Duke Law Clinic Helps Shape a Local Lending Initiative

How the clinic’s guidance can help community nonprofits help themselves

A person with a notebook, calculator and money

This is a summary of a story on Duke Law.

A partnership between Duke Law School’s Community Enterprise Clinic and the Latino Community Development Center (LCDC) is helping pave the way for a new lending program that could strengthen nonprofit organizations throughout the community.

LCDC, the nonprofit affiliate of Latino Community Credit Union (LCCU), has long explored setting up a loan fund to support community nonprofits. To advance the idea, the organization turned to Duke Law’s Community Enterprise Clinic, which provides legal and business guidance to mission-driven organizations.

Under the supervision of clinic director Andrew Foster, Duke Law student Addison Smith researched potential structures for the proposed loan fund and analyzed the benefits and challenges of each option. His work included evaluating nonprofit and subsidiary models and exploring innovative approaches, such as a zero-interest recoverable grant program. Smith also identified the possibility of pursuing Community Development Financial Institution designation, which could open doors to future federal funding opportunities.

According to LCDC leaders, the clinic’s guidance helped transform a long-discussed concept into a defined strategic priority. The project is among several collaborations between LCCU and the clinic over the past two decades.

For Smith, the experience provided a firsthand look at how legal skills can support community development. “The Community Enterprise Clinic helps organizations help themselves and others,” he said.

The project reflects the clinic’s broader mission: providing Duke Law students with real-world experience while helping nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and community organizations expand their impact in underserved communities.

To learn more about the Community Enterprise Clinic, visit Duke Law.