Michele Levoir Sloan
Michele Levoir Sloan is a dedicated nonprofit leader and seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in affordable housing finance. She built her career advancing multifamily and affordable housing projects nationwide, specializing in Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD programs, public-private financing, and housing policy incentives. In addition to her extensive work in housing finance, Michele has leveraged her expertise in leadership and advocacy to make a profound impact in the rare disease community. She is the co-founder of the Foundation to Fight H-ABC/TUBB4A, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research, treatment, and awareness for children affected by this devastating genetic disorder. Michele’s journey into rare disease advocacy began in 2015, when her daughter, Elouise, was diagnosed with H-ABC, a progressive neurological condition with no known cure. Motivated by the urgent need for action, she established the Foundation to Fight H-ABC to provide families with support, raise awareness, and accelerate the search for a cure. Under her leadership, the organization has formed partnerships with leading research institutions such as Yale and UMass, funded a natural history study at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and created a patient registry in preparation for clinical trials. Michele’s advocacy also extends to policy and regulatory engagement, including meetings with the FDA and congressional stakeholders, ensuring that the voices of affected families are heard and their needs prioritized. Beyond her nonprofit work, Michele continues to influence the affordable housing sector and broader community through consulting, mentorship, and volunteer leadership. She remains committed to advancing equitable solutions in housing and health. Michele is recognized not only for her professional accomplishments but also for transforming personal adversity into meaningful impact—helping children and families affected by H-ABC while guiding organizations and communities toward sustainable, positive change.
• Biomedical Responsible Conduct of Research
• HUD Map Underwriter
• William Paterson University of New Jersey - B.A.
• EveryLife Foundation
• NORD
• Global Genes
• Foundation to Fight H-ABC
• United Leukodystrophy Foundation
• Maryland Beneficiary Advisory Council
• EveryLife Foundation Task Force
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to discipline, persistence, and a results-driven mindset. I believe that meaningful achievements come from hard work, follow-through, and the ability to turn vision into tangible outcomes—whether that’s closing complex housing finance deals or advancing advocacy efforts for rare disease treatments.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Work hard, stay focused and committed and lead by example. Embrace your mistakes, these are crucial learning lessons
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to pursue work you genuinely care about, not just what offers financial reward. Passion is what sustains you through setbacks, and meaningful impact comes from staying engaged, even when outcomes aren’t guaranteed.
I also encourage focusing on results rather than recognition. Let your work speak for itself, and remain committed, even when progress feels slow—consistency and dedication ultimately create lasting impact.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In affordable housing, navigating policy shifts, incentive structures, and financing complexities is an ongoing challenge—but it also presents a tremendous opportunity to develop sustainable solutions in high-cost regions. In rare disease advocacy, rapid advances in FDA flexibility and the emergence of individualized treatments are creating unprecedented opportunities to drive meaningful progress for patients.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are service, integrity, resilience, and impact. I am deeply motivated by helping others—particularly families facing overwhelming challenges—and I believe that meaningful work should always serve a greater purpose beyond personal recognition.
Locations
Foundation to Fight H-ABC
Rockville, MD 20853