For Dr. Alvertis Brooks Jr., the mission of the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund (RVCDF, the Fund) is deeply personal. As the Executive Director of this Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Brooks is continuing a legacy of financial and economic resilience that has shaped his own family’s history for generations.
RVCDF was founded in 2002 to ensure that small businesses in the Rainier Valley region located in Seattle, Washington, would not be left behind due to regional transit expansion. The result was a $50 million fund (half designated for mitigation efforts and the other half for a loan fund) aimed at supporting businesses impacted by light rail development. Since then, RVCDF has invested more than $100 million in the community, providing critical financing to small businesses and affordable housing projects.
Brooks brings a unique perspective to his role. He has an undergraduate degree in Accounting with an emphasis in finance, a Master in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership, and for his Doctorate in Educational Leadership, he focused on developing cultural and racial safe spaces for underrepresented leaders, expertise that aligns closely with his work at the Fund. Brooks’ journey into the CDFI industry was an unexpected but natural transition. He was serving as an independent school leader when he was approached to join the board for the Fund but his acumen in accounting and finance coupled with experience in community organizing provide a depth of experience that benefits RVCDF.
Brooks standing with his children: Peyton (17), Braylen (14), Jaxon (10)
“What I truly appreciate about this role is that success is defined qualitatively,” said Brooks. “It’s about how much of our community’s culture can thrive and endure during economic hardships. It’s about how our businesses grow and succeed while staying true to their identity and the communities they serve.”
During light rail construction in the region, RVCDF provided $15 million in funding to 181 businesses, resulting in more than 89% of businesses remaining open through the disruption. The Fund’s team is positioning itself as a key partner in transit-related development set to take place in the region over the next 10 years, working to ensure that mom-and-pop shops aren’t displaced by uncontrollable economic forces.
Brooks shared that his perspective on economic empowerment is shaped by his own family history. His grandfather was one of seven men who established the first Black VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post in Alabama. Recognizing opportunities, his grandfather started a peanut roasting business, then opened a café, and later established a mortuary to ensure Black families in his community were treated with dignity in death.
First Black VFW Post in Alabama
A key initiative of the Fund focuses on preserving legacy Black homeownership by supporting cooperative housing models. Another recent project involved financing a community bookstore housed within an affordable housing development, ensuring that both economic and cultural spaces remain accessible in the region.
From personal and professional knowledge, Brooks believes financial literacy is key to sustaining underserved businesses. Black-led CDFIs provide a unique prospective to equip entrepreneurs with sustainable tools to manage budgets, finances, and asset appreciation. Through programs that provide small business loans, lines of credit, and financial education, RVCDF is empowering underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs with the resources and knowledge needed to build long-term financial stability, fostering a thriving ecosystem of businesses that can grow, sustain, and contribute to the community.
Brooks shared that he recently gained membership into the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs in February 2025, is already benefiting from the wisdom of fellow members, and eagerly anticipates deeper engagement.
“As a young executive director—both in age and experience—I have deeply appreciated the time I’ve spent engaging with Alliance members,” said Brooks. “The multigenerational diversity of experiences within the Alliance has been invaluable, and I look forward to the opportunity to connect with other African American leaders across the country. The abundance of resources available through the Alliance will be instrumental in strengthening our small operation, ensuring that my staff remains informed and connected to current events. Additional access to capital is another critical opportunity that will support our organization’s growth and impact.”
When asked how others can support financial equity and inclusion, Brooks emphasizes the need to invest in organizations and CDFIs already making an impact. He encourages newcomers to the CDFI industry to focus on strengthening established institutions, ensuring resources are directed where they can create the greatest and most meaningful change.
Under Brooks’ leadership, RVCDF remains a powerful force for economic justice, ensuring that as Rainier Valley and in other regions in Martin Luther King Jr. County evolve, development benefits the current community members rather than displacing it. For Brooks, this work is a personal mission to uphold the financial foundations laid by those before him and to build a future where economic opportunity is truly inclusive.
