Donald Jones

Senior Consultant – New Economy Initiative

Panelist - 2:00 pm, Wednesday, April 6th – Funding Innovation: Public and Private Investments in Talent

Donald Jones is senior consultant to the New Economy Initiative,
responsible for helping the NEI team to build opportunities for
entrepreneurs in the region.

Prior to joining the Community Foundation in his role with NEI, Jones
was the director of resource development at the Oakland Livingston Human
Service Agency (OLHSA) a Community Action Agency located in Pontiac,
Michigan. At OLHSA, he oversaw asset development programs including
Individual Development Account (IDA), Earned Income Tax Credit tax
preparation programs, financial education programs and a national
experimental initiative to set up college savings accounts for Head
Start children, SEED.

He was also the president and chief operating officer of OLHSA’s
Community Development Corporation (CDC) Venture, Inc. Venture, in
cooperation with OLHSA, builds new homes, renovates existing homes and
provides housing counseling and related support services. Venture also
provides quality rental housing using Low Income Housing Tax Credits
(LIHTC).

In March 2009, Jones was appointed by Michigan Governor Granholm to the
Commission on Community Action and Economic Opportunity. He has also
served on the boards of the Community Economic Development Association
of Michigan (CEDAM) and The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW).