success, a job quality demonstration led by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (EOP).