The CDFI Fund Just Opened the FY 2026 Small Dollar Loan Program Round. Here's What You Need to Know.

This round is short. The full application is due July 30, 2026. Several required steps close even earlier. If you want to apply, you need to start now.

What is available in grant money this round

There is $9 million available across about 66 awards. Funding comes in two forms, and you can apply for one or both.

Loan Loss Reserves (LLR): up to $350,000. This money sits in a reserve to cover losses on the small dollar loans you make. It can support a new program or an existing one.

Technical Assistance (TA): up to $150,000. This money covers the cost of building and running the program. Eligible uses include staff support, technology, training, equipment, and financial education.

Most awards go to applicants who request both. The combination category accounts for 63 of the 66 expected awards. An organization that applies for both could receive up to $500,000.

There is no matching funds requirement this round. It was waived.

The deadlines that actually matter

The application is a two-step process across two different systems, with two different deadlines.

July 23, 2026: Create your AMIS account, enter your EIN and UEI in AMIS, and submit the SF-424 in Grants.gov.

July 30, 2026: Submit the full SDL Program Application and all required attachments in AMIS.

You cannot submit the AMIS application until Grants.gov accepts your SF-424. That makes July 23 the real first hurdle, not July 30.

There is one step that can run out the clock before you ever reach those dates. See the SAM.gov requirement below.

Who is eligible

Three requirements decide whether you can apply.

1. You must be a Certified CDFI as of June 30, 2026. Being in the certification pipeline does not count. You need the certification confirmed.

2. You must have an active SAM.gov registration. An account is not enough. The registration has to be active. SAM.gov registration can take four weeks or more, and you need it active before you can register in Grants.gov or submit the SF-424. If your registration has lapsed, or you have never registered, this is the step most likely to end your timeline. Check your status today.

3. You must be willing to establish or expand a small dollar consumer lending program. These are installment loans of $2,500 or less.

Credit unions and other regulated institutions also need a CAMEL composite rating of 1, 2, or 3 from their regulator. A rating of 4 or 5 makes you ineligible.

What a strong loan program looks like

The required loan features are straightforward. Loans must be $2,500 or less, repaid in installments, carry no prepayment penalty, report payments to at least one nationwide consumer reporting agency, and be underwritten based on the borrower's ability to repay.

The CDFI Fund scores applications higher when the program includes features like these:

• Loan terms of at least 90 days
• Underwriting that weighs both income and expenses
• Loan decisions within one business day
• A rate reduction for automatic payments
• Built-in automatic savings features
• Access to financial education and credit counseling

Awards are expected to be announced before September 30, 2026.

The window is tight

The certification and SAM.gov requirements leave little room to wait. CUCollaborate has a proven track record of helping credit unions complete CDFI Certification and win CDFI grants.

If you want to apply for this round, let's review your eligibility and timeline before the July 23 deadlines close.

Schedule a meeting