Francisca Montoya

Francisca Montoya has been employed with Raza Development Fund (RDF) for the past 13 years and serves as the St. Director of Strategic Partnerships. Raza Development Fund, inc. (“RDF”) is a Latino led and serving Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”) created to unlock lasting prosperity in communities across America. RDF was formed in 1999 by UnidosUS, (formerly, National Council of La Raza), the country’s largest and longest-serving Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. Since its inception, RDF has directly invested over a billion dollars in 38 states, leveraging over $6 billion in education, affordable housing, healthcare, social services, and entrepreneurship.

Previously Ms. Montoya was employed with Friendly House, Inc., as Director of Strategic Development. Her recent experience includes working with MALDEF as Regional Director for the Census and Arizona Regional Director of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation where she was responsible for community relations, corporate fundraising, and program and grants management. Her career has spanned over 25 years’ experience in non-profit executive management.

Francisca is a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Policy. She is currently doing graduate studies at Penn State World Campus pursuing a master’s degree in Community and Economic Development. Francisca is a graduate of Valle del Sol’s-Hispanic Leadership Institute, ASU’s Women’s Executive Leadership Program, and the MALDEF Latino Leadership Program. Francisca is also a graduate of National Hispanic Corporate Council, Corporate Executive Leadership Program class of 2014.

In 2004 ASU President Michael Crow awarded Francisca the President’s Medal for Social Embedded. Cox Communications recognized Francisca in 2008 as Latino Leader in the Phoenix market. In 2009 Francisca was honored with the Arizona Latina Trailblazers: Stories of Courage, Hope & Determination Award by the Raul Castro Institute. Years later in 2016 Francisca received the School Board Member of the Year award from the Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. Most recently in 2019, Francisca earned the Design Builders Award by Sources of Design Magazine. In 2022 she received the Woman of the Year award by the Arizona State University Los Diablos Alumni Association.

Francisca Montoya is a lifelong resident of Arizona and is the first in her family to attend college. She has been active in the community serving on various boards over the past three decades. Currently she serves as President of Fowler Elementary School Governing Board, Marisol Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, Co-founder of the Arizona Latino School Board Association; and serves on the South-Central Collaborative Board of Directors.