CEO, Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)

Background

SC Community Loan Fund (SCCLF) is a certified Community Development Entity (CDE) in SC and a U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). With offices in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, SCCLF’s diverse board and staff reflect the communities served.  One of only three certified loan fund CDFIs in the State, 2024 marked SCCLF’s 20^th year of community investment, acting as a catalyst for economic growth and development.

Founded in 2005 as the Low Country Housing Trust, SCCLF’s mission is to advance equitable access to capital by providing loans, technical assistance, and advocacy for the development of affordable housing, healthy food retail, community facilities, and community business enterprises. Today SCCLF has a $51M+ balance sheet and has driven over $1B in community lending and investments over the last two decades, including allocating over $85M in New Market Tax Credits (NMTC).

Most recently, Charleston County invested $8.3M from local Accommodations Tax revenues in an innovative ‘Housing Our Future Trust Fund’ (HOFTF) administered by SCCLF, and is currently partnering with SCCLF to administer $10M in ARPA Funds in support of gap financing for affordable housing projects. This revolving loan fund will provide below-market financing to developers and organizations committed to building and preserving affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income residents.

Summary

We’re looking for a dynamic leader with a strong commitment to equitable access to economic opportunity, and proven experience in nonprofit management. To ensure the organization’s effective operation and growth, you’ll oversee the day-to-day operations, direction and fiscal management of the organization. You’ll build intentional relationships with the staff, board, volunteers, donors and investors – all those who ensure the effective implementation of the mission.  As the successful candidate, you’ll have experience in general management and administration: gained managing the operations, finances, people and infrastructure of a nonprofit with a multi-million dollar budget. Your verifiable success as a steward of community development funds, along with interpersonal effectiveness, fundraising, strategic planning and public relations are integral to this role. You’ll  report to the Board Chair and inherit 15 highly engaged employees, including three senior leaders: a Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Lending Officer (CLO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Responsibilities

As the successful candidate for CEO, you’ll bring a proven track record of performing all or most of the following responsibilities: 

Compliance and Best Practices: Comply with nonprofit’s bylaws, policies, articles of incorporation and CDFI Fund certification requirements, and with all relevant regulatory, legal and ethical standards. Ensure nonprofit meets the highest standards possible for its field, region and constituents. Keep abreast of local, state, national changes as they affect CDFIs. 

Capitalization, Lending & Financial Management: Develop/oversee a robust capitalization plan and overarching philanthropy strategy, including: fundraising planning and implementation, identifying resource requirements and durable capital needs, establishing strategies to approach funders, submitting proposals and maintaining communication with investors and donors.

Develop and maintain an evolving loan fund business model that produces exceptional community impact while sustaining financial health and organizational integrity. Prepare the annual budget; provide timely financial reporting; ensure a clean annual financial audit; conduct trend analysis to inform financial planning.

 Board Governance: Make highest and best use of an all volunteer board of directors by enabling a strong committee structure, that is board led and staff supported.  Facilitate a board-driven strategic planning function that fosters board development, governance and succession planning at the Board, CEO and Senior Staff levels. Build, sustain and strengthen all board functions, through effective board governance, training and onboarding of new board members.

Community Relations & Fund Development: Develop and maintain relationships with donors, the board, funders, nonprofits, private entities, government, and community to ensure you meet/exceed strategic goals and objectives. Nurture strategic alliances with regional and national industry groups e.g. the CDFI Fund, other CDFIs (loan funds and credit unions), SCACED, the Opportunity Finance Network, Aeris, and other relevant entities.  Create/nurture a culture in which fundraising and development opportunities are valued and supported by the staff and board.  Prepare accurate and timely analyses to capture and communicate income and expense variances and trends and to inform scenario planning.

Operations: Technology, Human Resources and Facilities: Ensure cost-effective processes and IT solutions in place for fundraising, collaboration, document creation and storage, communication, productivity and record keeping. Ensure organization is steadily progressing in executing the strategies outlined in support of SCCLF’s goals, e.g.:

• Increase Financial Stability & Capacity (via KPIs for Finance & Lending, Improved capitalization, and 3^rd party review (including audit and Aeris)
• Maximize Community Development Impact
• Build and Retain Strong Board and Team Culture
• Build Organizational Capacity through: 1) Maintaining CDFI Certification and compliance reporting; 2) Enhance Operational systems, processes and written procedures, and 3) Improve data Tracking and Reporting

Requirements

In addition to a track record of performing the responsibilities above, you’ll have these minimum qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field or equivalent experience required; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum of ten to fifteen years of nonprofit leadership experience, in positions of progressively increasing responsibility, including responsibilities for people management, operations, financial management, budgeting, capitalization, lending, advocacy, fiscal integrity, compliance, fundraising, public relations and strategic planning.
• Previous general management experience as a nonprofit ED or CEO strongly preferred.
• Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) experience strongly preferred.
• Must have a strong commitment to the mission and values of SCCLF.
• Demonstrated success in securing major gifts, grants, investments/capital, through developing and executing a diverse funding strategy.
• Inspiring interpersonal effectiveness, communication and public speaking skills in support of fundraising (e.g. large event management, media interviews, donor cultivation, etc.
• Exceptional emotional intelligence, e.g. ability to read a room, with a reputation for cultivating unity and harmony across a broad range of interests, objectives and people.
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational management skills, including the ability to continually increase effective and efficient use of finite resources.
• Knowledge of and alignment with local, statewide and national resources for funding and technical assistance, based on local, regional and state-wide community needs.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary in the low six figures based on relevant experience. Competitive benefits package and negotiable performance-based bonus.

How to Apply

Please reference OFN when sending resume and salary requirements to [email protected]. If qualified, you will be sent a detailed position description and invitation to a Zoom interview. You can also specify your city of preference by applying directly via Columbia, Charleston or Greenville/Spartanburg/Anderson.