2026 Open Access Fellowship Program Outcome

Two months ago, NEF welcomed Jamila Danzy as our 2026 Open Access Fellow. The Open Access Fellowship Program focuses on removing barriers to opportunity within the community development finance space. The paid fellowship immerses professionals in the industry sector through hands-on placements, LIHTC training, financial modeling and mentorship.

Throughout her tenure at NEF, Jamila has:

• Completed foundational technical training on NEF’s underwriting model and transaction evaluation process
• Gained affordable housing transaction process and market exposure
• Participated in site visits across Chicago neighborhoods
• Met with NEF leaders across departments to better understand the full lifecycle of LIHTC investment
• Completed a comprehensive final project using NEF developer models to prepare projections and an investments summary

And of course, she did all of this while completing her Open Access Fellowship coursework. Jamila plans to continue expanding her affordable housing knowledge through additional trainings and professional development opportunities. We are proud of the work she has done and thankful to have more great minds to help solve the affordable housing crisis.

Thank you to our partners at Open Access for allowing us to sponsor and participate in their program to build the future of community development finance.