Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), a pivotal force in community development, has announced a significant expansion of its senior leadership team, welcoming Bianca Prade and Francisco Lopez as Senior Vice Presidents. This strategic move is poised to amplify the organization’s capacity to deepen impact and foster economic opportunity across America, reinforcing its commitment to communities often underserved by mainstream finance.
Opportunity Finance Network stands as the nation’s foremost investment intermediary and a robust network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). For nearly four decades, OFN has been instrumental in channeling vital investment into communities, catalyzing profound change and creating inclusive economic pathways for all citizens through its impact-driven investment approach.
Bianca Prade steps into her role as Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications, bringing over two decades of experience guiding Fortune 100 brands and mission-driven nonprofits through critical moments. Her distinguished expertise in strategic communications, brand narrative development, and stakeholder engagement will be pivotal in articulating OFN’s vision and impact on a broader scale, bolstering the organization’s public profile.
Joining as Senior Vice President of Innovation Programs, Francisco Lopez is a seasoned executive in financial innovation and community development finance. With a track record spanning more than twenty years, his leadership has driven strategic growth, capital deployment, and the crucial integration of technology within the CDFI sector, including initiatives involving AI-driven lending and data analytics, propelling the sector forward.
These strategic leadership appointments are particularly timely as OFN launches its ambitious Innovation Initiative, designed to confront persistent challenges within the community development finance industry. This forward-looking program aims to identify and implement fresh, transformative solutions that will drive systemic change and foster greater financial inclusion nationwide, emphasizing financial innovation.
OFN’s extensive network encompasses over 470 CDFIs, including community development loan funds, credit unions, green banks, and minority depository institutions, collectively managing over $100 billion in assets. This powerful collective works tirelessly to ensure that rural, urban, and Native communities have access to affordable and responsible financial products and services, creating vital economic opportunity.
Since its inception in 1986, OFN members have collectively originated over $100 billion in cumulative financing. This monumental effort has directly contributed to the creation or maintenance of nearly 3.4 million jobs, the establishment or expansion of over 1 million businesses, and the development of close to 3 million housing units, alongside more than 15,000 community facility projects.
As OFN continues its vital work, the enhanced senior leadership team underscores its unwavering dedication to fostering sustainable economic opportunities and championing equitable access to finance. These strategic hires will undoubtedly accelerate OFN’s mission, ensuring a future where financial empowerment is within reach for all Americans and strengthening its position in nonprofit finance.
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