Betty Francisco is a seasoned business executive with over 25 years of experience spanning corporate law, entrepreneurship, and impact investing. She is a proven leader adept at advising high-growth startups, nonprofits, and established enterprises in business strategy, legal compliance, risk management, development, operations, and human resources. Known for strategic vision and hands-on leadership, Betty brings expertise in negotiating complex deals, forging strategic partnerships, and driving organizational growth. She is a recognized innovator in impact investing, entrepreneurship and community leadership, committed to advancing economic and social justice through strategic investments and collaborative initiatives.
Betty is currently the CEO of Boston Impact Initiative (BII), an impact investment fund and certified CDFI advancing inclusive local economies and building lasting community ownership, wealth and power. She oversees BII’s two funds with $17M in assets and its impact investing education programs for emerging fund managers. She is also the co-founder of We are ALX, a social venture that’s building Latino economic and political power in Massachusetts. Before joining BII, she was the General Counsel at Compass Working Capital where she oversaw the organization’s legal affairs, compliance, and risk management. Before that, she served as EVP, General Counsel for Sports Club/LA and Reebok Sports Club/NY, a fitness brand acquired by Equinox Fitness in 2014. Betty began her legal career as a corporate lawyer representing start-ups, corporations and investors in financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and general corporate matters. She serves on the Boards of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, The Boston Foundation, Nellie Mae Education Foundation and Beth Israel Lahey Health.
Areas of Expertise:
- Angel and Impact Investing
- Small Business and Social Enterprise Strategy
- Board Governance and Development
