April 21, 2025
Proven CDFI Leader to Build on CEO’s Momentum and Advance Mission of Increasing Access to Credit
IRC’s Center for Economic Opportunity (IRC-CEO) today announced that Ariana Miller has been appointed as its new Executive Director, effective April 21, 2025. A respected leader in the CDFI and impact investing space, Ariana brings more than a decade of experience increasing access to capital for underserved communities through equitable financial solutions. Her appointment comes during a period of growth for CEO, as the organization continues to expand access to fair, responsible, and flexible credit for immigrants, refugees, and low-income families across the country. Ariana’s leadership will build on this momentum, strengthening CEO’s impact and advancing its mission to create a more inclusive and community-centered financial system.
Founded by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), CEO was created in response to a critical challenge: too many refugees, immigrants, and low-income Americans striving for economic mobility are shut out of financial opportunity— not because of bad credit, but because they lack a credit history or face unfair barriers to entry. As a mission-driven lender, CEO is expanding access to affordable credit that helps people build financial stability, not debt traps. CEO is proving that inclusive lending isn’t just possible; it’s a smarter, more sustainable model that benefits individuals, families, and communities. Under Ariana’s leadership, CEO will continue to scale a borrower-first approach that challenges outdated lending norms and reimagines what equitable finance can look like.
“We’re entering a new and exciting chapter for CEO,” said Sean Carpenter, President of the IRC-CEO Board of Directors. "Ariana brings both vision and deep experience to this role. Her understanding of what it takes to scale a national investment strategy and her commitment to community-driven financial solutions make Ariana the ideal leader to guide CEO’s growth.”
Ariana joins CEO from the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, where she served as Loan Fund Director, advancing strategies to close capital access gaps for Black communities nationwide. She has more than 12 years of experience designing and implementing financing strategies that increase access to capital for historically underserved populations, including Latino, Tribal, and African American borrowers. Her career spans key areas of CDFI operations, from application systems and portfolio management to impact measurement and partnership development. Ariana is an honors graduate of Eastern University and holds a Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis.
“I am honored to lead CEO at such a pivotal moment,” said Ariana Miller, Executive Director of IRC-CEO. “This organization has proven fair, responsible finance doesn’t just work—it works better. I look forward to joining the team and building on their success while reinforcing our commitment to the communities we serve.”
CEO’s reach and results have increased over time, disbursing more than $20 million in the last two years directly to borrowers through trusted, community-rooted partnerships. CEO expands access through collaboration with local organizations, such as refugee resettlement agencies, financial empowerment programs, and community-based nonprofits, that act as “branches” or extensions of its work across the country. These relationships ensure that borrowers can access financial services through organizations they already know and trust.
But CEO also understands that access to credit alone isn’t enough. Its model combines affordable, responsible lending with credit education and personalized support, empowering individuals to build long-term financial stability, not just take out a loan. As the organization enters its next chapter, Ariana’s leadership will further position CEO as a national model for relational, community-centered lending that meets people where they are.
This next phase builds on the strength and steady leadership of the CEO team, whose dedication has driven the organization with clarity, purpose, and a deep focus on the communities they serve.
“The work we do at CEO is more urgent than ever,” said Director of Credit Strategy, Gokcen Topbas. “Ariana brings the strategic expertise, values alignment, and empathy needed to lead CEO through the present and future challenges facing our borrowers. We are thrilled to welcome her to the CEO family.”
The IRC’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Loan Fund specializing in flexible, affordable, consumer and microenterprise loans to borrowers with limited access to traditional financing. Founded in 2015 based on a successful lending program at IRC San Diego, CEO currently provides loans in 18 U.S. states in partnership with trusted community organizations. Loans are offered in tandem with related training and services to help borrowers build assets, capitalize on opportunities, and transition into the financial mainstream. Learn more at www.irc-ceo.org and follow IRC-CEO on LinkedIn and sign up for our newsletter.
