SPECTRUM reflections on expanding the impact economy

Building an inclusive, expansive economy is a daily practice. This work happens through big commitments and small actions as well. Prompted by Spectrum‘s conference moderator, Nadia Brigham, to find a partner for a listening exercise, a Black woman of a similar age to me a few rows up turned to scan the area and made […]
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Thoughts from the Road: Small Business Drives Strong Communities Across the Country

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 […]
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New Financing Model Unlocks Millions to Build Affordable Homes

Investors in non-traditional fund address San Diego’s housing crisis (San Diego)–May 16, 2019–Today, Mission Driven Finance announces that investors have contributed more than $1 million to a revolutionary fund that will support the construction of affordable homes for low-income families. Investors concerned about the region’s housing crisis contributed to Mission Driven Finance’s Homebuilding Investment Fund […]
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NPR: Breaking The Cycle Of Disinvestment In Lower-Income Communities

Recently, our co-founder and Director of Community Engagement Lauren Grattan sat down with NPR to talk about discrepancies in access to capital for lower-income communities and how we can level the playing field. We’re delighted that national media is looking for bright spots of what’s working so we can scale inclusive community growth with sensible […]
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Collaborative Approach Unlocks $12MM Project Transforming Youth Lives 

Mission Driven Finance, Civic San Diego, and Alliance Healthcare Foundation provide critical funding for nonprofit Access Youth Academy’s new athletic and academic facility in Southeast San Diego FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: Lauren Grattan | 858-880-0252 | lauren@missiondrivenfinance.com (SAN DIEGO)—January 15, 2019—Mission Driven Finance recently announced a coordinated investment with Civic San Diego and Alliance […]
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Notes from L.A. Opportunity Zones Forum

  • Posted by David Lynn
  • On December 4, 2018
  • In News
Note: For a primer on Opportunity Zones, see our earlier post that outlined the spirit of the legislation, California’s strategy to designate eligible census tracts, and what issues we all should be sensitive to moving forward. Last week I had the opportunity to be one of the speakers at the Los Angeles Opportunity Zones Forum: […]
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Aligning with Islamic Financing Principles to Create Economic Opportunity

Mission Driven Finance is delighted to support Somali Family Service of San Diego, one of the cornerstones of our refugee community, with culturally-sensitive bridge financing designed in line with Islamic principles. As an impact investment firm empowering community through new models of investing in social change, we embraced the challenge of finding a solution that […]
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Legacy Arts: Intentional Impact Investing

We were delighted to share with Legacy Arts Magazine how impact investing can support wealth managers, financial planners, and advisors to offer their clients new strategies to craft a legacy with meaning. Many charitably-minded individuals are turning to impact investing to generate real social and environmental change in their communities, while simultaneously supporting their financial […]
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Our Thoughts on San Diego’s Business Incentive Program

  • Posted by Lauren Grattan
  • On April 27, 2018
  • In News
Yesterday, colleagues from Business For Good San Diego and I gave public testimony at the Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee (ED&IR) of the San Diego City Council as they reviewed proposed updates to the City’s Business Incentive Program [900-12] — a policy that hasn’t changed in 17 years despite significant changes in our regional […]
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San Diego Business Journal: Firm’s Impact Investing Puts Community in Lending Equation

  • Posted by Lauren Grattan
  • On March 21, 2018
  • In News
$10M FUND TARGETED FOR ‘COMMUNITY-MINDED’ BORROWERS By Sarah de Crescenzo Wednesday, March 21, 2018 San Diego — A group of San Diego investors is betting on locally based nonprofit organizations and social enterprises to the tune of $10 million. That’s the total amount the firm, Mission Driven Finance, plans to invest by year’s end. Since launching Mission […]
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