Impact Growth Consulting (IGC) was founded from a shared passion to serve communities, empower organizations, and drive meaningful, lasting change. The firm was born out of the combined expertise of Ghufran Ahmad, a seasoned banker, financial advisor, and CDFI strategist, and Dr. Afra Saeed Ahmad, a nationally recognized educator and workplace inclusion expert.
Together, they envisioned a consulting firm that bridges the gap between strategy, funding, and inclusive development, serving nonprofits, small businesses, financial institutions, CDFIs, banks, and academic organizations alike.
Over the course of more than 15 years, Ghufran worked across the banking and community development sectors, partnering directly with small businesses, CDFIs, nonprofits, and banks. He helped organizations, both for-profit and nonprofit in access to capital through grants and loans, navigate the complexities of compliance and certification, and build long-term financial sustainability. Time and again, he saw visionary entrepreneurs and mission-driven leaders struggle to grow due to limited funding access, a lack of technical knowledge, or the absence of a strategic roadmap.
At the same time, Dr. Afra Ahmad’s academic and consulting work revealed critical gaps in institutional performance, inclusive leadership, and organizational well-being. Her research and real-world engagements demonstrated how many institutions, educational and financial alike lacked the structures needed to effectively serve diverse populations, foster inclusive leadership pipelines, or fully harness the potential of their teams.
Recognizing these systemic barriers, from funding inequity to leadership inefficiencies, they founded Impact Growth Consulting. Their mission was clear: to deliver strategic, culturally responsive, and data-driven consulting services that help organizations grow with purpose and impact.
Impact Growth Consulting 