Advancing economic opportunity, Affordable housing, Borrowers, Community engagement, Early childhood, Immigrant and New American rights, News, Social determinants of health

First $1.5M Deployed to San Diego County Nonprofits Hit by COVID-19

Posted by Wilda Wong
On October 5, 2020

San Diego-based impact investment fund manager Mission Driven Finance has deployed $1.5M in loans to San Diego County nonprofits that have been impacted by COVID-19, thanks to $5M in seed funding from The San Diego Foundation as part of the San Diego County COVID-19 Small Business & Nonprofit Loan Program.

Advancing economic opportunity, Affordable housing, Community engagement, Early childhood, Investors, News, Social determinants of health, Sustainable systems

Real Estate for Early Care & Education: A Promising Venture

Posted by Wilda Wong
On September 29, 2020

We're honored to share that David—along with early care and education expert Laura Kohn and community finance fellow Essence Rodriguez—has joined the 2020 cohort of the Promising Ventures Fellowship to explore using real estate and finance to improve access to quality early child care.

Advancing economic opportunity, Borrowers, Community engagement, Early childhood, Immigrant and New American rights

Small Businesses & Nonprofits Respond to COVID-19

Posted by Tyana Smith
On April 27, 2020

The COVID-19 crisis has forced small businesses and nonprofits around the world, including our Advance borrowers, to forget business as usual and respond in creative ways to best serve their community and survive—quickly. From delivering essential household goods and locally sourced food to staying connected with families by livestreaming nature walks, these businesses and organizations demonstrate the flexibility, resilience, and heart that make small businesses critical for communities to thrive.

Advancing economic opportunity, Early childhood, Gender equity, Investors, News

AdvanceHER: Unlocking Opportunities for Women and Girls in San Diego and Abroad

Posted by Tyana Smith
On March 3, 2020

In our quest to increase economic opportunity for underestimated groups, we knew we’d want to emphasize supporting women and girls. With a diverse and largely female team, empowering more women has always felt natural to us. We’ve long wanted to connect the resources and needs of our community in new intentional ways that make a real impact on gender inequality.

Advancing economic opportunity, Borrowers, Early childhood, Gender equity

Closing education gaps with creative capital

Posted by Tyana Smith
On August 18, 2019

How Advance borrower Bethany Chaffin used creative capital to enrich the lives of more students in North County San Diego When we first met Bethany Chaffin, director of the education enrichment center Friends of Willow Tree, in 2018 she faced a challenging capital gap. Friends of Willow Tree needed a loan ahead of private and…

Advancing economic opportunity, Community engagement, Early childhood, Events, News, Opportunity Zones, Racial equity, Team

Thoughts from the Road: Small Business Drives Strong Communities Across the Country

Posted by Lauren Grattan
On May 23, 2019

David and I spent National Small Business Week on the road in New York; Columbus, Ohio; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We spoke with stakeholders from different walks of life who all recognize the transformative power of small business from varied angles. Let me tell you. It was wild. Mental gymnastics at its finest, switching gears…