Saurabh Narain

Election Statement

I have led NCIF since 2006. We are a CDFI and impact investor and invest equity capital, debt and new markets tax credits into underserved communities nationally. Given my banking experience of over 40-years (of which 21-years have been with NCIF) I have a deep understanding of the needs of underserved communities as well as knowledge of “what works” from a business and finance perspective.

I have been associated with the US SIF for over 15 years having participated in various conferences and the community investing working groups during this period. I am very impressed with the US SIF and its focus on bringing in investment dollars into socially responsible communities and also engaging with governance to adopt forward looking ESG policies. I am keenly interested in encouraging socially responsible investors go beyond investing in public markets and/or shareholder engagement strategies into investing in private markets for much more leveraged and sustained impact – both from a social and environmental perspective. This involves both policy and product development and an intentional engagement with investors - I am keen on supporting the US SIF in this effort.

The recent elections have demonstrated the need to invest capital into local households, local businesses and local communities such that they can grow within the context of a more inclusive society. The US SIF is well positioned to contribute to this goal and my effort is to support it consistent with its Strategic Priorities. Engagement with other senior leaders on the Board will also help in influencing this change.

Finally, I am interested in bringing efficiencies to the investment sector via Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools for data analytics, portfolio construction and impact measurement. NCIF is piloting a platform focused on social investors.

Bio

Saurabh Narain is President and CEO of National Community Investment Fund (www.ncif.org) an impact investor and Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”) that has a mission of increasing the flow of capital into underserved communities nationally. Our theory of change focuses on economic opportunity, racial justice and carbon reduction; in addition we focus on sustained long-term change by investing in and working with local mission-oriented financial institutions that include minority and CDFI banks. He is a Banking Executive with almost 40 years of global experience building highly profitable businesses both in the for-profit and non-profit environments. Under his leadership, NCIF has increased ts AUM to > $280 million, has created over 16,000 jobs and is a major investor in CDFI and Minority Banks. NCIF seeks to generate impact in underserved markets nationally using its three lines of businesses – Equity Investing, Deployment of New Markets Tax Credits and Lending. He is piloting an AI based Advanced Data Analytics Platform to catalyze flow of capital to strategies focused at the intersection of community development and carbon reduction. Saurabh is a member of the Board of Expanding Black Business Credit Consortium (www.ebbcfund.org), Investors Council of the Global Impact Investing Network (www.thegiin.org), Advisory Boards of Wells Fargo Community Development Entity, Allivate Impact Capital, Financial Innovations Roundtable of the Carsey School, University of New Hampshire, Community Development Venture Capital Alliance (www.cdvca.org). He was past member of the Board of the CDFI Coalition (www.cdfi.org), the Federal Reserve Board’s Consumer Advisory Council and Advisory Board of Ripple (www.ripple.com). Prior to NCIF, Saurabh has had extensive experience in capital markets and risk management having worked at Bank of America for almost 17 years based in Asia and the US. Saurabh is a graduate of the ABA Graduate Stonier School of Banking, an MBA from Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India.