From Franchise Journal, February 2022, pp.103-104
Yves M. Mombeleur
Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution (CCDFI)
Chief Fund Officer
Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution (CCDFI) Chief Fund Officer Yves M. Mombeleur knows what it takes to achieve dreams despite circumstances. Today, he is a long way from the starting points of his professional and personal journeys. He knows what it’s like to work his way through school and take a break because money gets too tight. He also knows that refusing to give up and, instead, persevering to become the change agent in your own life, is the building block of success. You can achieve your dreams. Adopting a spirit of tenacity and working hard to save money, Mombeleur made his way back to school more than 30 years ago. He now holds an MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management-Chicago, IL and Jurisprudence from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He kept focused on his dream through it all, which is to introduce others to circumstance-changing opportunities and people. CCDFI’s mission and his role as Chief Fund Officer let him do just that.
As Chief Fund Officer, Mombeleur celebrates CCDFI’s dedication to those who have been historically ignored. CCDFI is positioned to leverage equity and debt to help small business owners, entrepreneurs, developers and visionaries reach their dreams. As a “community lender and Benefit ‘B’ Corporation that addresses unmet credit needs throughout the U.S. and in Indian Country through direct lending, equity investments, and financial assistance,” CCDFI facilitates wealth where there is no wealth.
Mombeleur is passionate about introducing others to opportunities, resources and mentors who can help them on their way to success. He uses his expertise in community development, brand and reputation risk management, diversity and inclusion, operational management, business development, mentorship and coaching, partnership relationship management, lending, capital investment, CRA initiatives and CSR strategies, loan portfolio management, and business growth in his CCDFI leadership position. He connects people and opportunities while supporting CCDFI clients and shareholders as they bring small business, entrepreneurial, development, and visionary success to the underserved, disadvantaged and overlooked.
As a Certified Benefit Corp company, CCDFI is committed to “B the Change” as a seamless product of it mission “to maximize profits and maximize returns to people and the planet.” CCDFI offers its support and services to community facilities, affordable housing initiatives, commercial real estate projects, tax qualifying new markets, and small businesses.
The results speak for themselves. CCDFI has funded $1.98 billion in total loans for over 2,250 community projects over the past 24 years. These projects have created or retained more than 23,000 jobs and benefit over 2.7 million people. This includes the rehabilitation of more than 18 million square feet of blighted properties. During the pandemic, CCDFI has also funded over 460 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that have helped save 1,600 jobs across 28 states. 63 percent—a clear majority— of CCDFI’s PPP borrowers are minority- or women-owned businesses.
When asked for the key to success when the struggle is real, Mombeleur has this to say: “There is a myriad of opportunities available so I try to connect people to the right people, to those who can and will help. I always stress, however, that success requires those who want an opportunity to do their part; it requires tenacity and perseverance. Sadly, somewhere, somehow, an expectation of easy became acceptable. Folks run away or complain at the first, second, or even third obstacle they face instead of learning from that obstacle to simply be better and to keep a state of perpetual ‘better’ as their vision. You’ve got to be committed to staying in it for yourself, for the long run, if you expect to achieve financial stability and build business. You should view an uneven playing field as a motivation to change the status quo, not a justification for failure.”
About Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution
(Clearinghouse CDFI):
Clearinghouse CDFI addresses unmet credit needs throughout the U.S. and in Indian Country through direct lending, equity investments, and financial assistance. For 24 years, Clearinghouse CDFI has helped bridge the gap between conventional lending standards and the needs of low-income, distressed, and communities of color. Clearinghouse CDFI is also a B Corp—a certification received from the nonprofit B Lab. B Corps are companies who meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and use business as a force for good. More information is available at: www.ccdfi.com.
