Small business lending

Economic Opportunities Program Upcoming Events — March 2026

We hope you’ll join us at one of our upcoming events, which you can learn about here. Everyone who registers will receive a link to the recording, so please sign up even if you can’t participate live.

March 3, 2026

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.

January 9, 2026

Advancing Innovation and Fairness in Small Business Finance — Driving Innovation in Small Business Lending

During this event, we heard perspectives from lenders, investors, policymakers, small business owners, and advocates about how to build a financing market that truly works for small businesses.

March 27, 2025

Advancing Innovation and Fairness in Small Business Finance — A Conversation with Michael Barr

During this event, we heard perspectives from lenders, investors, policymakers, small business owners, and advocates about how to build a financing market that truly works for small businesses.

March 27, 2025

Advancing Innovation and Fairness in Small Business Finance — Ensuring that Innovation Benefits Small Businesses: The Role of Guardrails

During this event, we heard perspectives from lenders, investors, policymakers, small business owners, and advocates about how to build a financing market that truly works for small businesses.

March 27, 2025

Scaling Lending to Entrepreneurs of Color: Part II – Strategies and Operational Tactics for High-Volume Originations

This paper shares key lessons on microloan origination, including practices of CDFIs that are originating thousands of loans annually.

March 14, 2023
Cover page of the publication, “Scaling Lending to Entrepreneurs of Color: Part II - Strategies and Operational Tactics for High-Volume Originations”

Here’s How a Federal Truth-in-Lending Law Would Work

In this clip, the Aspen Institute’s Joyce Klein testifies at a congressional hearing on Fintech and Transparency in Small Business Lending.

July 13, 2022
Social media image for the video, “Here’s How a Federal Truth-in-Lending Law Would Work” featuring Joyce Klein, Senior Director, The Aspen Institute Business Ownership Initiative