Executive VP and co-founder of Smith NMTC Associates, LLC, Donna brings groundbreaking innovation to the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) industry. Her work began in 2006 when she wrote the first exclusively affordable homeownership-focused NMTC application for a joint Community Development Entity (CDE), between Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and Smith NMTC. Securinng a $25 million GoZone allocation, this application set the path for expanded use of the Smith NMTC affordable homeownership model. Donna has since served as principal writer of numerous successful applications for the HFHI/Smith NMTC CDE, The Housing Partnership Network, Inc. (HPN) and Community Housing Capital (CHC), resulting in over $320 million in NMTC allocations. In partnership with co-founder Howard Smith, Donna used a multi-QALICB homeownership model to reduce costs and maximize net benefit. Employed in over 130 affordable homeownership projects, totaling over $600 million in NMTC funding, the model has resulted in over 5,500 homes for low-income families across 32 states and DC. Donna alsonmanages the company Compliance Department, overseeing QALICB compliance monitoring and AMIS and investor reporting. Donna serves in various organizations, passionately advocating to expand NMTCs use for equitable access to homeownership. Prior to co-founding Smith NMTC, Donna worked as a litigator and appellate attorney, including arguing numerous times before the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals as counsel for Special School District in the St. Louis desegregation case. A recipient of the William Webster Criminal Law Scholarship, Donna earned her J.D. from Washington University School of Law, where she was a published author in the Law Quarterly. In her St. Louis community, Donna focuses her energy on educational equity and access. She served for 7 years as Board Chair, and is currently past Chair, of City Garden Montessori School, an anti-bias anti-racism Montessori K-8 charter school and sliding scale pre-school. Previously, Donna held leadership roles with America SCORES STL and her local school board. Donna’s thought leadership is reflected in several articles such as “Don’t Leave NMTC Borrowers Behind: How a Support System Prevents Recapture Risk,” and “Innovative Strategies for Community Redevelopment Projects: Minimizing Risk While Maximizing Returns.” Her insights were also featured in the article “NMTC Practitioners Finding Ways to Complete Small Deals.” The Smith NMTC innovative model was featured in a Washington Post article, “A model for neighborhood renewal.”