Wesley Housing Chief Financial Officer Retires Following Over a Quarter Century of Service

Departure Comes with Leading Nonprofit Affordable Housing Developer Positioned for Continued Impact

 

Alexandria, VA – November 3, 2025: Today longtime Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Wesley Housing Christopher Cherry retires after more than a decade of leadership at Wesley Housing that strengthened its financial base and positioned the organization as one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s leading nonprofit affordable housing providers, following similar stints at other nonprofit housing organizations in the region.  

 

Since joining Wesley Housing in 2015, Cherry has overseen the organization’s accounting, asset management, payroll, and financial compliance activities, guiding a period of significant financial and portfolio expansion. During his tenure, Wesley Housing’s total assets grew from $168M to more than $470M, and the organization successfully financed more than 1,000 affordable housing units in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. 

 

Cherry played a leading role in modernizing Wesley Housing’s financial systems and streamlining processes across all affiliates and subsidiaries. His expertise was instrumental in navigating major organizational milestones, including maintaining fiscal stability throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while supporting emergency resident assistance programs and essential operations post pandemic. He also shepherded the recent merger with the Virginia United Methodist Housing Development Corporation, which added nearly 800 units across 13 properties and expanded Wesley’s portfolio by more than 30 percent. 

 

“Chris’s thoughtful stewardship and deep understanding of affordable housing finance have been instrumental to Wesley Housing’s strength today,” said Kamilah McAfee, President and CEO of Wesley Housing. “His leadership has helped ensure that Wesley Housing remains a trusted and resilient partner in the region’s affordable housing ecosystem.” 

 

Cherry’s financial leadership has supported Wesley Housing’s emergence as one of the region’s leading affordable housing developers and supportive services providers. In 2022, Wesley Housing was named Nonprofit Developer of the Year by the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND) for the third time, having previously earned the recognition in 2017 and 2006. The organization was also named one of Affordable Housing Finance’s Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers of 2020, one of only nine nonprofits nationwide to make the list. Today, Wesley Housing provides housing and supportive services for more than 4,700 residents with low to moderate income across more than 3,000 units in the District of Columbia and 18 jurisdictions throughout Virginia. The organization is on track to produce over 1,000 new construction units and preserve another 500 units of affordable housing over the next five years. 

 

The pace of Wesley’s growth will continue through 2025 with incoming CFO Michael Pruell, who joined the organization in September of this year, bringing nearly 20 years of nonprofit audit, tax, and financial management experience.    

 

“It has been an honor to work alongside an extraordinary group of mission-driven partners over the years—from the Wesley Housing team and Board to our lenders, investors, local government and community partners, and peer nonprofits,” said Cherry. “The work of building and preserving affordable housing is never done by one organization alone, and I am deeply grateful for the collaborations that have made this impact possible.” 

 

A Certified Public Accountant and proud graduate of the University of Maryland, Cherry brought more than 17 years of public accounting experience to Wesley Housing. His 40 plus-year career includes over two decades as a CFO at several reputable regional affordable housing providers, during which he has also been an active member of Strength Matters® and the Housing Partnership Network. 

 

About Wesley Housing: Wesley Housing, a leading nonprofit developer in Virginia and DC, has worked to provide affordable rental housing for individuals and families for more than 50 years. Since its founding, Wesley Housing has emerged as a premier developer of affordable housing. Wesley Housing currently owns over 3,000 rental units, providing quality housing for thousands of individuals and families each year. Wesley Housing supplements housing with supportive services to build up the lives of more than 4,700 residents, including low- and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities and/or chronic disease. For more information, please visit www.wesleyhousing.org.