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

Pursuing Sustainability in the Microenterprise Field
Publications

Pursuing Sustainability in the Microenterprise Field

An exploration of current research and writing on the issue of sustainability in the microenterprise field.

Going Faster and Farther: Harnessing Technology for Microenterprise
Publications

Going Faster and Farther: Harnessing Technology for Microenterprise

Explores innovative ways that technology can be used by both microenterprise development programs and microentrepreneurs

Credit Scoring for Microenterprise Lenders
Publications

Credit Scoring for Microenterprise Lenders

This white paper examines ways credit scoring can help U.S. microlenders increase efficiency, improve risk management and achieve greater scale.

FIELD Forum Issue 18 – Understanding National Lending Trends and Local Markets: The Role of Market Research
Publications

FIELD Forum Issue 18 – Understanding National Lending Trends and Local Markets: The Role of Market Research

If for-profit lenders succeed in taking away the microenterprise field’s lowestrisk customers, this will raise costs and loss rates, making the path toward self-sufficiency in lending even more difficult.

Providing Capital, Building Communities, Creating Impact: FY2004
Publications

Providing Capital, Building Communities, Creating Impact: FY2004

This publication, a product of the CDFI Data Project, documents the work of 517 community development finance institutions (CDFIs) investing $3.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2004, an investment linked to 28,000 jobs and 43,000 units of affordable housing.

Scaling Up, Achieving More
Publications

Scaling Up, Achieving More

Explores the various factors that affect an organization’s ability to reach scale and offers recommendations for funders interested in this issue.

Microenterprise Development Programs: The Entrepreneur Within
Publications

Microenterprise Development Programs: The Entrepreneur Within

Explores the need for programs to become more entrepreneurial in order to achieve greater sustainability and suggests ways donors can support such efforts.

FIELD Forum Issue 16 – EITC and Microentrepreneurs: One Program’s Experience
Publications

FIELD Forum Issue 16 – EITC and Microentrepreneurs: One Program’s Experience

Explores how one microenterprise development organization (West Company in northern California) is helping low-income microentrepreneurs document their participation in the economy and take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Monitoring Client Outcomes: A Report from MicroTest’s 2004 Data Collection
Publications

Monitoring Client Outcomes: A Report from MicroTest’s 2004 Data Collection

Microenterprise development is a process of supporting emerging entrepreneurs to develop and grow small businesses.

Fulfilling the Promise: A Guide for Board and Staff
Publications

Fulfilling the Promise: A Guide for Board and Staff

To forge a vibrant future, the U.S. microenterprise field must move in new directions.

Bridges to Success: Promising Strategies for Microenterprise Growth in the United States
Publications

Bridges to Success: Promising Strategies for Microenterprise Growth in the United States

This literature review summarizes what is known about the factors that influence business growth (both those that constrain and support it) and identifies successful strategies to support growth. Included is an extensive bibliography, useful to those who want to conduct further research.

Opening Opportunities, Building Ownership: Fulfilling the Promise of Microenterprise in the US
Publications

Opening Opportunities, Building Ownership: Fulfilling the Promise of Microenterprise in the US

This publication takes a comprehensive look at the now 20-year-old microenterprise field — its accomplishments, weaknesses and future potential.

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).