FY 2026 Small Dollar Loan Program
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund’s Small Dollar Loan (SDL) Program is intended for certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that provide affordable, responsible small-dollar lending products to underserved communities.
Certified CDFIs (such as nonprofit loan funds, credit unions, banks, and other mission-driven lenders) that want funding to expand or improve small-dollar loan programs. The program helps CDFIs offer affordable alternatives to predatory lending, including loans that help individuals and families cover emergency expenses, build credit, and access safe financial products.
The FY 2026 FAQs provide clarification and guidance for organizations preparing an SDL Program application, including eligibility, program requirements, and application questions.
The CDFI Fund has released additional reference materials for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Small Dollar Loan Program (SDL Program) applicants. The FY 2026 Small Dollar Loan Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document, updated July 2, 2026, is now available.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to closely review all of the application materials on the SDL Program page on the CDFI Fund’s website.
Deadlines Reminder
Please reference the FY 2026 SDL Program NOFA and SDL Program Application Instructions for detailed information regarding all relevant deadlines for the FY 2026 SDL Program funding round. As a highlight:
Applicants must submit their SF-424 electronically via Grants.gov and create an AMIS account by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 23, 2026.
SDL Program Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number: CDFI-2026-SDL
The complete SDL Program Application must be submitted electronically through AMIS by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 30, 2026.
The CDFI Fund strongly encourages all materials be submitted at least three days before each corresponding deadline for Grants.gov and AMIS.
Questions
The CDFI Fund will answer questions about the FY 2026 SDL Program application until 5:00 p.m. ET on July 28, 2026. Contact the SDL Program by submitting a Service Request through your AMIS account; by e-mail to SDLP@cdfi.treas.gov; or by phone to (202) 653-0421 (please note this is not a toll-free number).
The CDFI Fund’s IT Support (AMIS) will be providing technical support for AMIS questions about the FY 2026 SDL Program application until 5:00 p.m. ET on July 30, 2026. Contact IT Support (AMIS) by submitting a Service Request through your AMIS account; by e-mail to AMIS@cdfi.treas.gov; or by phone to (202) 653-0422 (please note this is not a toll-free number). Technical support for AMIS will not be available after 5:00 p.m. ET on July 30, 2026.
To learn more about the CDFI Fund and its programs, please visit www.cdfifund.gov.