Talia Nevitt’s path to LEAF began with a simple question: How can I work alongside people and make a difference? After earning her degree in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh, she found an answer in her own city through Compass AmeriCorps, where she supported newly resettled immigrants and refugees with case management services. It was her introduction to systems-level change, and it stuck.
That early work led her to pursue a Master of Social Work, where she focused not on clinical practice, but on the structural side of service, how programs operate, how funding moves, and how change scales. Along the way, she sharpened her grant writing and development skills, most notably at The Neighborhood Academy, a nonprofit school where she helped secure resources for students determined to reach college, despite the odds.
CDFIs turned out to be a natural fit. At Bridgeway Capital and later at LISC, she worked on resource development and strategy, supporting both local and national efforts to invest in communities overlooked by traditional finance. “Since 2021, I’ve been in the CDFI field,” she says, “and I’ve found my niche.”
Now at LEAF, Nevitt sees the through-line. “What excites me about my work here is the chance to contribute to a mission that aligns with everything I’ve built my career around, supporting underserved communities, applying what I know, and continuing to grow.”
What do you bring to LEAF?
Nevitt: “My training as a social worker taught me how to understand the needs beneath the numbers. That’s critical to writing compelling grants—telling the story of the problem, and how our work addresses it. I think that lens helps me stay close to the mission, even when I’m working behind the scenes.”
Outside of work, Talia spends time with her family with her youngest, Ruth, tagging along. She’s looking forward to visiting more National Parks, especially Glacier and the parks in Alaska. New River Gorge in West Virginia remains a favorite, where she and her partner traveled just after they married.
She also gives back through board service at NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work Alumni Council, keeping her connected to the communities that shaped her path.
