Next Virtual Cohort begins April 1st!

Ready to start or expand your credit union small business lending program?

Inclusiv’s virtual, instructor-led Small Business Capital Initiative (SBCI) Training supports credit unions to establish and scale impactful business lending programs that expand their lending capacity and better serve their communities. 

Enrollment for our Spring 2026 cohort is open and class starts on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. 

This course is designed for each participating credit union to enroll a team of 2-3 staff members. Discounted pricing is available for team enrollment, please contact [email protected] for more information.

Partial and full need-based scholarships are available to eligible credit unions.

Scholarship applications are due on Wednesday, March 11. 

Apply for a scholarship 

About This Course

Inclusiv’s Small Business Capital Initiative helps credit unions build and grow effective small business lending programs. Designed for lenders committed to serving their communities, the initiative expands access to safe, affordable capital for entrepreneurs while strengthening local economies. This course equips staff with the tools to position their credit union as a trusted partner and driver of small business growth.

Who Should Register 
The SBCI training is best for credit unions that: 

  • Have a limited or no small business lending program  
  • Or have an existing small business lending program and want to strategically grow or diversify their portfolio.  
  • Can enroll two to three staff members across the following roles: CEO, Chief Lending Officer, Director of Lending, Community Development or Member Services, Loan Officers.  
  • For better outcomes, it’s desirable that each participating CU enroll at least one senior decision-maker with authority over lending strategy, policies, or resource allocation.  
  • Can commit 3-6 hours a week to classwork, assignments, and the development of an implementation plan for their credit union.



 Gain New Skills 
In this training course, participants will:

  • Learn how CUs can use small business lending to help drive local economic growth. 
  • Identify key opportunities, stakeholders, and actors needed to implement or expand a CU’s small business lending program. 
  • Understand NCUA and SBA Express regulatory frameworks, and the details involved in the implementation of a full cycle of small business lending.  
  • Learn processes and requirements to work with third party loan processors and Inclusiv-selected CUSOs. 
  • Explore guarantee programs and Inclusiv credit enhancements as tools for risk management. 
  • Gain insight into how to integrate Inclusiv’s Loan Participation Marketplace as a buyer and seller
  • Identify the main components to manage small business lending portfolios. 
  • Apply the content of this program to create an Implementation Plan tailored to the needs of their financial institution. 

Course Details & Eligibility

This is an instructor-led course that features 8 weeks of live virtual class sessions.

Schedule:  

  • Monday, March 23 at 1:00-1:30pm EDT: Optional virtual orientation meeting  
  • Monday, March 30: Pre-work due (2 hours of work)  
  • Wednesdays, April 1 – May 27 at 3:00-4:30pm EDT  
    • Eight live virtual instructor-led course sessions for peer learning and diving deep into content  
      • No class during break week on Wednesday, May 13
      • Final virtual capstone presentation session on Wednesday, May 27

Additional Support:  

  • Personalized expert feedback on assignments, including technical assistance where needed  
  • Access to 1:1 technical assistance on market analysis and community engagement, loan intake and processing, operations, risk management, secondary market, and working with a CUSO  

Workload:   

  • 3-6 hours per week over eight weeks (including one break week)   
  • Program participants are required to create an implementation plan to present to their board or governing body that serves as a roadmap for launching or growing small business lending products. A template for this project will be provided.

Tuition

Scholarships are available to eligible credit unions. Apply for a scholarship by Wednesday, March 11.  

This course is designed for a 2–3-person team from each participating credit union. Please contact [email protected] for more information.


Instructor

Azra Samiee

Director of Small Business Lending and Development

Azra Samiee, Inclusiv’s Director of Small Business Lending and Development, supports implementing Inclusiv’s Business Forward program and drives loan participation and scaling small business lending throughout Inclusiv’s network. Azra has over 17 years of experience working in community-based organizations dedicated to addressing inequity through programs that increase accessibility and mobility for under-resourced communities. She began her career in the CDFI space at Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union and Grow Brooklyn, giving her deep insights into the power of engagement strategies in driving an organization’s mission forward. Prior to joining Inclusiv, Azra served as the Senior Director of the Small Business Program at Hot Bread Kitchen, where she led the development and implementation of multiple programs supporting entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses, collaborating closely with a network of CDFI partners including credit union. She also previously led Community and Member Engagement, driving strategic partnerships with community organizations and city agencies.

Alumni Testimonials

To date, over 50 credit unions have participated in this course. Here’s what some graduates have to say:

  • “For me, having no prior experience with small business, this course was very helpful, not only in building my knowledge, but also in creating a stronger internal connection with our commercial team. Thank you.”

  • "As my experience is more in membership and business development, as opposed to lending, I was there to learn from Inclusiv and all attendees. I thought the course was very informative and appreciated the takeaways and downloads. The value for me is having these assets to refer back to moving forward.”

  • “It was a very good training, and the facilitator was always helpful to assist with any needs or questions.”

Course Curriculum

    1. Navigating the LMS Platform

    1. Orientation Session *Optional* 3/23

    2. Course Syllabus, Overview, Objectives

    3. Curriculum Gallery Walk

    4. Course Expectations

    5. Technical Assistance Assignment

    6. Meet Your Instructor & Administrator

    7. Technology Requirements and Support Services

    8. Profile Picture & Notification Preferences

    9. Maximize Your Mobile Experience

    10. Course Waiver

    11. Capstone Project Template & Guide: Implementation Plan

    12. Course Pre-Test

    13. Welcome to Inclusiv's Small Business Capital Initiative Training

    14. Cohort Directory

    1. Small Business Capital Initiative Training

    2. Defining a Small Business

    3. How Do Small Businesses Shape Our Economy?

    4. Internal & External Stakeholders, Part 1: The Gloria Problem

    5. Internal & External Stakeholders, Part 2: The Gloria Problem

    6. Assignment: Reflecting on the Ecosystem

    7. Intro to Small Business Ecosystem

    8. Assignment: Small Business Profiles

    9. Assignment: Identify Key Stakeholders

    10. Toolbox: Pre-Work

    11. Work on your Implementation Plan!

    12. Live Session 1! (4/1)

    13. Session 1 Recording & Slide Deck

    14. Session 1 Padlet Activity

    1. Who Are Our Borrowers? How Do We Work With Them?

    2. Theory of Change

    3. What Motivates Individuals to Become Entrepreneurs?

    4. The Local Multiplier Effect - Part 1

    5. The Local Multiplier Effect - Part 2

    6. Real World Application: The Local Multiplier Effect

    7. Baby Boomers & Gen X

    8. Gen Y & Gen Z

    9. Assignment: Identifying Small Business Owners/Borrowers

    10. Toolbox: Learning About The Borrower

    11. Work on your Implementation Plan!

    12. Live Session 2! (4/8)

    13. Session 2 Recording & Slide Deck

    1. Small Business Lending, Regulatory Framework & Risk Management

    2. Quiz: Knowledge Check (SBA)

    3. Assignment: Small Business Lending Criteria

    4. Work on your Implementation Plan!

    5. Live Session 3! (4/15)

    1. Small Business Credit & Loan Intake

    2. 5 C's of Credit

    3. The Loan Lifecycle

    4. The Loan Lifecycle

    5. Site Visit Best Practices: Newark Walkthrough

    6. Loan Intake & Document Collection

    7. Credit Report Interpretations: Personal & Business

    8. Small Business Credit & Loan Intake

    9. Quiz: Credit and Business Formation

    10. Quiz: Credit, Loan Processes, and Small Business Scenario

    11. Toolbox: Loan Intake

    12. Work on your Implementation Plan!

    13. Live Session 4! (4/22)

About this course

  • Non-member price: $2,000
  • Member price: $1,200
  • Additional discounts available for small CUs and groups

  • Open to:

    Inclusiv member and nonmember credit unions that would like to launch or expand their small business lending programs.

  • Participant limit:

    We recommend enrolling in teams of 2 participants from each credit union. A maximum of 3 participants per financial institution will be admitted.

  • Tuition:

    This course is designed for a 2–3-person team from each participating credit union. Discounted pricing is available for team enrollment, please contact [email protected] for more information.

  • Language:

    Offered in English.

Upcoming Cohorts

Next cohort: April 1- May 27, 2026 Wednesdays 3-4:30pm EDT. 

Future cohort: September 31- November 18, 2026

Questions? Emails us at [email protected]