Overview:
Impact Ventures, a Dallas-based nonprofit organization, has been certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Fund. The certification will enable the organization to deploy capital at scale and deepen its impact across North Texas and beyond, expanding economic opportunities in underserved communities. Impact Ventures has set a long-term goal of deploying $50 million to $100 million in mission-driven capital to Texas-based entrepreneurs over the next decade, fueling business growth, and creating jobs in communities that have historically been underserved.
DALLAS, TX — July 2026 — Impact Ventures proudly announces that it has been officially certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Departmentof the Treasury’s CDFI Fund, marking a major milestone in the organization’s mission to accelerate and invest in all shades of genius.
CDFI certification is awarded to mission-driven financial institutions dedicated to expanding economic opportunities in underserved communities. As a certified CDFI, Impact Ventures joins a national network of organizations working to ensure entrepreneurs, small businesses, and communities have equitable access to the capital and financial resources needed to thrive.
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Founded in 2016, Impact Ventures has spent nearly a decade supporting entrepreneurs through business acceleration, technical assistance, ecosystem building, and innovative funding solutions. The certification strengthens the organization’s ability to deploy capital at scale and deepen its impact across North Texas and beyond.
“We didn’t set out to become a CDFI,” said Benjamin J. Vann, Founder and CEO of Impact Ventures. “We set out to solve a problem. Too many talented entrepreneurs with strong ideas, strong character, and strong potential were being overlooked by traditional systems.
This certification validates the work we’ve been doing for years and creates newopportunities to help founders access the capital they need to grow, create jobs, and build generational wealth.”
Since 2022, Impact Ventures has deployed more than $2 million in capital to entrepreneurs. Through its new CDFI designation and lending and investment platform IV Community Capital, the organization has set a long-term goal of deploying $50 million to $100 million in mission-driven capital to Texas-based entrepreneurs over the next decade—expanding access to affordable financing, fueling business growth, and creating jobs in communities that have historically been underserved.
The certification comes at a pivotal moment as Texas continues to lead the nation in economic growth, business formation, and investment. From the emergence of the Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE) to record levels of corporate expansion, the state’s economy is entering a new era of opportunity. Impact Ventures believes that this momentum should extend beyond Wall Street to “Y’all Street”—ensuring that the small businesses and entrepreneurs powering local communities have access to the capital they need to grow alongside Texas’ economy.
“As a CDFI, we’re not just expanding our lending capacity,” Vann added. “We’re helping redefine what access to capital can look like. We believe entrepreneurs deserve financial partners who see their potential, understand their realities, and invest in their success.”
The designation positions Impact Ventures to pursue additional funding opportunities, attract new capital partners, and increase the amount of capital deployed to small businesses throughout the region. Entrepreneurs can expect expanded access to financing, enhanced capital readiness support, and new opportunities designed to help businesses start, grow, and scale sustainably.
“This certification is not the finish line,” said Vann. “It’s the beginning of our next chapter.”
About Impact Ventures: Impact Ventures is a Dallas-based 501c3 nonprofit organization and certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to unlocking social and financial capital for underestimated entrepreneurs. Through business acceleration, ecosystem building, lending, and investment solutions, Impact Ventures helps entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses, create jobs, and generate lasting community wealth. For more information, visit Impact Ventures online or follow the organization on social media.
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