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

At the Five Year Mark: Outcomes Reported by US Microenterprise Clients
Publications

At the Five Year Mark: Outcomes Reported by US Microenterprise Clients

The twin financial and economic crises have challenged microentrepreneurs and the programs that serve them.

Microenterprises and Employment: 2008 MicroTest Outcomes 
Publications

Microenterprises and Employment: 2008 MicroTest Outcomes 

Issue five in the MicroTest Outcomes fact sheet series delves into employment generated by microenterprises and is based on client outcomes surveys conducted by MicroTest members in 2008.

Business Growth: 2008 Micro Test Outcomes
Publications

Business Growth: 2008 Micro Test Outcomes

Issue four in the MicroTest Outcomes fact sheet series delves into the growth of business revenues based on client outcomes surveys conducted by MicroTest members in 2008.

Business Start and Survivability: 2008 MicroTest Outcomes
Publications

Business Start and Survivability: 2008 MicroTest Outcomes

Issue three in the MicroTest Outcomes fact sheet series delves into business start and survival rates based on client outcomes surveys conducted by MicroTest members in 2008.

Microenterprise Programs as Credit Builders
Publications

Microenterprise Programs as Credit Builders

This guide explores the new roles that microenterprise programs are taking on to build the credit of entrepreneurs

FIELD Forum Issue 23 – The Organizational Foundations of Sustainability
Publications

FIELD Forum Issue 23 – The Organizational Foundations of Sustainability

This forum, the fifth in FIELD’s sustainability series, highlights efforts by Accion New Mexico · Arizona · Colorado · Nevada · Texas to systematically build a corporate culture, as well as capacity, that supports security, quality and growth for the long term.

Providing Capital, Building Communities, Creating Impact: FY2007
Publications

Providing Capital, Building Communities, Creating Impact: FY2007

This publication, a product of the CDFI Data Project, documents the work of 508 community development finance institutions (CDFIs) investing $5.3 billion in new financing activity in Fiscal Year 2007, an investment linked to 34,276 jobs and 57,274 units of affordable housing.

A Final Report on the Ms. Foundation for Women’s Collaborative Fund for Women’s Economic Development
Publications

A Final Report on the Ms. Foundation for Women’s Collaborative Fund for Women’s Economic Development

The fourth round of the Women’s Collaborative Fund focused on helping both microenterprise organizations and the entrepreneurs they served to become more sustainable and grow.

Can Student-run Microfinance Organizations Help Address Issues of Scale and Sustainability in the U.S. Domestic Microenterprise Industry?
Publications

Can Student-run Microfinance Organizations Help Address Issues of Scale and Sustainability in the U.S. Domestic Microenterprise Industry?

Could university programs offer quality services to low-income entrepreneurs and do it at a very low cost?

FIELD Forum Issue 22 – Increasing Sustainability through Improved Efficiency
Publications

FIELD Forum Issue 22 – Increasing Sustainability through Improved Efficiency

The fourth forum in FIELD’s sustainability series explores how Opportunity Fund in California is seeking to increase sustainability by emphasizing efficiency as part of a scale-up strategy.

Findings from the Scale Academy – Forging Ahead: Early Lessons
Publications

Findings from the Scale Academy – Forging Ahead: Early Lessons

Achieving greater scale has been one of the primary challenges facing the microenterprise industry for more than a decade.

Microentrepreneurs and their Businesses: 2008 MicroTest Outcomes
Publications

Microentrepreneurs and their Businesses: 2008 MicroTest Outcomes

The second in a series of fact sheets drawn from client outcomes surveys, this 4-page report highlights key findings from client outcomes surveys conducted by MicroTest members in 2008.

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.

Join Our Mailing List

To receive occasional emails about our work — including new publications, commentary, events, fellowships, and more — join our mailing list.

Connect on Social Media

For news and updates every day, connect with us on the social media platform of your choice.

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).