Overview

Why are you interested in becoming a Trustee?

I am a Senior Program Officer with the DC office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). We are a community development lender, working to create neighborhoods of opportunity for lower-income DC residents. I am interested in becoming a trustee so that I can help drive 0% interest capital to DC-based small business and entrepreneur borrowers.

What is the mission of your organization?

Borrower Due Diligence

How will you decide who to endorse as a borrower? What due diligence will you conduct?

As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), LISC works to drive capital to individuals and projects that are typically overlooked by the traditional banking sector. When deciding on whether to endorse a borrower, I will analyze the borrower's business plan and proposal, as well as consider the following questions: -Is a minority- or woman-owned business? -Connected to the community in which it is working? -Serve a clear need identified by the surrounding community? -Have a longtime presence in the neighborhood and is it facing potential displacement? -Have a dedicated community engagement and/or investment programs targeted to underserved or special needs populations? -Employ DC residents who face higher than average unemployment rates? -Employ residents from the surrounding community? -Source and distribute through neighborhood and DC-based businesses and organizations? -Provide living wages to its employees? -Provide wealth-building opportunities for its employees via cooperative-based models?