Zahra Aprili Collins serves as the program manager for Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union (TUFCU). In this position, she is responsible for identifying and pursuing resources that are vital to the enhancement and fulfillment of TUFCU’s mission to assist members in achieving economic empowerment. Her responsibilities include cultivating new and maintaining existing relationships between TUFCU and other community organizations and institutions, as well as grant writing, grant management, and new program development.

After joining the staff in February 2020, she immediately faced challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Her first task was to interface with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Minority Business Assistance Center (MBDC), and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to assist local business owners and the community in accessing the resources and funding available through the C.A.R.E.S. Act. In the last three weeks of the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), she helped lead the effort to open (PPP lending at TUFCU and assisted in servicing / distributing nearly $1.5 million in PPP loans to small businesses in Toledo. Her biggest achievement is having successfully written and received confirmation of approximately $2.1 million in private and government grants for TUFCU.

Within the community, Collins serves on a number of non-profit boards, including as second vice president of the Scott High School Alumni Association; as chair of the Scholarship & Hall of Fame Committees; and she volunteers as a member of the Community Hub Team, as well as other notable leadership positions in the area.