Veranisha Thompson

Executive Director

Fund 17

Veranisha Thompson (she/they) is a New Orleanian; and much like any New Orleanian, she brings “home” wherever she goes. And from that, she brings laughter, CiQ, and human-centered approaches to racial disparities in capital access for small business support. Veranisha completed her undergrad studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, finishing with a Visual Fine Arts Bachelors Degree (BFA). After completing a MBA in International Business and Human Resource Management from LSU at Shreveport.

Having worked in Nonprofit Operations & Development (fundraising and business) and volunteered for numerous community service projects in the last 10 years, her purpose with working directly for Black communities became apparent due to the realization of intersections between nonprofit and for-profit sectors.

Since then, her drive for equity in business & wealth economies, community visibility, and inclusionary belonging has honed what her passions are at its core, honoring one’s self and the tribe that fostered it. She's focused on closing the racial wealth gap, alleviating BIPOC buy-in to systemic oppressive structures through alternative education models & conversation, and supporting financial literacy & freedom within the Black & marginalized communities through startup cultivation in New Orleans.

In her daily work, she provides technical support to startup founders & entrepreneurs in New Orleans’ historically under resourced and underserved communities in leading as the Executive Director of Fund 17, a nonprofit that provides technical assistance to small businesses in New Orleans.

At present, she’s enjoying personal business project building, mental health wellness, exploring Louisiana’s Nature with her partner and her pup. In the meantime, she’s actively presuming interests in developing her knowledge in Executive Leadership, HR & International Business credentials, and Cyber Security.