Ascendus Announces Dan Delehanty as Board Chair, Succeeding Laura Miller
Experienced community development leader brings 35+ years of experience across nonprofit, government, and banking sectors
New York — March 2026 — Ascendus, a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to expanding access to capital and financial coaching for underserved small business owners, announced that Dan Delehanty has assumed the role of Board Chair, succeeding Laura Miller.
Delehanty steps into this role at an important moment for our organization, as we continue strengthening support for small business owners navigating complex economic and regulatory conditions. Over the past year, we have expanded personalized financial coaching tools, deepened our lending reach across five states, and deployed more than $435 million in capital to over 62,000 entrepreneurs since 1991.
An alum of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) with a Master’s in Political Economy, Delehanty has built a career spanning more than 35 years across the nonprofit, government, and banking sectors. He began in international microfinance as Deputy Executive Director of Trickle Up, spent nearly a decade leading Community Development Banking at Capital One, served as Chief Program and Strategy Officer at Grameen America, and held senior CRA roles at Dime Community Bank and OceanFirst Bank. He currently serves as CRA and Fair Banking Director at Metropolitan Commercial Bank.
Delehanty has served on the Ascendus Board for nine years — including two as Vice Chair — and has been a lender, donor, and volunteer to the organization throughout his career.
“There’s an immediacy for delivering capital to entrepreneurs. That kind of immediacy, it’s very direct and it’s very, very personal. And there’s a real power in that.”
— Dan Delehanty, Board Chair, Ascendus
The transition also marks the conclusion of Laura Miller’s tenure as Board Chair. During her leadership, we advanced key initiatives focused on resilience, community impact, and organizational stability.
Looking ahead, Delehanty will support a structured transition to Vice Chair Amy Hellen, who is expected to assume the Board Chair role in 2027. This phased approach reflects our intentional succession planning — building continuity while making room for new leadership to emerge at the right time.
“We’ve always had a very strong board. I just want to make sure we always have that environment where we can keep our board members involved and engaged in a way that continues to add value.”
— Dan Delehanty, Board Chair, Ascendus
Our board members serve up to three three-year terms, reinforcing healthy rotation, leadership renewal, and institutional stability.
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About Ascendus
Ascendus is a nonprofit, nationwide Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with over 30 years of experience empowering low- to moderate-income small business owners. Through inclusive access to capital and personalized financial coaching, Ascendus helps entrepreneurs build resilient businesses and achieve lasting financial health. Learn more at ascendus.org.
Media Contact — Ascendus
Gustavo Banchero
Director of Communications · Ascendus
[email protected] · 646.506.4790
