Individual Bios

Jesse Chancellor, President, Community Investment Partners

Jesse Chancellor is President of Calvert Foundation subsidiary Community Investment Partners and has been active in affordable housing finance for over 20 years, most recently as a Principal at Prudential Mortgage Capital Company. At Prudential, Jesse created and managed the Affordable Housing Investments Group, which became a major provider of capital to the industry. Before that, he worked at MuniMae as a Senior Vice President, responsible for originating tax-exempt multifamily bonds on a national basis. Prior to joining MuniMae, Jesse was the Director of Field Operations at The Enterprise Foundation. Prior to this, he was the Director of Housing Finance for Enterprise where he was responsible for managing the loan funds of the Foundation and delivering financial services and expertise to the Enterprise network of organizations nationwide. Jesse began his finance career with Citicorp Real Estate in New York as a relationship manager in the Metro commercial division.

Jesse received his bachelor’s degree in history from Washington University in St. Louis, his MA in Public Policy Administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a MS in Real Estate Development from Columbia University.

What/who inspires you?

I am inspired by all those who find a way channel their passion into helping others.

If you could have dinner with anyone (from the present, past or future), who would it be and why?

Franklin Roosevelt. I hear he was great fun at parties.

What was an unexpected success (or failure) that you’ve experienced, and what has it taught you?

I once started an investment fund, but it took me three years to do it. By that time, the markets and needs had changed and the fund was not successful. I learned that persistence is no substitute for awareness and flexibility.

What quality is most important to you in a friend?

Empathy and a sense of humor.

Describe an opportunity someone gave you that made a big difference in your life.

I was given an opportunity to take over the teaching job for a mentor. I met my wife on that job and my life improved greatly.