2022 Capital Award

James Burnett

Executive Director, VestedIn

Mr. Burnett is the Executive Director of VestedIn (VestedIn) a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). He has worked in the financial services industry for over 34 years, beginning his career with Fidelity Bank 1988. In 1999, Mr. Burnett pivoted to community economic development (“CED”) as Executive Director of the VestedIn. Because of his CED work, Mr. Burnett became an adjunct professor position at Thomas Jefferson University in the School of Sustainable Design. In 2020 Mr. Burnett joined three partners with the creation of Black Squirrel, a company focused on identifying the challenges businesses have to grow and helping them identify the appropriate resource for their development. In addition to his professional focus, Mr. Burnett has served diligently on various community and professional boards and is committed to the promotion of financial education and access to capital.

As Executive Director for VestedIn, a twenty-four year old CDFI, located in the West Philadelphia, Mr. Burnett is responsible for managing and growing VestedIn’s impact on small businesses in Greater Philadelphia. VestedIn’s business services include commercial lending and financial education.

Mr. Burnett’s accomplishments at VestedIn include:

• The development of the ParkWest Town Center a 30 acre, 341,000 square foot, $55,000,000 retail center in West Philadelphia
• The creation of the first nonprofit mortgage brokerage company in Pennsylvania
• Supporting the Creation of over 1,800 jobs through loans and other investments
• The development of the WesGold Fellows, a paid summer internship for high school students focused on entrepreneurship, investing and real estate development
• The development of the first youth Individual Development Account program in the state of Pennsylvania
• Partnering with PA CDFI Network to fund $250 million in small business grants during Covid.

Finally, Mr. Burnett is a speaker on various community development and lending topics and was a host of “There’s Money Out There” radio show. Additionally, he is a member of various boards including:

• PA CDFI Network
• The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
• Philadelphia Parks Alliance
• STEAMie Work Space
• Greater Philadelphia Film Office

Full Interview