Last week, our team had the privilege of attending the 41st Opportunity Finance Network Conference (OFN41) in Washington, D.C., held October 20–23. Representing the Fund for Jobs Worth Owning (FJWO), Jonathan Ward (Director of Lending) and Chris Carley (Loan & Portfolio Manager) joined hundreds of mission-driven finance professionals to explore what’s next for the CDFI sector, and to celebrate the growing energy around cooperative ownership.

From the moment we arrived, it was clear: employee ownership was everywhere. Whether in breakout sessions, hallway conversations, or early-morning meetups, the buzz around worker cooperatives and democratic business models was unmistakable. One highlight was the “Cooperative Breakfast,” where a large and lively group of attendees gathered to share updates, ideas, and inspiration. It was a powerful reminder that the cooperative lending community is not only growing—it's thriving.

Jonathan Ward made his OFN speaking debut in a session titled “Financing Worker Cooperatives: Case Studies by CDFI Members of the Workers to Owners Collaborative.” Hosted by Frank Cetera of the Democracy At Work Institute (DAWI), the panel featured insights from Shared Capital Cooperative and the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast (CFNE), alongside Jonathan’s reflections from FJWO’s lending work. The session spotlighted real-world examples of how CDFIs are helping businesses transition to worker ownership—an essential strategy for preserving jobs, building wealth, and strengthening communities.

FJWO also participated in the “Open for Business Growth Roundtable” hosted by Wells Fargo, where grant recipients discussed innovative financing models and strategies for scaling impact. We were proud to highlight our work with home care and child care cooperatives—sectors where worker ownership is not only viable but transformative. These businesses are often led by women and people of color, and cooperative models offer a path to stability, dignity, and long-term sustainability.

Another standout moment was a roundtable hosted by the Cooperative Development Foundation, bringing together leaders from CFNE, Shared Capital Cooperative, the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund, and Rochdale Capital. The conversation focused on investment opportunities and collaborative strategies to expand access to capital for cooperatives. It was energizing to sit alongside peers who share our commitment to building an inclusive economy rooted in ownership and equity.

OFN41 was also a chance to reconnect with many of our partners in person. Between sessions and roundtables, we managed to snap a few photos (yes, we remembered!) and share stories from the field. After a challenging year at the federal level, the conference theme “Opportunity Next” felt especially timely. It reminded us that despite uncertainty, the future of mission finance is being shaped by bold ideas, deep collaboration, and a shared commitment to justice.

This moment is ripe with possibility. Worker buyouts, home care cooperatives, and child care cooperatives are not just niche experiments—they’re scalable solutions to some of our most pressing economic challenges. Conferences like OFN41 help us build the networks, knowledge, and momentum needed to turn these solutions into systems.

We’re grateful to have been part of it—and we’re more committed than ever to financing jobs worth owning.

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