Access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges facing small businesses, especially those in underserved communities. To address this need, The Center by Lendistry (“The Center”) partnered with the Global Policy Leadership Academy (GPLA) to launch its first accredited Capital Advising Training Series, equipping business advisors across California with the knowledge and tools to help entrepreneurs become funding-ready and access the capital they need to grow.
The Center is one of more than 100 California nonprofit organizations that form the Success, Capital Access, and Leadership for Entrepreneurs (SCALE) Network, led by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). SCALE connects entrepreneurs to advisors, technical assistance providers, and community resources to help them start, grow, and scale their businesses.
This summer, GPLA and The Center collaborated to strengthen that ecosystem by expanding the capacity of the professionals who serve small businesses every day.
The Capital Advising Series
Delivered weekly, virtually from July through September 2026, the Capital Advising Series featured two learning tracks designed to meet participants where they are in their professional journey:
- Fundamentals Track: Designed for professionals new to capital advisory services, providing a foundation in lending concepts, credit analysis, loan packaging, and financial advisory practices.
- Advanced Track: Created for experienced advisors seeking to deepen their expertise in capital readiness counseling, SSBCI-supported programs, equity investment evaluation, and complex financing structures.
Seasoned industry experts led the series, including The Center’s Small Business Program Advisor, Ben Greenlea, who facilitated all sessions and received glowing reviews from participants for his instructional skills and knowledge. Additional subject matter experts contributed specialized instruction, including a guest lecture on New Market Tax Credits.
As an IACET-accredited provider, GPLA worked closely with The Center to ensure that the curriculum met rigorous continuing education and adult learning standards. In addition to awarding Certificates of Completion with CEUs, GPLA also reviewed and strengthened instructional materials using evidence-based adult learning practices, managed enrollment and training delivery through our learning platform, and collected participant feedback to inform recommendations for continuous improvement in future iterations of the series.
Series Impact at a Glance
- 42 participants enrolled across both tracks
- 33 California-based organizations represented
- 16 certifications awarded
- 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) earned by successful participants enrolled in both tracks
Participants represented more than 30 organizations across eight sectors, including finance, nonprofit development, education, community advocacy, venture capital, construction, and higher education. Organizations represented included the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) and the Los Angeles Economic Equity Action Forward (LEEAF), along with members of The Center by Lendistry’s own staff.
Practical Training with Immediate Application
Graduates gained practical skills they could apply immediately while supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners. The curriculum integrated real-world case studies, financial analysis, credit risk assessment, loan packaging strategies, and advisory best practices to help participants facilitate access to a broader range of funding solutions.
The program also emphasized cultural competency and community-centered advising, ensuring participants were prepared to serve diverse entrepreneurial communities with confidence and understanding.
Participant feedback highlighted increased confidence, stronger technical knowledge, and greater readiness to support businesses seeking capital. Many also praised the quality of instruction and the training’s direct applicability to their daily work.
The Accredited Edge: A Partner Perspective
For The Center, accreditation is about more than earning a credential. It is an opportunity to strengthen the quality, effectiveness, and long-term impact of its training programs. According to Ben Greenlea, accreditation has helped advance the organization’s mission to expand economic opportunity in underserved communities while also creating valuable professional development opportunities for the advisors who support small businesses.
“The Center by Lendistry is committed to expanding economic opportunities in underserved communities. By working with GPLA to accredit our Capital Advising Series, we’ve established a curriculum that serves as both a career advancement opportunity for small business service providers and a means of equipping them with the skills and know-how to help business owners across the state.”
Ben noted that accreditation provides confidence that training programs are not only relevant but also designed according to industry-recognized standards: “Accreditation ensures that the trainings we provide are effective and meet industry standards. Securing this accreditation meant bolstering our course offering, improving training strategy, homing in on learning objectives, and crafting case studies and tests that prepare our learners for real-world application.”
This commitment to instructional quality is central to GPLA’s role as an IACET-accredited provider. Through curriculum review, learner engagement strategies, assessment design, and continuous improvement processes, GPLA helped ensure the Capital Advising Series delivered meaningful and measurable learning outcomes.
Creating Value for Participants
For advisors working directly with entrepreneurs and business owners, the benefits extend far beyond the classroom.
“The Capital Advisor Training Series offers one of the first financial advising certifications designed specifically for small business support providers. This certification distinguishes them as skilled financial advisors, unlocking career advancement and job opportunities. Moreover, it facilitates their work deploying and accessing capital with and for small business owners, ultimately allowing them to be more successful in their day-to-day work.”
By earning a certification with Continuing Education Units (CEUs), participants gain professional recognition and practical tools to guide businesses more effectively through the financing process.
Why The Center Chose GPLA
When evaluating accreditation partners, GPLA’s IACET accreditation played a significant role in The Center’s decision-making process.
“In seeking accreditation opportunities, the IACET component played a considerable role in which partner we chose. We understood that IACET accreditation boasts a rigorous framework that focuses on adult learning theory, a robust needs analysis and continual improvement. Moreover, IACET accreditation unlocks continuing education credits for adult learners. We saw this as a means of holding ourselves and the curriculum to a higher standard, while adding value for successful participants.”
The partnership allowed TCBL to elevate the learning experience while providing participants with a recognized credential that supports ongoing professional growth.
Advancing the Learning & Development Profession
Looking beyond a single program, Ben sees accreditation as a powerful tool for improving learning and development across industries.
“Accreditation establishes a standard for learning and development across various industries, ensuring that the appropriate information is taught, and taught in the right way. It’s as simple as this: anyone can claim to understand a given discipline, but a certification guarantees that they do. Through accreditation, we ensure that the trainings we deliver promote meaningful knowledge transfer and the development of fundamental skills. Ultimately, accreditation supports educators in developing successful trainings, capable of uplifting the efficacy of an industry as a whole.”
For organizations seeking to enhance workforce capability, strengthen training outcomes, and demonstrate a commitment to excellence, accreditation provides a framework to ensure learning experiences lead to measurable results.
What’s Next
Building on the success of its inaugural cohorts, The Center by Lendistry plans to expand training opportunities and continue developing resources that empower both advisors and entrepreneurs. The next cohort of the accredited Capital Advising Series is scheduled to launch in November 2026 as part of TCBL’s ongoing partnership with GPLA. Organizations interested in learning more about the program, exploring partnership opportunities, or enrolling future participants can contact [email protected].
© LeSar Holdings/LeSar Development Consultants. All Rights Reserved. Please be advised that any republishing of copyrighted material provided by our organization, in whole or in part, requires prior written authorization. For permission, please reach out to [email protected]. We appreciate your understanding and compliance in upholding copyright laws.
Related Articles
About the Author