
Ready to Succeed: Best Practices in
Loan-Readiness Programming
November 13, 2025 | Virtual | 11:00 a.m. -12:15 p.m. ET | 75-minutes
Session Description
Join us for a high-impact webinar to explore what it takes to design and deliver effective loan-readiness programming to increase access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs and real estate developers. Whether you are a nonprofit, financial institution, CDFI, or system builder, you will leave the program equipped with tools and strategies to help small businesses secure financing.
What You Will Learn
- How to align curriculum with lender expectations
- Best practices in client engagement and education
- Common pitfalls to avoid and lessons learned from the field
- Tools, templates, and frameworks to begin and sustain programs
What You Will Be Able to Do
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Understand the key components of a successful loan readiness program.
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Address borrower challenges (e.g., credit, documentation, business planning).
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Access a network of providers with tools for program design, delivery, and impact measurement.
Who Should Attend
Professionals supporting small businesses and emerging housing developers:
- Business development and local economic development organizations (LEDOs)
- Financial institutions, CDFIs, and microlenders
- Nonprofit staff referring individuals to programs and technical assistance providers
Session Outline
11:00 a.m. Key Components of Loan Readiness Programs
Stakeholders
- Program providers (CDFIs, SBA, nonprofits)
- Lenders (CDFIs, financial institutions)
- Borrowers (small businesses, developers, home buyers)
Knowledge and “Hard” Skills
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- Financial statements (P&L, cash flow, balance sheet)
- Business planning & projections
- Loan application process & packaging
Relationships and “Soft Skills”
- One-on-one coaching
- Peer support groups
- Partnerships with lenders
Overview of Three Programs
Target audience, faculty, curriculum, delivery methods, measurements
11:30 a.m. Why They Are Important and The Impact They Achieve
Panel impact stories
11:40 a.m. Panelist Advice and Q&A
Barriers, skill gaps, challenges your learners face
What delivery models work?
- In-person, virtual, hybrid
- Games, homework
- Cohort-based vs open enrollment
- Multilingual and culturally competent programming
What tools or resources are needed?
- 1:1 coaching, incentives (certifications)
- Curriculum guides, games
- Tools (financial statement templates, projection calculators, credit education)
- Metrics (# of application submitted or approved, credit score change)
12:15 p.m. Adjourn
Speakers
Devin Day, MBA | Director of Build Fund | Intend Indiana
Brandon Taylor | Executive Director | LISC Indianapolis
Jim Rawlingson | Director, READI | IEDC
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