Chicago, IL (April 3, 2025) – IFF, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), recognized nationally as a mission-driven lender, real-estate consultant, and community developer for Midwest nonprofits, has a new Chair of the Board of Directors – Sakura Takano, CEO of Rotary Charities of Traverse City, a place-based public charity that provides funding, learning, and connections to address the region’s complex problems and create community assets for all. Takano has served on IFF’s board since March 2020.
“We are thrilled to have Sakura as IFF’s new board chair,” said IFF CEO Joe Neri. “As CEO of Rotary Charities of Traverse City, Sakura deeply understands the important work of community development. She has been a champion of IFF’s mission for several years and we are excited to see her step into this new leadership role in service of IFF, our nonprofit clients, and the communities they serve.”
“IFF exemplifies what is needed for successful community development,” said Takano. “It’s not just money that creates positive outcomes, but as IFF knows, it’s relationships, engaging diverse voices, and trust, that together can address challenges in any community. I’m honored to take on this new leadership role to help further IFF’s commitment to supporting nonprofits across the entire Midwest.”
Under Takano’s leadership, Rotary Charities’ impact investing initiative has committed $2 million to generate both social and financial returns, which has unlocked new sources of capital to benefit the region and serves as a call to action, demonstrating how philanthropic assets can be leveraged to accelerate systemic change.
Prior to Rotary Charities, Takano led the housing and workforce development programs at Goodwill Northern Michigan, securing strong local partnerships to leverage new state and federal funding for rural initiatives. She laid her groundwork for leveraging financial tools to support community change at JPMorgan in the investment banking and capital markets divisions. Takano holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from Boston College and an MBA in Social Enterprise from Columbia Business School. Beyond IFF, she serves as a trustee for Munson Healthcare and Venture North Funding and Development.
IFF also welcomes new board members Aaron Seybert, Managing Director, Social Investment Practice, at The Kresge Foundation and Derrick Johnson, Founder/Managing Member, at 1961 Build. The complete Board of Directors can be found at iff.org/board.
###
Media Contact: Laura Silverman, Managing Director of Communications | lsilverman@iff.org, 312-668-8271