Opportunity Resource Fund Names Byna Elliott as New CEO

Underneath the weight of inequity, Christine Coady Narayanan built a vessel that carried thousands of Michiganders toward ownership, dignity, and possibility. That vessel is Opportunity Resource Fund—a community-rooted institution that’s leveraged over $300 million to uplift people who’ve been told “no” by traditional lenders.

This year marks 40 years of that work—and with it, a shift that echoes the heartbeat of Detroit’s legacy of reinvention. After more than three decades of leading the charge for capital justice, Narayanan is preparing to step down. In her place, a new voice rises—one that’s been in the trenches of financial inclusion from the very beginning. Byna Elliott, a daughter of Detroit and champion of equitable wealth building, will become the new CEO of Opportunity Resource Fund effective June 23, 2025.

This transition isn’t just symbolic—it’s deeply personal. It’s about what it means to pass the baton of power not out of obligation, but as an intentional act of faith in the next generation of bold, Black woman leadership. And for communities across Michigan—especially Black and Brown neighborhoods long divested from—this is about more than a leadership change. It’s about protecting and evolving a promise.

Christine Coady Narayanan wasn’t chasing headlines when she took the helm of OppFund more than 35 years ago. Her vision was quieter—but more radical. She believed that everyone—regardless of zip code or income—deserved access to the financial tools that fuel ownership.

Under her guidance, OppFund expanded from its early grassroots beginnings into a statewide financial force that has centered mission over margin, people over profit. That includes providing housing loans to families locked out of homeownership, business capital to Black entrepreneurs denied by big banks, and dollars to transform vacant blocks into hubs of community power.

As Sheilah Clay, Board Chair and longtime community development advocate, put it plainly: “Christi leaves behind an amazing legacy. Her passion and unwavering commitment to economic justice have shaped OppFund into a trusted and vital partner across the state.”

That trust was earned, not given. And it’s what makes this moment of transition feel both grounded and expansive.

OppFund’s incoming CEO isn’t new to this work—she’s been shaping systems from the inside out for more than two decades. Most recently, Elliott held a global role driving inclusive growth at one of the nation’s largest financial institutions. But her track record isn’t built on corporate polish. It’s built on deep Detroit roots and a clear understanding that equity doesn’t just happen—it’s fought for, block by block.

“I’ve been in the financial industry for over 25 years, helping people get access to investments and financial products,” Elliott said. “It’s been a rewarding journey, and I’m excited to share that I’m now joining Opportunity Resource Fund. This is a dream come true for me—I’m thrilled to work with a team that’s passionate about helping others achieve their goals, whether it’s buying a home, starting a business, or revitalizing a neighborhood.”

This next chapter of OppFund will be shaped by Elliott’s unique vantage point—one that fuses big-picture financial strategy with an unwavering commitment to everyday people.

From housing insecurity to access to capital, Elliott understands the gaps—and more importantly, she’s shown time and again that she knows how to close them.

Whether you’re a Detroiter navigating a system that wasn’t built for your success, a budding entrepreneur in Flint with a vision but no collateral, or a nonprofit organizer in Muskegon fighting for neighborhood investment—OppFund has either touched your work directly or cleared a path for your efforts to matter.

This isn’t about titles and transitions. It’s about who gets to build—and who gets backed.

In the current financial landscape, where Black borrowers still face higher denial rates, and where redlining’s ghosts still haunt entire corridors, institutions like OppFund are not a luxury. They’re a necessity. And the leadership at the helm matters.

Christine created a structure that proved what was possible. Byna is about to show us what’s next.

This leadership handoff comes at a critical time—not just for the fund, but for the state. Michigan is facing widening racial wealth gaps, a housing affordability crisis, and a growing urgency to invest in real, community-led solutions.

OppFund’s future under Elliott will reflect both the urgency of now and the hope of what’s possible when leadership looks like the people it serves.

“We are thrilled to welcome her as our new CEO,” said Board Chair Clay. “Byna is a proven strategic and community-focused leader and advocate for inclusive economic opportunity. We look forward to the next phase of OppFund’s growth and impact under her visionary guidance.”

But let’s not move past the foundation.

What Narayanan built wasn’t just a nonprofit lender. It was—and remains—a bold declaration: that capital can serve justice when it’s placed in the right hands.

She guided OppFund through recessions, disinvestment waves, and policy shifts, ensuring it remained nimble yet unshakable. Her efforts resulted in over $300 million invested in people—folks who used that support to stay in their homes, build businesses, hire neighbors, and plant seeds of community prosperity.

Now, with a leadership baton passed and a legacy intact, Narayanan is preparing to step into her next chapter. But her fingerprints will remain—etched into every home preserved, every entrepreneur funded, and every neighborhood revived with care.

June 23, 2025, marks the official beginning of Elliott’s tenure—but the momentum is already building. OppFund’s 40th anniversary offers not just a milestone to honor its past, but a platform to galvanize its future.

OppFund isn’t just transitioning—it’s leveling up. And for Michigan’s most vulnerable communities, that means continued access to fair, flexible capital and a team that sees them as worthy, not risky.

The mission remains the same: to use finance as a tool for liberation, not limitation. But with Elliott at the helm, the strategy is poised to deepen its reach—anchored in data, rooted in community, and unapologetically led by a Black woman who knows exactly what’s at stake.

Too often, we miss the power in these moments—when leadership shifts and institutions evolve. But this right here? This is how movements are sustained.

Christine Coady Narayanan turned a small fund into a force. Byna Elliott is set to take that force and make it unstoppable.

For the families fighting for their first home, the entrepreneurs reshaping their blocks, the dreamers in neighborhoods overlooked—OppFund’s next chapter is written with you in mind.

And if history tells us anything, it’s that when Black women lead with intention, vision, and community at the center—everyone eats.