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Blog
News

Annual Report 2023

Craft3

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July

2024

We are committed to using capital, relationships, and voice to target our investments and create meaningful outcomes for people and communities across Oregon and Washington. Learn how Craft3's loans, targeted investments, and partnerships supported our new five-year strategic plan. Read our 2023 Annual Report.
Blog
News

Supporting our team

Craft3

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June

2024

We’re pleased to announce new steps to help prevent burnout at Craft3 and give our team time to rest and recharge. ‍We are doing this because conversations with staff, survey results, and anecdotal impressions are very clear: too many on our team have been running too hard and not feeling sufficiently supported. ‍The following changes are an effort to offer some respite, expand how we support our workforce, and build a stronger and more sustainable culture over the long term. These changes prioritize employee needs and work-life balance so that we have the focus, energy, and creativity to provide the best possible service to our customers and communities.
Supporting our team | Craft3
Blog
News

Empowering Customers through Coaching and Business Services

Craft3

Craft3

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April

2024

To successfully expand access to capital, simply offering loans and adjusting underwriting criteria is not enough. Many entrepreneurs, especially entrepreneurs of color, face substantial barriers in applying for loans. The language and concepts of finance can be mystifying and inaccessible. Trauma, including previous bad experiences with financial institutions, can compound the situation. And then there is the more universal challenge that small business owners face in making time to not only run the day-to-day of their business, but also to plan, strategize, and grow their business.
Empowering Customers through Coaching and Business Services
Blog
News

Craft3 Announces Leadership Updates

Carl Seip

Craft3

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March

2024

SEATTLE, Wash. (March 15, 2024) – Today Craft3, a non-bank, nonprofit community lender certified by the Department of the Treasury, announced leadership updates at its organization. The leadership updates were shared as part of the ongoing implementation of its Strategic Plan that looks to expand equitable access to capital, deepen its capacity to serve communities and build on an established track record that combines strong growth and effective, responsible operations.
Craft3 Announces Leadership Updates | Craft3
Blog
News

Camano Island community takes the lead on septic solutions

Washington Department of Ecology

Craft3

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October

2023

Wastewater treatment is an essential part of life, even if its usually in the background. However, when there’s a sewage issue, it is difficult to ignore. For years, the Maple Grove community on Camano Island has had to focus on their sewage. Through community collaboration and support from Ecology’s onsite sewage regional loan program, these neighbors are on their way to cleaner, safer water and better wastewater management.
Camano Island community takes the lead on septic solutions | Craft3
Blog
News

Investing in Climate and Conservation Financing

Mark Feldman

Craft3

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October

2023

Brad Hunter, Senior Business Lender, leads Craft3’s conservation and climate lending. With deep experience in natural resource management and land conservation, as well as familiarity with energy financing, Brad is well equipped to do this important work. He’s also skilled at explaining the complex landscape of financing, incentives, and on-the-ground projects.
Investing in Climate and Conservation Financing | Craft3
Blog
News

Conservation Bridge Fund

Craft3

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August

2023

Craft3 is committed to helping land trusts, Tribes, and other conservation organizations succeed by providing flexible capital, expert advice, and a nimble team. As the pace and scale of land conservation continues to grow in the Pacific Northwest, Craft3 is there to support critical property acquisitions ahead of long-term funding.
Conservation Bridge Fund | Craft3
Blog
News

Putting Our New Strategic Plan in Context for Our Investors, Grantors, and Partners

Maggie Kirby Weiland

Craft3

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July

2023

Craft3’s new strategic plan focuses on relevant and concerning challenges facing our region – systemic racism, the climate crisis, and the lack of investment in and integration of rural and Tribal economies.
Putting Our New Strategic Plan in Context for Our Investors, Grantors, and Partners | Craft3
Blog
News

Build Up Oregon: Early education facilities at affordable housing developments

The Chronicle

Craft3

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July

2023

Build Up Oregon initially aims to create or preserve 600 ECE slots by supporting co-location with affordable housing developments. Increased ECE slots will help low-income families access early education, provide economic development opportunities, and strengthen communities.
Blog
News

Annual Report 2022

Craft3

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June

2023

Our 2022 Annual Report considers last year’s work through the lens of the three regional challenges — Systemic Racism, Climate Crisis, and Rural and Tribal Economies — around which we have organized our strategic plan.
2022 Annual Report | Craft3
Blog
News

Strategic Plan 2023-2027

Craft3

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May

2023

We are excited to share our new strategic plan — Capital, Relationships, and Voice: Investing in Communities and Change. This plan will guide our investments and operations as we work towards systems change and a stronger Pacific Northwest.
Blog
News

Washington Community Investment Coalition

Carl Seip

Craft3

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May

2023

Seizing an unexpected opportunity, Craft3 and other CDFIs in the Pacific Northwest came together to advocate for and obtain dedicated funding from Washington state.
Washington Community Investment Coalition
Blog
News

Prosper Portland

Maggie Reilly

Craft3

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May

2023

To change outcomes, you need to change the system. Prosper Portland and Craft3 work to deliver more equitable and inclusive approaches to community development finance.
Prosper Portland
Blog
News

Clean Water Loans Deliver Housing Stability and Water Quality

Desiree Sideroff

Craft3

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May

2023

When septic systems fail, they are costly to repair or replace and, if unaddressed, they can make homes unlivable, impact public health and contaminate drinking water.
Clean Water Loans Deliver Housing Stability and Water Quality
Blog
News

Financial institutions receive money to help underserved communities

The Astorian

Craft3

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April

2023

Adam Zimmerman, Craft3’s chief executive officer, told The Astorian that the goal of the U.S. Treasury grant is to expand the lender’s ability to provide small-business loans in Oregon and Washington state.
Blog
News

U.S. Treasury grants $22 million to Oregon financial institutions to help low-income communities

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Craft3

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April

2023

Craft3 among the seven financial institutions in Oregon awarded a total of $22.3 million in grants from the federal government to help underserved communities recover from the pandemic.
Blog
News

384 Ways to Help

Medium

Craft3

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December

2022

This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling. Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty.
Blog
News

MacKenzie Scott gives away $4.1 billion to 384 organizations, including 5 Washington state groups

The Seattle Times

Craft3

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December

2022

MacKenzie Scott, the philanthropist, author and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, announced Tuesday that she has given away $4.1 billion in the past four months to 384 organizations, part of a giving pledge she announced last year.
Blog
News

CDFIs Were Created to Remove Barriers for Populations Denied Prosperity. Here’s How Funders Can Be Supportive.

Northwest Area Foundation

Craft3

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November

2022

Community development financial institutions (CDFIs), which are grounded in the communities they serve, have been removing barriers to equitable access to financial services for decades.
Blog
News

A conversation on Shari'a-compliant financing with Saif Hakim

Mark Feldman

Craft3

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September

2022

A conversation on Shari'a-compliant financing with Saif Hakim
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