Aisha Benson (she/her) is President and CEO of Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), a nonprofit lender, consultant, and advocate that boosts the collective success and power of nonprofits to advance community wealth and well-being. As a leading community development financial institution (CDFI) founded in 1980, NFF has provided over $1.7 billion in financing and access to additional capital in support of over $5.6 billion in projects for thousands of organizations nationwide.
A community development finance professional and industry thought leader with over 30 years of experience, Aisha came to NFF from TruFund Financial Services, a national CDFI that provides affordable loan capital and business advisory services to historically disadvantaged small businesses and nonprofits. As TruFund’s EVP and COO, she oversaw multi-disciplinary teams related to business and resource development, and the delivery of lending services, tax credit deployment, and advisory programs. She also spearheaded the design and implementation of numerous multimillion-dollar capital access, guaranty, and grant programs.
Prior to TruFund, Aisha held community development finance roles at Carver Federal Savings, Banco Popular, and JP Morgan Chase. She has directly deployed $130 million in New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) funding and $300 million in loan and grant capital to low-income communities.
Aisha serves on several key industry Boards, including as Board Chair for Opportunity Finance Network (OFN). founding member and Board President for the NY CDFI Coalition, and Executive Committee member of the NMTC Coalition. She is a member of the Community Advisory Group of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the Advisory Board of the Center for Impact Finance at the Carsey School of Public Policy, Ms. Benson holds a Bachelor of Art in Psychology, Cum Laude from Columbia University, a certificate in Social Impact Management and Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, and a certificate through a Citi/OFN Sponsored Leadership Training Program for CDFI Executives at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Aisha is an ordained Pastor currently serving at Glory2God Ministries in Poughkeepsie, NY. She is married with six children and nine grandchildren and resides in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Watch Aisha Benson discuss her life-long dedication to meeting the needs of local communities and how NFF is deepening its focus on community and systems-level change to create long-term transformation.
You can also watch Aisha Benson’s conversation with former NFF Board Chair Henry A.J. Ramos.
