OFN AND THE CITI FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 50 CDFI PROFESSIONALS FOR "CITI LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR OPPORTUNITY FINANCE"
Unique Professional Development Program 'by CDFIs for CDFIs' to Advance Opportunity Finance Expertise Across the U.S.
Tammy Thomas, CFO of the Florida Community Loan Fund, honored with selection into Leadership Program
Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) and the Citi Foundation today announced the selection of 50 Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) professionals to take part in the Citi Leadership Program for Opportunity Finance.
Tammy Thomas, Chief Financial Officer of the Florida Community Loan Fund (FCLF) is one of the professionals selected for this program. The 10-month course begins in January.
Tammy was chosen from more than 120 applicants nationwide. The selections reflect the diversity of CDFIs and the low-income, low-wealth and other disadvantaged communities they serve. FCLF is a statewide CDFI, with a mission to provide guidance and funding that help organizations maximize the success of their projects, improving lives and communities.
"I thank OFN and the Citi Foundation for this opportunity," said Thomas. "Citi's Leadership Program for Opportunity Finance comes at a pivotal growth point for our industry and I am honored to be part of the inaugural cohort. "
The program will include three separate career level cohorts, with 11 Executive Leaders, 19 Mid-Career Leaders, and 20 Emerging Leaders. Tammy Thomas was selected to participate in the Mid-Career Leaders level, and is the only participant from Florida.
"Developed by CDFIs for CDFIs, the program supports professionals who strive to lead transformational – structural and systemic – change," said Mark Pinsky, CEO of OFN. "OFN is excited to be able to offer this unique CDFI leadership program with the generous support of the Citi Foundation, which has supported the CDFI industry for more than 20 years."
Participants come from 21 states and the District of Columbia. They represent a variety of CDFI types and specialties, including commercial real estate lending, microfinance, consumer finance, and affordable housing finance. A complete list of participants is available at http://ofn.org/leadership.
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About the Florida Community Loan Fund. FCLF provides flexible capital and technical assistance, primarily to nonprofit organizations working in community development, through its three financing programs: Community Development Fund, Florida Preservation Fund, and New Markets Tax Credits. Since it began lending in 1996, FCLF has originated more than $145 million in low-cost credit to projects throughout Florida and has leveraged an additional $445 million in loans and grants from various public and private sources for those projects. FCLF has a broad range of investors including most major financial institutions operating in Florida, individuals, religious investors, national foundations and trade associations. FCLF is certified both as a Community Development Financial Institution and a Community Development Entity, and is a member of Opportunity Finance Network. For more information on FCLF's Management Team, click here.
About Opportunity Finance Network. Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the leading network of private financial institutions, creates growth that is good for communities, investors, individuals, and the economy. Members of OFN are community development financial institutions (CDFIs) that deliver responsible lending to help low-wealth and low- income communities join the economic mainstream. Through 2011, OFN's network originated more than $30 billion in financing in urban, rural, and Native communities, and financed 940,000 housing units, 83,000 business and microenterprises, and 9,000 community facilities. More information is available at: www.opportunityfinance.net.
About the Citi Foundation. The Citi Foundation is committed to the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of low- to moderate-income individuals and families in the communities where we work so that they can improve their standard of living. Globally, the Citi Foundation targets its strategic giving to priority focus areas: Microfinance, Enterprise Development, College Success, and Financial Capability and Asset Building. In the United States, the Citi Foundation also supports Neighborhood Revitalization programs. The Citi Foundation works with its partners in Microfinance, Enterprise Development, and Neighborhood Revitalization to support environmental programs and innovations. Additional information can be found at www.citifoundation.com.
