Rafael Morales ‌

Rafael brings over 22 years' experience working with community development credit unions nationally, alongside nearly a decade of philanthropic work as a foundation program officer in California, focused on community economic development, asset-building, entrepreneurship and workforce development, affordable housing, and community organizing and policy, to support diverse working families and communities strengthen their economic stability and access to opportunity. As CRL's, Director of Philanthropy, he leads CRL's national fundraising strategy, with a focus on deepening and strengthening CRL's on-the-ground activities across the U.S. to augment the efforts of community organizers through policy and litigation to strengthen consumer protections that allow working families to achieve their financial goals and dreams.

Rafael holds a BA in international studies from Middlebury College with concentrations in political science and Spanish, and has worked his entire career in community economic development, first at Inclusiv (the national trade association for community development credit unions) for 9 years; as a foundation program officer for 9 years in California; and most recently for the past 5 years as Senior Manager for Development, Policy & Impact at Self-Help Federal Credit Union, a leading CDFI credit union with physical branches in 9 states, but operating nationally through its real estate development, commercial lending, and affordable mortgage secondary market programs.

When he's not focused on supporting working families and communities, Rafael is raising two bi-lingual (English/Spanish) elementary schoolers with his wife in San Francisco and enjoying nature and the great outdoors whenever they can. Born in Puerto Rico, he tries to get back to his homeland to enjoy the food, culture and natural beauty of the Island. An avid skier (and a two-time Massachusetts state champion), he also tries to get to the mountains as often as possible in the wintertime.