About

Kersy Azocar

“Helping small businesses creates impactful socioeconomic opportunities for all.  I am driven by the concept of “Changing the Narrative” for so many small businesses, in particular those historically disadvantaged, and help them succeed, prosper and very importantly, help them create generational wealth”

Peter Gonzales

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of Philly, weaving rich cultural threads and economic resilience into the city’s neighborhoods.”

Tom Ginsberg

“Business ownership can be a path to financial security, independence, creativity, or just survival. But that path is underused and sometimes unappreciated in Philly. TMF is pushing back”

Bruce Hotaling, CFA

I have been a part of the Merchants Fund for years now, and have seen its work and impact expand exponentially across Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. Our ability to respond quickly helping business owners and their families and neighbors, resonates strongly with me.

James Johnson-Piett

TMF is a one-of-a-kind institution in Philadelphia (and the nation); there needs to be an entity like The Merchants Fund addressing the full spectrum of needs, challenges, and opportunities for the small merchant class of enterprises in Philly. After 150+ years, the work to build and sustain a city-wide support system for micro and small entrepreneurs – from issuing emergency grants to one-on-one advisory to managing large-scale funding program on behalf of government partner – is more critical than ever.

Vanessa Lowe

”I’m so excited to join the TMF board now, amid the compelling headlines about BIPOC businesses like Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. TMF has been funding small businesses long before crowdfunders offered A LOCALIZED APPROACH TO BUSINESS FUNDING. Right now, TMF is funding much needed stabilization and emergency grants to keep BIPOC business doors open. With the growth and increased support of BIPOC businesses perhaps one day we’ll help these business multiply their growth by going public with the First Black-owned stock exchange. I look forward to the journey as we find partners and continue honing our programs to meet the region’s small business community needs.”

Seulky McInneshin

Carey Morgan

TMF is an incredible organization that meets the needs of those businesses that we all say we value, but don’t provide enough support to, especially in hard times. It’s an honor to contribute to such an organization with such a unique mission.

I grew up in a small family business and am a small business owner myself, so I think it’s important to make sure that the small business sector remains viable and local businesses thrive.

Shawn Nesbit

Samantha Porter

Elbert Sampson

“Serving on the board of TMF is important to me because it is an opportunity to use my experience and training to provide assistance to the small business community of Philadelphia. As small businesses are stabilized, they are better able to employ more people who are then able to stabilize their communities – all to the good of all of us.”

Shalimar Thomas

TMF serves as an advocate and a voice for merchants across Philadelphia who are in need. They are impact-driven in every sense of the word, and I serve to support their leader, the work, and ultimately the tremendous impact TMF has in Philadelphia. Supporting local small businesses is a vibe. There’s something about walking into a store and knowing the owner and its employees, or if the owner is also a neighbor. It’s truly the definition of community and its economic development at its best. Supporting these businesses and helping them grow is a vibe that we should all try to embrace.

Vinutna Veeragandham

Joanna Winchester

Ana Lisa Yoder

“I believe deeply in TMF’s commitment to addressing historical disparities in the small business community by focusing resources on BIPOC, immigrant and women-owned businesses. I feel genuinely lucky to serve alongside incredibly smart, thoughtful, and committed board members and staff, from whom I learn every time we come together.

Kimberly Zhang

Adnan Zulfiqar

“Service on the TMF board is important to me because it provides a crucial lifeline for businesses that are the soul of communities, anchors providing a link to the past, and vital for their prosperous futures.”

Jill Fink

I’m passionate about small businesses and the merchants who run them. I owned a cafe for 13 years and know that small businesses are the heart and soul of our communities. As a former TMF grantee (’08) and board member (’13-’18), I’m fortunate to be in this role providing critical grant and coaching support to those who breathe life and vitality into our neighborhoods.

George Pitsakis

Historically, entrepreneurship has provided Americans–of all color, creed, and walk of life–the chance at greater financial independence and upward mobility. Not only this, but they often provide cultural, economic, public safety, and social value to the neighborhoods they are rooted in. Supporting small businesses is important to me because they afford all Americans some chance at upward economic mobility, while also making the places we live more vibrant and unique

Somalisa Sahoo

Serving with TMF is an honor as I join a long legacy of Philadelphians supporting the small business owners who undergird the authenticity and awesomeness of our great city.

Andy Satinsky

As a Philadelphia resident for over 20 years, I believe that a healthy local economy built on a foundation of small businesses is essential to a vibrant thriving city. At the end of 2023, my wife and I sold the business that we founded twelve years earlier. In 2015 we were a Merchants Fund grantee and have remained engaged with the organization’s work ever since. The Merchants Fund is proactive and laser focused on those it exists to serve. I’m excited for this opportunity to continue my work in the small business community with TMF.

Chris Stanish

While there is certainly plenty of work to be done, we also have such a great sense of purpose driven action amongst our staff. Utilizing & recognizing each of our strengths and perspectives enables us to really understand the various situations that business owners may find themselves in. TMF’s work is probably the most agile form of support that many of these small businesses will ever have, and I truly value what we do each day because we can give support when they need it

Rachael Viscidy

“I believe small businesses are the cornerstones of great neighborhoods. Small businesses don’t just create jobs and bolster local economies. They enhance the creativity, legacy, and resilience of their communities. Entrepreneurs commit to overcoming enormous challenges in pursuit of achieving their goals and impacting their communities. It’s an honor to meet small business owners on that journey and to provide support along the way.”