Dahna M. Chandler, Managing Principal

Finance Sector Doctoral Researcher | Social Impact Communications Consultant | Award-Winning Finance Journalist

I'm a social impact communications consultant who collaborates with senior communications leaders in opportunity finance sector organizations to develop culturally competent, story-driven communications strategies that help shift narratives. This approach not only elevates your mission but also generates measurable social impact, positioning your organization as a leader in driving systemic change. 

As your messaging thought partner, I guide you in crafting nuanced narratives that clearly communicate your impact, deeply resonate with your core audiences, and position you as an authoritative voice in the inclusive finance space.

I offer targeted messaging solutions that not only refocus and revamp your messaging, but also ensure that it aligns with your organization’s broader key objectives. By reframing narratives, I help you amplify your impact and correct misconceptions about the communities you serve.

At the core of my solutions is premium, data-backed, and rigorously researched storytelling that seamlessly integrates into your social impact communications plan, helping you achieve concrete results. 

I design my communications offerings in collaboration with your organization to help you engage your core audiences more effectively, driving deeper connections that lead to greater support for your mission. By aligning your content with your mission, I ensure that each communications initiative serves a dual purpose: delivering value to your audiences and advancing your organization’s long-term objectives.

Through strategic impact communications that emphasize democratizing financial access, I help mission-driven organizations in the community development finance sector create transformative social change narratives that promote accurate perceptions of underserved and racialized communities. 

Drawing on my experience with major financial institutions like RBC Wealth Management, American Express, and Raymond James, I bring a deep understanding of the finance industry to my cause communications strategies, ensuring they are both mission-driven and financially credible.

Besides my professional expertise, my ongoing doctoral interrogating on how systemic racism perpetuates the Black-White wealth chasm positions me as a thought leader in addressing deep-rooted inequities in the financial system. My aim with that doctoral work is to challenge and shift mischaracterizations about racialized Americans.

This academic foundation allows me to craft communications strategies that are informed by both historical context and modern challenges, offering clients academically backed solutions that address systemic barriers to wealth equity.

Recognizing their importance in transforming financial access for racialized and low-wealth communities, I collaborate primarily with nonprofit community loan funds providing homeownership help, small business development, and clean energy financing. My aim is to help ensure your messaging disrupts systemic inequities and propels transformative change in dismantling barriers to financial opportunities.

My work also extends to social enterprises prioritizing social justice initiatives such as decarceration, food justice, and health equity, helping them tell powerful stories that catalyze investment, inspire engagement, and shift societal narratives through storytelling. 

Lisa requested I exclude her last name from this testimonial to protect her privacy. Contact me for verification of her recommendation.

Both testimonials are used with permission.

For over two decades, I’ve worked in the finance industry as an impact communicator. I’ve learned that effective storytelling is about more than delivering information; it’s about inspiring action and driving real engagement. The right narrative can transform stakeholder relationships and amplify your organization’s mission.

My approach to social impact communications is both adaptable and insightful. When we collaborate, I engage deeply to understand your particular challenges and the communities you serve, using a blend of research and intuition to ensure each strategy is tailored to your specific needs.

Each step—from stakeholder analysis to crafting resonant messages—aligns with your strategic goals and builds connections that lead to quantifiable outcomes.

What makes my work distinctive is my ability to adapt to your organization’s nuances, drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience in the communities you serve. Through our partnership, I work closely with you to address your organization’s most complex communications challenges, providing critical insights that elevate your messaging. 

From navigating stakeholder dynamics to deepening community engagement, I help you develop narratives that create meaningful community change while advancing your organization’s broader mission.

Given the specialized nature of my consultancy and the high demand for my distinctive blend of academic rigor, cultural competence, and industry expertise, I offer a limited number of complementary 30-minute introductory calls each month.

If you're committed to making a meaningful impact in the social finance sector, let's connect to explore how we can collaborate to achieve your community-driven narrative goals. and amplify your organization's impact.