Leadership & Advocacy
Capital alone will not solve the housing crisis. Lasting progress requires coordination across industry participants, elected officials, and community leaders. This is where the leaders of the WNC family of companies focus their advocacy.
How We Move Affordable Housing Forward
Active Industry PARTICIPANTS
Active participation and leadership to align the industry on affordable housing advocacy and practical solutions to homelessness.
Foundational Research & Programs
Support for research, education, and non-partisan policy engagement that equips stakeholders with credible insights to accelerate progress.
Government & Regulatory
Strategic engagement with elected officials and policymakers to advance balanced, actionable engagement solutions that expand affordable housing access and improve system-level outcomes.
Frontier Philanthropy Initiatives
Targeted funding and cross-sector partnerships that strengthen services and scale proven interventions to prevent and reduce homelessness.
Membership Organizations
Engaged Across the Affordable Housing Ecosystem
We actively participate in and support the following national, state, and regional organizations that shape housing policy and advance solutions.
—Will Cooper, Jr. CEO, WNC
Advocacy is at the core of both our mission and our values. Across the WNC Family of Companies, we are dedicated to working with lawmakers, community leaders and research partners both locally and nationwide to support affordable housing and combat homelessness.
Leadership
WNC leaders contribute time and expertise to the housing industry as founding members, chairpersons, board members, and advisory roles. Through their positions in the following organizations, our leaders help shape priorities and strengthen housing advocacy to deliver affordable housing outcomes.
Establishing and leading platforms that strengthen delivery and advocacy.
-
NAHB — Board of Directors, National Area Chair; Affordable Housing Group Steering Committee Vice Chair
-
BUILDPac (NAHB) — Chairman
-
National Leased Housing Association — Vice President
-
Women’s Affordable Housing Network — National VP; Sponsorship Committee Chair
-
California Affordable Housing Development Association — Founding Member -
California Building Industry Association — Co-Chair Affordable Housing Subcommittee
-
California Council for Affordable Housing — Founder
-
California Housing Consortium — Founding Member
-
Iowa Housing Partnership — Founding Member; Board Chair
Governance roles guiding mission-driven housing organizations.
-
NAHB — Life Director; Federal Government Affairs Committee; Board of Governors for HCCP; Multifamily Council Board of Trustees; Housing Credit Group Steering Member
-
National Housing Conference — Lifetime Trustee
-
National Housing and Rehabilitation Association — Board of Directors
-
National Multifamily Housing Council — Advisory Board; Government Affairs & PAC Committee; Affordable Housing Committee
-
Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition — Board of Directors
-
Institute for Responsible Housing Preservation — Board Member
-
CBIA — Board of Directors
-
California Council for Affordable Housing — Board of Directors; Treasurer
-
California Housing Consortium — Board of Governors; Director Emeritus
-
WX New York Executive in Real Estate — Membership Committee; Former Board Member -
Kennedy Commission — Board of Directors -
Novogradac — LIHTC Working Group -
Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits — Advisory Board
Our Advocacy in Action
How WNC turns ideas into influence
Shaping the Narrative
We elevate the human and systemic realities of housing though platforms that broaden understanding and reframe the conversation.
Cooper Housing Institute
Investigating Root Issues
We support independent research and investigative work that brings rigor and clarity to complex housing challenges.
Cooper Housing Institute
Driving Critical Conversations
We create and participate in forums where industry leaders, policymakers, and practitioners engage directly on solutions.
WNC & Associates
The Cooper Housing Institute (CHI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. While its work informs public dialogue on housing issues, CHI does not lobby or engage in political advocacy.
Let’s Connect
Whether you’re evaluating investment opportunities, exploring partnerships, or supporting solutions, we’d love to share perspective and pathways to engage.