The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is designed to encourage banks and thrifts to meet the financial credit and service needs of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, requiring that lenders use their private-sector resources to meet the financing needs of all communities in which lenders conduct business. This brief outlines several types of activities for which lenders may receive CRA credit and identifies important considerations for communities seeking to access CRA resources for development initiatives. Despite the CRA's historical emphasis on housing, and to a lesser extent business development, this brief focuses more extensively on other uses of CRA of benefit to children and families. The brief presents background information on the CRA and the types of CRA resources for use with community development initiatives: loans, grants, in-kind donations, equity equivalent investments, and community development services. Included are examples of CRA commitments that have benefited children, families, and communities. Considerations for organizations thinking about integrating CRA resources into their financing strategies are also noted. Finally, the brief discusses strategic steps for securing CRA commitments. (Lists additional information resources. Contains 22 endnotes.) (KB)