Responding to Community Housing Needs

National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research Fund, Inc. is a multi-faceted affordable housing corporation based in Dover, Delaware that offers development technical assistance services to local nonprofit sponsors, along with educational and counseling services to assist households in reaching housing goals. Learn more about NCALL >>





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NCALL is a CARS Rated CDFI

NCALL is pleased to announce that it is now a CARS rated Community Development Financial Institution. After a rigorous review of its community impact, financial strength, and public policy leadership, NCALL has earned a rating of AA+2.

The “AA” rating for impact is the second-highest rating in that category. It indicates NCALL has a “clear alignment of mission, strategies, activities and data” and that it is “using its resources effectively to benefit its target populations or communities in line with its mission”.

The “+” rating indicates NCALL “leads initiatives to change government policy to benefit the community development finance industry or disadvantaged people and communities.”

The “2” rating for financial strength and performance is also the second highest out of 5 possible ratings in this category. This evaluation is performed similar to the CAMEL evaluation that commercial banks undergo. The rating indicates that NCALL, with specific emphasis on the Loan Fund, “exhibits solid financial strength, performance, and risk management practices” and that “challenges are well within the board of directors’ and management’s capabilities.” To put this rating into perspective, there are less than a handful of CDFIs throughout the country that have been rated a “1”.

CARS (CDFI Assessment and Rating System) is a comprehensive analysis of CDFIs provided as a service of the Opportunity Finance Network. The goal of CARS is to help CDFIs move toward a more standardized and transparent presentation of their financial and community impact information. Organizations that invest in CDFIs often subscribe to CARS and receive ratings reports, which help to guide their investment decision making process. Fewer than 10% of all CDFIs nationwide have undergone a CARS rating. NCALL sees great value in third-party examinations as the organization is committed to transparency and rigorous performance standards.