Anderson Olds joined Three Roots Capital in 2023 after searching for a role that could combine his experience in nonprofits, higher education, and sales, with a mission-driven purpose. A friend shared a job listing with him a few months after meeting Anderson’s future supervisor, Chris Miller, at a conference. Once Anderson learned more about the role and the work of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), applying for the position felt like it would be a natural and purposeful fit.
“I was looking for a place where I could grow and contribute in a way that really matters,” Anderson said. “Three Roots aligns with my values and allows me to do impactful work daily.”
At Three Roots, Anderson plays a key role in compliance reporting, grant management, and assisting with maintaining the accuracy of the organization’s internal and external data. He also supports underwriting and business development efforts, a responsibility that has grown as he has attended more conferences and completed more training.
Anderson brings an important strength to the team: the ability to break down complex data and communicate it clearly. This skill is rooted in advice from his grandmother, who always told him, “Get understanding in everything you do.”
Before joining Three Roots, Anderson worked in various roles across the nonprofit sector, including executive director of the Haslam Family Club, program director with the Wesley House Community Center, and program coordinator of the Vestal Club, among others. He also served in higher education at the University of Tennessee before moving into logistics sales. Each experience shaped his understanding of community and business needs and how to meet them.
Even now, Anderson continues to serve on nonprofit boards such as the Knoxville Leadership Foundation, the Industrial Development Board for the City of Knoxville and Downtown Regal, and the African American Equity Restoration Task Force through the city of Knoxville. He also stays active in the community as a youth basketball coach with Team Ambition.
One of Anderson’s most meaningful contributions at Three Roots so far has been leading the development of an initiative focused on affordable, accessible, and quality early learning and childcare centers. The idea was sparked through local conversations and a previous business school project centered on after-school funding. Once he realized how Three Roots could play a role, he began shaping the initiative into a full-scale effort.
“There is often a funding gap for early learning childcare centers before they can begin earning revenue or receiving reimbursable grants,” Anderson explained. “That’s where we can step in to help.”
Today, Anderson leads the initiative in collaboration with the Knoxville Area Urban League, offering technical assistance and coaching to early learning childcare center business owners. His work focuses on business planning, forecasting, and helping centers position themselves for long-term sustainability. After traveling across Middle Tennessee and speaking with local policymakers, he came away with an even deeper understanding of what makes affordable, accessible, and quality childcare possible.
“It takes a village. The goal can be accomplished through collaboration of private funding, public funding, local government, and the business community,” he said.
For Anderson, leading this initiative while still new to the organization was a defining moment of his career.
“I was still learning how everything worked, and bringing a new idea forward was intimidating,” he said. “But I trusted my experience, my training, and my instincts. And our leadership trusted me.”
“Anderson helped lead me to a better understanding of the economic impact and the workforce impact of having a lack of sufficient affordable, accessible, and quality childcare in the community,” said Grady Vanderhoofven, Three Roots’ CEO. As a parent, I recognized the necessity of quality childcare and early learning opportunities, but before Anderson championed this effort at 3Roots, I did not fully appreciate how a lack of such opportunities creates negative impacts on labor force participation and compounding negative economic impacts in a community. He helped me see this area as an opportunity for Three Roots to support positive economic and social impact in our community, including the possibility of deploying capital to help address this problem.”
Anderson’s advice to others interested in community development finance is to start by understanding what impact means to them.
“We all define impact differently. Make sure the organization’s mission aligns with your personal values. When those things line up, that’s when the work feels extremely meaningful.”
Outside of work, Anderson is always on the move. He coaches youth basketball, plays regularly, and enjoys running and walking. He is also rediscovering old hobbies like playing piano and learning new ones like golf.
When asked to describe his work philosophy in three words, his answer was simple: Service first, always.