Habitat for Humanity International elects Jessica Jackley as new board director

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Jul 01, 2014, 12:00 ET

ATLANTA, July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Habitat for Humanity International's board of directors welcomes its newest member: entrepreneur and investor Jessica Jackley.

Jackley is the cofounder and former chief marketing officer of Kiva, the world's first peer-to-peer microlending website. She later served as the cofounder and CEO of ProFounder, a crowdfunding platform for U.S.-based small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Habitat for Humanity International elects Jessica Jackley as new board director (PRNewsFoto/Habitat for Humanity)

"I feel thrilled and incredibly honored to serve Habitat," said Jackley. "I deeply admire Habitat for Humanity's work in the world, and I am eager to support its mission and vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live."

Jackley currently serves as an investor and advisor with the Collaborative Fund. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a 2011 World Economic Forum's Young Global Leader. Additionally, she has served as an active board member or advisor for numerous organizations that support women's rights, microfinance, technology and the arts, including Opportunity International, Upstart, International Museum of Women, Allowance for Good, Global Health Corps, Vittana, Fuse Corps, and others. Jackley holds a B.A. in philosophy and political science from Bucknell University, an MBA from Stanford University and a certificate in leadership and public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

"Jessica's zeal for financial inclusion through microlending has truly changed the lives of small business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide and has revolutionized the way that the very poor can access funds that can change their lives," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "Her expertise in entrepreneurship and microfinance combined with her passion for helping others makes her an excellent addition to our board of directors."

Habitat's board of directors is responsible for establishing policy and guiding the organization's efforts to construct, rehabilitate, repair and improve housing in partnership with low-income families in more than 70 countries around the world. Habitat board members volunteer for two-year terms that can be renewed up to four times.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International's vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates for improved access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit habitat.org.

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SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International