Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF), a national, non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a mission to improve lives and strengthen communities through innovative financial solutions, elected two new members to its Board of Trustees at its June 2023 board meeting.
CRF is pleased to welcome Jeannine Jacokes, CEO, Partners for the Common Good, and Ruben Alonso III, CEO, AltCap.
“Jeannine and Ruben are exceptional leaders who each have proven track records developing innovative solutions and guiding collaborative efforts that enrich communities,” said Matthew Roth, CRF’s President and CEO. “We are honored to have them as Trustees and learn from their perspectives as we work together to advance CRF’s mission and serve small businesses with a history of being excluded by the financial mainstream.”
Jeannine Jacokes
Jeannine Jacokes is CEO and founder of Partners for the Common Good (PCG), a national CDFI intermediary that finances affordable housing and community facilities. Jeannine also founded and currently serves as CEO of the Community Development Bankers Association (CDBA), a national trade association for mission focused banks that are Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs).
Over her career, Jeannine has been integral to the growth of the CDFI and MDI sector and promoting access to capital in underserved communities. She served as a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs where she played a lead role in drafting the CDFI Fund’s authorizing statute. She later joined U.S. Treasury on the leadership team that launched the CDFI Fund.
Jeannine received her Masters in Urban Planning for the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and her undergraduate degree from Aquinas College.
Ruben Alonso III
Ruben Alonso III is the CEO of AltCap, a multi-state, purpose-driven and minority-controlled CDFI based in Kansas City, Missouri. In this role, he is responsible for the organization’s overall administration, management, ongoing growth and development, and strategic direction.
Additionally, Ruben serves on the board of directors for equity2, AltCap’s impact investment affiliate, the Community Capital Fund and Midtown KC Now. He also serves as a Class B member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
Ruben was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Slovakia. He supported a microlending and business development non-governmental organization, taught English at a local secondary school, and helped found a local boxing club for Romani youth. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Miami and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Southern California.