As our new political reality shifts federal grantmaking and limits opportunities for nonprofits to prioritize initiatives focused on creating equitable and accessible communities, we must find new ways to fund the future we envision. This means embracing innovative strategies to advance our work, regardless of the current circumstances. This panel features leaders with deep experience in funding equity-centered work, including experts from CDFIs, philanthropy, community organizations, and the government. Together, they’ll explore creative funding strategies to help keep your projects moving forward and making an impact. Moderated by James Hardy, Interim Deputy Director at RWJF, this discussion will bring an optimistic, future-oriented outlook on funding our work despite the current climate.

Lanre Ajakaiye, CEO & Founder, 25 Bough Street
Lanre is a dynamic leader with a track record of driving award-winning transformation across Fortune 50 companies, startups, and leading nonprofits. With expertise in leveraging people, process, and technology for impact, [Name] specializes in scaling initiatives that balance social good with economic growth.As a General Partner and Developer at IXL Consulting Group, Lanre is at the forefront of integrating AI and automation into organizations, enhancing brand strategy, and driving operational efficiency. Their work extends to revitalizing underserved communities, including the development of a commercial hub featuring residential units, an agricultural center, and a Futures Hub for workforce development—creating jobs and increasing local housing supply. With a passion for innovation and social impact, Lanre excels in strategic storytelling, fundraising, and business growth solutions that empower businesses and communities alike.

 

 

 

David Lipsetz, President & CEO, Housing Assistance Council
David Lipsetz is the President & CEO of the Housing Assistance Council’s (HAC), a national nonprofit that has been helping build homes and community in rural America since 1971. With staff located throughout the United States and an office in Washington, DC, HAC assists community-based nonprofits, local governments, and private organizations to develop owner-occupied homes, rental housing, community facilities and more. HAC’s mission is to improve conditions for the rural poor, with an emphasis on the poorest of the poor in the most rural places. David earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Michigan State University, and Master’s degrees in both Sociology and City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University. He currently resides in Washington, DC with his wife and kids.

 

 

 

 

Alecia Hill, Vice President – Impact Investing, FCP

Aleicia is an accomplished, results-driven Impact Investing Professional experienced in all aspects of private equity fund development and execution, deal screening and underwriting, due diligence and project management, buildout and launch of fund operations with internal business functions integration, and institutional and retail investor account management. She has niche expertise in qualified opportunity funds, affordable housing/real estate finance, impact investing & ESG frameworks, MWBEs and entrepreneurship, capital innovation. Other areas of expertise include investment management & Underwriting, impact investing & ESG, fund development & originations, real estate finance, community development, product development and capital innovation. Alecia also serves as the chair of SGA’s real estate coalition, LOCUS.

 

 

 

Yolanda Davila, SVP, Community Development SW Territory Executive, PNC Bank

At PNC, Davila is responsible for the team dedicated to improving low- and moderate-income communities across the bank’s southwest footprint encompassing the states of Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Davila, who has almost 10 years of experience with PNC and BBVA USA, most recently served as the Community Development Market Manager for Texas, where she led a team charged with managing Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance, volunteerism, community giving, and community lending and investment efforts statewide. In her new role, she is also responsible for leading the regional implementation of PNC’s $88 billion Community Benefits Plan. Prior to her role at BBVA, she was a Texas Legislative Budget Board senior analyst for ten years where she worked with various stakeholders including members of the legislature, state and local agencies, and state service recipients. Her work duties included fiscal analysis of legislative bills, monitoring compliance of state agency program policies and statutory code, testifying in hearings, and publishing performance evaluations of state agency programs. Davila lives in Austin, TX and is the immediate past chair of the board of PeopleFund, and currently serves as past chair of the Economic Growth Business Incubator, the board of LiftFund, the Austin regional board chair of IDEA Public Schools, roundtable member of the Texas Association of CDCs, and community advisory committee member of the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations. She has previously chaired the boards of Foundation Communities, an affordable housing nonprofit, and the Workers Defense Project. Born and raised in El Paso, TX, she is a first-generation college graduate and received a B.A. in Political Science from Williams College, Massachusetts, and a MP Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas in Austin.

James Hardy, Interim Deputy Director at RWJF

James Hardy joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in 2021, bringing his extensive experience in city-wide economic and community development to his work supporting RWJF’s efforts in building healthy, equitable communities. He views his role as an opportunity to work with small and mid-sized cities, across the country, in promoting economic development as a key driver of health outcomes. And he praises RWJF for setting the “gold standard for public health practice and policy and for its role in building a Culture of Health through community and equitable development.” Previously, James served as the deputy mayor for integrated development in Akron, Ohio, where he merged economic and community development efforts in the city. Earlier he served as chief of staff to Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and assistant director of community health at Summit County Public Health. There he led the Health Equity and Social Determinants Unit, managing a diverse portfolio of community-based programs and public health services. Prior to that, he was a special assistant in the office of the president and board of trustees of Kent State University. He also served as a regional director for Ohio secretary of state Jennifer Brunner, and as an Executive Office intern for former U.S. President Bill Clinton. James holds a BA in Political Science-Criminal Justice from the University of Akron, and a Master of Public Health from Kent State University with a concentration in health policy and management. From 2020-2021, he was a Fulcrum Fellow with the Center for Community Investment at the Lincoln Land Policy Institute, which works to overcome disinvestment and improve opportunity so that everyone has a fair chance to lead a healthy and productive life. He credits his late mother, a former teacher and high school principal, for inspiring him to always strive for the best in his educational pursuits and service to his state and community.