Application Guide

How to Apply for Business Development Officer

at Working Solutions CDFI

🏢 About Working Solutions CDFI

Working Solutions CDFI is a mission-driven nonprofit that directly addresses systemic inequities by providing affordable capital and free business consulting to underserved entrepreneurs, particularly low-income, BIPOC, and women business owners. With over $70 million deployed to 3,000+ small businesses in California, the organization offers a tangible opportunity to make a measurable impact in economic justice.

About This Role

As a Business Development Officer, you will be the frontline advocate for expanding access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs, primarily by building referral partnerships with banks, credit unions, and community organizations. Your work will directly increase loan volume and market presence, ensuring that mission-aligned clients receive the support they need to thrive.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing CRM data to identify outreach priorities, followed by virtual meetings with community partners or potential referral sources. You might spend the afternoon attending a local small business event (often in person) to build relationships, and end the day updating your pipeline and strategizing follow-ups based on trends you've observed.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Working Solutions CDFI

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Working Solutions CDFI Is Looking For

  • A bilingual (Spanish/English) professional with 1-3 years of experience in business development, community outreach, or relationship management, ideally within nonprofit, CDFI, or financial services sectors.
  • Someone who thrives on building authentic, trust-based relationships with diverse stakeholders, including financial institutions and community organizations serving BIPOC and low-income populations.
  • A self-starter comfortable with remote work and proficient in virtual tools like Zoom, Outlook, and CRM systems (Salesforce preferred), who can independently manage outreach strategies and track data.
  • A passionate advocate for economic equity who can effectively communicate the CDFI's mission and impact in presentations and meetings with potential partners.

📝 Tips for Applying to Working Solutions CDFI

1

Highlight any experience working with underserved communities, especially BIPOC or women-owned businesses, in your resume and cover letter.

2

Demonstrate your Spanish fluency by writing a portion of your cover letter in Spanish or explicitly stating your proficiency level and how you've used it professionally.

3

Showcase specific examples of building referral partnerships or generating leads, including metrics like number of partnerships formed or leads generated.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize customer service, relationship-building, and presentation skills, using keywords from the job description such as 'community outreach' and 'CRM data entry'.

5

Mention any familiarity with CDFIs, community development, or small business lending; if you lack direct experience, explain your transferable skills and passion for the mission.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Express genuine commitment to the CDFI's mission of economic justice and supporting underserved entrepreneurs.", 'Highlight your Spanish fluency and ability to communicate with diverse communities.', "Provide concrete examples of how you've built referral relationships or expanded market presence in previous roles.", 'Emphasize your comfort with remote work and proficiency with virtual office tools and CRM systems.']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Working Solutions CDFI's website to understand their loan products, borrower demographics, and impact metrics.
  • → Read recent news or press releases about the organization to understand their current initiatives and challenges.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the CDFI industry and how Working Solutions differentiates itself from other CDFIs.
  • → Research the specific underserved communities in California that Working Solutions serves, including key demographics and economic barriers.
Visit Working Solutions CDFI's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you successfully built a referral partnership with a financial institution or community organization. What strategies did you use?
2 How would you approach outreach to a new community organization serving low-income or BIPOC entrepreneurs?
3 How do you prioritize and manage multiple outreach activities while maintaining accurate CRM data?
4 What does economic justice mean to you, and why is it important in small business lending?
5 How would you handle a situation where a potential partner is hesitant to refer clients to a CDFI?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention the CDFI's mission or specific requirements like Spanish fluency.
  • Failing to demonstrate measurable results in past outreach or partnership-building efforts.
  • Overlooking the nonprofit nature of the role; avoid language focused solely on profit or sales without acknowledging the social impact.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Working Solutions CDFI!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →