Two of the nation’s top-performing Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) — Chicago-based IFF and New Mexico-based Homewise — were honored last night at the national 2008 Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Conference for innovative, responsible lending programs that directly benefit low-and moderate-income communities. As part of the second-annual Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance, the two organizations received grants and low-cost loans known as “program-related investments” totaling $8.25 million.