Neighborhood Impact Investment FundOne Neighborhood at a Time
Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund
Mark Kaufman is the CEO of the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund. A lifelong Baltimorean, Mark was most recently Executive Vice President at City First Bank, a Community Development Financial Institution with a 25 year history of providing mission-oriented capital in DC, Maryland and Virginia, and President of the bank’s non-profit holding company. Previously, he served as Counselor to the Deputy Treasury Secretary in the Obama Administration with responsibility for domestic finance issues for three years and as Maryland’s Commissioner of Financial Regulation for five years in the wake of the financial crisis. At the conclusion of his service, he was named Maryland’s Consumer Advocate of the Year by the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition. In addition to his work in government, Mark has over 15 years of finance experience as an investment banker in Baltimore, with Alex. Brown & Sons and various successor entities. He is a Trustee and Director of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, a board member of the Jacob K Javits Foundation and a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.
Email: Mark@baltimoreniif.org
Patti Chandler is the CFO of the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund. A native Baltimorean, Patti most recently served as Vice President of Finance and Administration at the Baltimore Community
Foundation where she led budget and finance, technology, human resources, and investments, including local impact investing.
With more than 45 years of experience in finance and technology, Patti began her career working in a Big Eight accounting firm, led the computer consulting division of two CPA firms, and, for more than 19
years, operated her own consulting company serving nonprofit and municipal clients. Patti earned her CPA license and held certifications in information technology and computer proficiency (CITP and CCP).
Patti is the Board Chair of Ignite Capital and a mentor for Innovations Works Baltimore.
Email: Patti@baltimoreniif.org
Ryan Rattanni is the Senior Lending Officer of the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund. He has nearly 10 years’ experience working in community and economic development in Baltimore City. Most recently, Ryan was a Director of Lending at Reinvestment Fund, where he was responsible for business development, originating, and underwriting the firm’s mission-aligned lending in Baltimore. Previously, he worked for Baltimore Development Corporation and the Baltimore City Department of Finance. Ryan has graduate degrees in Community Planning and Real Estate Development from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of Connecticut. He serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of Federal Hill Main Street and is a resident of South Baltimore.
Email: Ryan@baltimoreniif.org
Sammy Ndiyo is the Controller of the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund. He has over 8 years of experience in finance and accounting and has worked with both nonprofit and governmental organizations. He most recently served as the Finance Director for Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing where he led the Finance Department and oversaw all aspects of the accounting and finance function including month-end close management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial reporting, budgeting, compliance, grant tracking and reporting. Sammy has also been involved in professional organizations, serving as the treasurer of the National Association of Black Accountants – Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter (NABA) and as a member of the CFO Leadership Council.
He earned his accounting degree from Morgan State University and obtained his CPA license in 2015 while working at the Center for Urban Families.
Email: Sammy@baltimoreniif.org
Jake Crouse is a Loan Officer for the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund after having served as NIIF’s Baltimore Corps Fellow in 2022-2023. Born and raised in Maryland, Jake is an alumnus of the University of Maryland and the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins. Prior to joining NIIF, he was a Finance Specialist at EdOps, a registered B Corp serving nonprofit public charter schools in Washington, D.C., where he oversaw all financial aspects for his clients including bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable, grants administration, reporting, and compliance. Previously, he worked at the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, first as an AmeriCorps volunteer and later as a Construction Site Supervisor, building affordable housing in the Lower Ninth Ward.
Email: Jacob@baltimoreniif.org
Ashley Payne-El is the Staff Accountant at the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund. Ash has been in the accounting field since age 16, initially starting her career as a bookkeeper for a small candle company in the early 2000s. Prior to joining NIIF, she worked for a number of nonprofit organizations and healthcare providers including Healthcare Access Maryland as the Homeless Services Coordinator and Renewal Counseling Center as the Administrative Director during the height of the pandemic. She is currently working towards obtaining her CPA license.
Ash is a Baltimore native and is very passionate about the work we do at NIIF to deliver capital to our City’s historically disinvested neighborhoods. When she is not working, Ash can be found exploring local farmers and new restaurants around the city. She also participates regularly in the annual walk for Autism Speaks.