Dear friends,
At Boston Impact Initiative (BII), our work has always strived to meet the moment while building toward the future we know is possible. This moment in particular demands solidarity, resilience and strategic clarity as we continue advancing economic justice alongside communities who have been systematically excluded from wealth and power.
Through our mission, BII has fostered an ecosystem where diverse entrepreneurs and impact fund managers are supported with capital, knowledge, and community to build sustainable enterprises. Together, they co-design creative solutions to pressing problems, guided by a deep understanding of solidarity and interdependence. Similarly, we’re focused on creating an internal culture at BII that models the regenerative economy we aim to build—one that prioritizes care, sustainability, and making space for the creativity and innovation our movement needs.
To this end, we are sharing an important update that reflects our organizational commitment to these principles. Our CEO, Betty Francisco, will begin a three-month sabbatical on February 7th and return on May 8th. After almost five years in her role as a highly creative and visionary CEO, Betty will take time to rest, replenish and reimagine what’s possible. Betty’s sabbatical is an opportunity for her to step back from the urgency of daily operations and create space to envision the next evolution of community-centered finance—to think deeply about what an economy built on solidarity and regeneration, rather than extraction, truly requires of us. In doing so, she hopes to tap into a deep well of creativity and clarity to lead BII into the future.
In a culture that glorifies overwork and burnout—especially for leaders of color doing justice work—taking time to rest is an act of resistance. As Tricia Hersey explains in her “Rest is Resistance” book:
“You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect.”
Betty’s leadership has been the heartbeat of BII since she joined as CEO in May 2021. Under her guidance, we have achieved transformative milestones, including:
- Unlocked new pathways to capital: CDFI certification has enabled us to leverage government and institutional capital to flow resources to communities that traditional finance has ignored.
- Mobilized catalytic investment: Closing BII Fund II, oversubscribed at over $22 million, with 235 investors reflects the strength of our community committed to deploying catalytic capital in service of economic justice.
- Invested in community-led solutions: Our cumulative $20 million in financing and technical assistance for over 100 enterprises and projects has created hundreds of living wage jobs, affordable housing, mental health access, and clean energy solutions for working-class communities.
- Deepened our capacity to serve: Growing our team from 5 to 14 members has allowed us to provide more comprehensive support to entrepreneurs and fund managers.
- Trained the next generation of capital innovators: Through our ARC Fellowship, 90 impact fund managers are now deploying capital with a lens toward racial and economic justice, shifting how investment flows across sectors and geographies nationwide.
- Modeling First Mover Capital: Through the First Mover Fund launched last year, BII is creating a pathway for new impact fund managers to access the early-stage capital they need to build innovative approaches to community wealth building.
BII’s Board is proud to support Betty’s sabbatical, and we are equally proud to welcome Lubna Maria Elia as Interim President and CEO. Lubna is a movement leader who shares BII’s deep commitment to economic justice and community-centered finance. She brings 25 years of leadership experience, including 16 years at impact investing loan funds and the past seven years in executive leadership. Since joining BII as Managing Director of Impact Capital Lab in November 2025, and working as a strategic consultant on our team since mid-June 2025, she has become knowledgeable about BII’s programs and operations. She has earned the trust and respect of our entire team and is ready to guide BII during Betty’s sabbatical, alongside our highly capable and committed team. You can reach Lubna at [email protected] or (617) 702-9132 x 707.
This sabbatical allows BII to model a future where rest is sacred and leadership is sustainable. It creates space for our broader team to step into new leadership opportunities and for Betty to return renewed and ready to guide us through our next chapter. Together, during and after this sabbatical, we will continue advancing our vision of a future where every community has the resources and power to build shared prosperity and abundance.
In solidarity and gratitude,
Juan Leyton
Chair, Board of Directors
Boston Impact Initiative
