In 1987, our founders had a vision of putting their money to work as a tool for building financially strong and culturally vibrant communities capable of growing their sown seeds of self-determination.

We have successfully carried out that vision since the 1980s, by connecting investors to communities, lending to nonprofits, small businesses, and cooperatives, and providing financial and real estate consulting to organizations that share our vision of sustainable communities and social, racial, and economic justice.

Since then we’ve invested more than $350 million to projects throughout California, impacting the lives of more than 1.5 million of our neighbors. Our lending and consulting services support organizations that provide affordable housing, equitable and sustainable access to healthy food, community arts, and critical social, medical and youth services.

Mission

We promote economic justice and alleviate poverty by increasing the financial resilience and sustainability of community-based nonprofits and enterprises. Through flexible financial products and sound advice, we create opportunities to make socially responsible investments that revitalize Northern and Central California communities.

Vision

We envision financially strong and culturally vibrant communities where each person has access to decent jobs, homes, health care, education, and economic opportunities. We work in partnership with individuals and organizations who share our vision of sustainable communities and social and economic justice.

Our Values

Conscious Investment

We deploy capital and knowledge that creates long-term systems change to power structures.

Learning

We use evaluation, reflection, and knowledge sharing to inform nimble and innovative approaches to solutions that achieve personal and organizational excellence.

Racial and Economic Equity

We recognize that a history of discriminatory financial practices and intentional disinvestment have contributed to a lack of economic progress in low-income communities and communities of color. Community Vision provides capital and technical assistance for communities that have been systemically disadvantaged to ensure fairness in opportunities, resources, and rights for everyone.

Client Service Focused

We are responsive and consistent in our interactions. Everything starts with our clients’ needs. We adapt our process and offerings accordingly.

Humility and Respect

We value the wealth of experience, insight, and culture rooted in the communities we work with.

Collaboration

We recognize and engage each other’s strengths to achieve a shared vision or goal.

Integrity

We are honest, accountable, and transparent with each other and our stakeholders. We value and practice sound ethical character and behavior.

Community Vision is an Equal Opportunity organization. Learn more here.

Our People

We understand that no one knows your problem better than you do, and we believe that client input is integral to all solutions. Working together, we listen to your concerns and apply our experience and wisdom to tackle the financial challenges our clients face. You are our partner throughout the entire process.

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Betty Banh : Staff Accountant

Betty Banh

Staff Accountant

Betty is responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable and other accounting functions. Before joining Community Vision in February 2015, I worked at First Place for Youth, a nonprofit organization which is to help foster kids build the skills they need to make a successful transition to self-sufficiency and responsible adulthood. Prior to First Place for youth, she worked as a bookkeeper/general accountant at Port Seafood, Inc.

bbanh@communityvisionca.org
Amy Johnson : Community Real Estate Consultant

Amy Johnson

Community Real Estate Consultant

Amy has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, centering community empowerment and ownership as a driving force in her work. She has worked across a range of sectors, including community-owned media, worker cooperatives, community land trusts, affordable housing, arts and culture, and progressive electoral campaigns.

A licensed real estate agent, she specializes in helping clients explore alternative models of ownership, including co-buying, co-housing, and housing cooperatives. Her passion lies in community organizing to ensure that the people and organizations who shape and sustain vibrant neighborhoods can afford to live, work, and thrive in the places they love.

Originally from the East Coast, Amy has called Oakland home for more than 15 years, where she is raising her family. She holds a BA in Communications from La Salle University and an MPA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School, with a concentration in economic development through community ownership.

ajohnson@communityvisionca.org
Sal Smyth : Manager of Underwriting

Sal Smyth

Manager of Underwriting

Sal Smyth is Community Vision’s Manager of Underwriting, overseeing all credit underwriting activities. Sal brings over seven years of experience underwriting community serving real estate transactions, primarily focused on affordable housing and community facilities. Before becoming a lender, Sal obtained a graduate degree in public policy and worked for the Federal government as well as several nonprofits focused on systems change. Sal’s policy background informs their approach to work as a lender. Sal is deeply committed to Community Vision’s work to support community-based organizations to purchase, preserve, and develop social purpose real estate.

ssmyth@communityvisionca.org
Amanda Bornstein : Director, Real Estate Solutions

Amanda Bornstein

Director, Real Estate Solutions

Amanda has more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit and small business management, urban planning, and real estate. She has worked for local government, community-based arts nonprofits, environmental advocacy organizations, and others. Amanda holds a BA in American Studies and a BFA in Visual Art, both from Tufts University. She also holds a Masters in Urban Planning from UCLA, with a Design and Development concentration.

abornstein@communityvisionca.org
Jacqueline Carlisle : Senior Real Estate Consultant

Jacqueline Carlisle

Senior Real Estate Consultant

Jacqueline Carlisle’s career has been shaped by her desire to help individuals and organizations identify, navigate and transcend structural wealth building barriers. She is a native Californian holding California and Arizona Real Estate Broker and Certified General Appraiser licences with over 25 years of property valuation and real estate sales experience.  She has a demonstrated track record of providing critical leadership, including driving strategic efforts to increase the value of distressed properties and coordinate community centric profitable disposition.   Alongside with her real estate experience Ms. Carlisle served as the Executive Director for a national HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency. During her tenure she helped to grow the organization from five branches to forty-one and successfully managed a network of two hundred housing counselors, throughout sixteen states. She has a consistent history of outperforming program goals and motivating teams to exceed targets. 

She served as President of the California Association of Real Estate Brokers and was a Gubernatorial appointee to the California Department of Real Estate Advisory Commission. On the Advisory Commission she successfully  introduced and advocated for Real Estate Practice as a required course for all licensing candidates. Her profile within the Housing and Real Estate industry testifies to her drive and commitment to leave a significant impact on organizations and in people's lives. 

She holds a GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) designation from the National Association of Realtors. She attended Golden Gate University with a business concentration and recently earned an Associates of Arts in Leadership and Ministry from Grace Christian University.

jcarlisle@communityvisionca.org
Camille Clinton : Senior Content Developer

Camille Clinton

Senior Content Developer

Camille is a dedicated storyteller and writer, convinced that words have the power to inspire action and catalyze change. As the Content Developer, she oversees the writing and editing of Community Vision’s storytelling including social media, website, newsletters and more. Prior to joining Community Vision, Camille contributed her skills to a national nonprofit focused on higher education. She holds a B.A. in Global Studies and is a graduate of the Professional Writing and Copy Editing program, both from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

cclinton@communityvisionca.org

Board of Directors

Anita Addison, Chair
John Chan, Treasurer
David Elsaesser, Secretary
Patricia GoPaul, At-Large
Carolyn Johnson, At-Large
Andy Madeira
Bhavani Daryanani
Nikki Beasley
Estella Sanchez

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