CEI Staff

Our dedicated team committed to serving you

Back
Board or Advisory Board Member
Contact

Aisha Benson

CEO and President, Nonprofit Finance Fund

About Aisha

Aisha Benson is President and Chief Executive Officer of Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), a nonprofit lender, consultant, and advocate that has worked for more than 40 years to strengthen nonprofits and improve the way money flows to social good. As a leading community development financial institution (CDFI), NFF has invested over $1.1 billion in financing and access to additional capital in support of over $3.6 billion in projects for thousands of organizations nationwide.

Prior to NFF, Aisha was COO for TruFund Financial Services, a CDFI serving historically disadvantaged small businesses, where she led multi-disciplinary teams executing the delivery of lending services, tax credit deployment, and advisory programs. She also oversaw program design and implementation, resource partner selection and management, and compliance. During her tenure, numerous multimillion-dollar capital access, guaranty, and grant programs were sourced and implemented under her direct management.

Prior to TruFund, Aisha held community development finance roles at Carver Federal Savings, Banco Popular, and JP Morgan Chase. She has deployed $130 million in New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) funding and $175 million of capital to low-income communities.

Aisha holds leadership positions on several key industry boards, including Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), and the NMTC Coalition, and is a Social Sector Advisor to the Economic Opportunity Coalition. Ms. Benson holds a B.A. 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 Wharton University.

image of Piecing Together Success

Piecing Together Success

"It's been five years since we last sat down with Cathy Roberts, founder of Pieceworks, Inc. in Montville, Maine. We visited her custom…"

image of Serving Community Every Day: Melissa Coriaty of Verbena

Serving Community Every Day: Melissa Coriaty of Verbena

"When Melissa Coriaty opened Verbena in 2009, she envisioned a warm, accessible neighborhood café grounded in local ingredients and genuine community connection. Today,…"

image of Mumbai to Maine

Mumbai to Maine

"When Cherie Scott moved to Boothbay, Maine, she found herself thousands of miles from the flavors, memories, and traditions familiar to her childhood…"