Melinda Clemons

Melinda Clemons has spent much of her career focused on initiatives to help improve urban communities. As the Vice President of the Central Midwest region at Enterprise Community Partners, she is responsible for creating and executing strategies that strengthen the affordable housing industry. These strategies include advancing local programs, deploying socially driven capital, and advocating for solutions to address our local and national complex housing challenges. She led the creation of a $15 million funder collaborative to support non-profit community development organizations with operating support and technical assistance. She also co-created the national $350 million Equitable Path Forward initiative to support developers of color. Under Melinda’s leadership, the Central Midwest region continues to increase housing supply, advance racial equity, and build community resilience and upward mobility.

Prior to joining Enterprise, Melinda held the role of Detroit market lead for Capital Impact Partners. She helped launch and manage several real estate loan funds and created the Equitable Development Initiative to support developers of color with a cohort training model, peer exchange, mentorship, and capital. She also spent a portion of her career at Urban Partnership Bank and JPMorgan Chase, responsible for lending activities at both organizations. 

Melinda is a Detroit native and received her MBA and BA from the University of Michigan. She was a 2017 Opportunity Finance Network Fellow and member of the 2021 McKinsey Black Executive Leadership Cohort. She serves on the board of Community Advocates of Detroit, Invest Detroit Investment Committee, and is a Real Estate Executive Council member.