Exodus Lending works with Minnesotans to advance economic justice through consumer lending, community organizing, and advocacy.

What We Do

We get Minnesotans out of predatory loan debt and back on track financially by enrolling and supporting them in a 0% interest refinance program, lending up to $2,500 to qualified participants.

Why We Do It

We envision a financial system where everyone, particularly those who’ve been historically and systemically excluded, can access, protect, and build wealth. View our Strategic Plan here

Meet Our Staff

  • Anne Leland

    she/her Executive Director

    Anne Leland joined as Executive Director on February 7, 2022 after serving on the board for 4 years. Anne is an experienced and passionate advocate for financial inclusion and economic justice. For the previous decade, she worked as the Financial Capability + Learning Director at Prepare + Prosper designing and supporting financial coaching and inclusion programs. Before that she earned her Masters Degree in Public Policy from the Humphrey School and ran an English school for immigrant and refugee adults.

  • Kaitlyn Szabo

    she/her Finance and Operations Director

    Kaitlyn studied urban studies and sociology of law at the University of Minnesota. During her undergraduate career, she spent time working with a research group focused on supporting military families and interning with a tenant’s rights advocacy organization as well as a community foundation supporting social justice initiatives throughout Minnesota.

  • Maxwell Poessnecker

    he/they Development Director

    Maxwell is a farm kid at heart who brings a decade of experience in higher education and talent acquisition to Exodus Lending. He is the founder of Drop Deadlift Gorgeous, a grass-roots event designed to empower, support, and create visibility regarding the importance of trans+ inclusion in sport. As a neurodivergent, non-binary educator and community organizer – Max values the power of storytelling to foster genuine connections.

  • Meghan Olsen Biebighauser

    she/her Policy and Partnerships Director

    Meghan Olsen Biebighauser joined the staff as Organizing Director
    in September of 2022. She has worked the
    last ten years as a community organizer – first at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
    in Minneapolis and later at the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA. Meghan was one of the founders of Exodus
    Lending as it was born out of Holy Trinity’s organizing work, and she’s
    thrilled to return to Exodus and continue to convene the Minnesotans for Fair
    Lending coalition.

  • Anika Riewe

    she/her Communications and Marketing Manager

    Anika has been with Exodus Lending since 2018, she considers herself a people-person and is committed to building up communities and fighting for equity within social systems. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas where she earned degrees in Justice & Peace Studies and Psychology.

  • Troye Dylla

    they/them or he/him Loan Portfolio Manager

    Troye joined Exodus Lending in April 2023. A compassionate caregiver, independent contractor, and community organizer, Troye carries their working class background to the forefront of their work. Their bachelors degree in Global Studies with an emphasis in Human Rights and Justice further informs their lived experiences as someone who is non-binary, a worker, and on the autism spectrum. Troye fully believes the words of their elders, “Nothing for us, without us,” which brought them to work in nonprofits.

  • Ben Lien

    he/him Northern Minnesota Organizer

    Ben comes to Exodus lending with a decade of experience in state and federal government. His
    professional experience includes serving as a Minnesota State Representative for the Moorhead
    region and working in Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office as her Regional Outreach Director for
    Northwest and Central Minnesota. He is passionate about meeting people, learning community
    issues and working to improve the financial wellbeing of others. In his free time, he enjoys
    home improvement projects with his wife, Sarah, traveling and music.

  • Claire Chamberlin

    she/her Loan Servicing Coordinator

    Claire joined Exodus Lending in 2024. A global citizen who’s lived in France and (briefly) Senegal, she’s passionate about challenging oppressive systems and building economic justice. She speaks English and French and is slowly teaching herself Spanish, Italian, and Mandarin.

  • Kaelah Mundley

    she/they Community Lending Coordinator

    Kaelah is a Community Lending Coordinator with over five years of experience in developing and managing community initiatives focused on equity, partnership development, and culturally responsive practices. She is dedicated to promoting financial justice, equity, and inclusion.

  • Sophie Hoiseth

    she/they Southern Minnesota Organizer

    Sophie is a Minnesotan who grew up abroad and is passionate about home and belonging. She attended Minnesota State University, Mankato and received her degree in Political Science. Sophie has fallen in love with southern Minnesota and is curious about making communities more loving for more people.

  • Tallis King

    she/her Loan Servicing Coordinator

    Tallis comes to Exodus Lending after living and working at a nonprofit in the remote wilderness of Washington’s Cascade Mountains. She brings a background in psychology and geopolitics, with an emphasis on Eurasian political affairs. Passionate about building strong, intentional, and sustainable communities, Tallis is constantly exploring how to advocate with love and grace for all living beings.

Executive Board Members

  • Kim Miller

    President Design Manager, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.

  • Adam Faitek

    Vice President VP of Resource Development, CommonBond Communities

  • Sophia Lenarz-Coy

    Secretary Executive Director, The Food Group

  • Mike Steele

    Treasurer Director, Strategy, Medicare and Medicaid Quality at UHC

Board Members At-Large

  • Tyrize Cox

    Board Member Executive Director of External Relations – Minneapolis Public Schools

  • Shamina Hildreth

    Board Member Manager of Health Economics & Market Access (Boston Scientific)

  • Ryan Smith

    Board Member Director of Government Affairs, Minnesota Credit Union Network

  • Karen Washington

    Board Member Human Resources Generalist for Project for Pride in Living(PPL)

Exodus Lending Meets Standards!

Exodus Lending is a Charities Review Council Meets Standards Organization! The “Meets Standards” seal demonstrates our alignment with widely accepted standards of accountability, responsibility, integrity, and transparency to donors as well as the general public.

In accordance with federal laws and U.S. Department of the Treasury policy, this organization is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to:
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Director, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20220; call (202) 622-1160; or send an e-mail to: crcomplaints@treasury.gov.
Language Assistance Plan: View Policy Here

You Can Help

Be a part of changing someone’s life. Every volunteer and financial donation empowers the community to achieve financial freedom.

Get Help

Every day, we’re empowering Minnesotans to break their payday loan debt cycle for good. If you, or someone you know has payday loan debt, and meets our program requirements, we can help.