News

Scaling Impact, Staying Human

Nov 26, 2025

What if the future of finance wasn’t just more efficient—but more rooted in community, creativity, and real human possibility? Mission Driven Finance Co-founders David Lynn and Lauren Grattan talk about bridging the gap between conventional investing and the bold community-powered ideas that rarely get a fair shot. From flexible private credit to employee ownership, we are showing what’s possible when we build financial systems that center people, not just portfolios.

Letters from Lauren: March 2023

Mar 8, 2023

It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work reconnecting capital and community. We’re thrilled to have new teammates that are up for doing both. Please help me welcome newcomers from the last few months of busy recruiting.

Letters from Lauren: January/February 2023

Feb 3, 2023

This year has started off with strange weather (certainly here in California) and many disheartening reports of violence and discord, but we still believe that centering community in finance can help change those trajectories.

Meet the 2023 members of the Advance Advisory Committee

Feb 1, 2023

These regional community champions ensure the flow of Advance Strategy capital to underserved and overlooked communities.

39th Annual Economic Roundtable

Jan 18, 2023

At the 39th Annual Economic Roundtable, Laura Kohn made the case for child care as an affordable housing issue.

Letters from Lauren: December 2022

Dec 21, 2022

As we approach the end of the year, the Mission Driven Finance team is thrilled for how far we’ve come and where we’re going in 2023.

USC MSSE Jacobson Family Sustainable Impact Lecture Series: Engaging Communities as an ESG Pillar

Nov 17, 2022

Lauren Grattan participated in this conversation addressing the topic, “How Businesses are Centering Community in Social Impact.”

Letters from Lauren: October/November 2022

Nov 7, 2022

October saw a good chunk of our team traveling for conferences and connecting with our community in person.

Access Youth Academy — Where Are They Now?

Nov 2, 2022

Three years ago, a $12M project was designed to transform the lives of the youth in Southeast San Diego with Access Youth Academy.

Talking regenerative agriculture at the RFSI Forum

Oct 14, 2022

We all have a role to play to activate different forms of capital for positive outcomes in regenerative food and agricultural systems.

Politifest 2022: What’s the Government’s Role in Child Care?

Oct 10, 2022

In October 2022, Laura Kohn spoke at Politfest 2022 to discuss the topic of the government’s role in child care. Check out this recap.

Letters from Lauren: September/October 2022

Oct 4, 2022

In the last few months, four strategies with client-partners made the first investments into the community, we welcomed new partnerships and portfolio companies, and the second cohort of community finance fellows graduated.

Where to find the MDF team this 2022 conference season

Sep 28, 2022

While COVID-19 continues to circulate, our team is fully vaccinated and getting back to conferences and convenings.

Thank you to our 2nd fellowship cohort!

Sep 16, 2022

Today concludes our formal year of learning together with the second cohort of the Community Finance Fellowship at Mission Driven Finance. Join us in extending a huge thanks to them for a fruitful year together!

Mission Driven Finance to Invest in San Diego Diverse-Led Businesses Through Partnership with Council for Supplier Diversity

Sep 13, 2022

Mission Driven Finance to Invest in San Diego Diverse-Led Businesses Through Partnership with Council for Supplier Diversity

Investing in Community Infrastructure to Support Thriving Economies

Sep 7, 2022

In March 2022, Laura Kohn spoke at the National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference attended by over 2,400 community development professionals.

Letters from Lauren: August 2022

Aug 30, 2022

This quarter marks a huge milestone in Mission Driven Finance’s history—we have now flowed over $50 million in “assets into community” (AIC) across more than 100 loan transactions!

Mission Driven Finance has flowed more than $50 million in assets into the community!

Aug 18, 2022

Our team is celebrating a huge milestone: We’ve flowed over $50 million in assets into the community as of July 31, 2022!

Letters from Lauren: July 2022

Jul 28, 2022

No summer slowdown here, we are seeing tons of activity across our various funds.

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News

Scaling Impact, Staying Human

Letters from Lauren: March 2023

Letters from Lauren: January/February 2023

Meet the 2023 members of the Advance Advisory Committee

39th Annual Economic Roundtable

Letters from Lauren: December 2022

USC MSSE Jacobson Family Sustainable Impact Lecture Series: Engaging Communities as an ESG Pillar

Letters from Lauren: October/November 2022

Access Youth Academy — Where Are They Now?

Talking regenerative agriculture at the RFSI Forum

Politifest 2022: What’s the Government’s Role in Child Care?

Letters from Lauren: September/October 2022

Where to find the MDF team this 2022 conference season

Thank you to our 2nd fellowship cohort!

Mission Driven Finance to Invest in San Diego Diverse-Led Businesses Through Partnership with Council for Supplier Diversity

Investing in Community Infrastructure to Support Thriving Economies

Letters from Lauren: August 2022

Mission Driven Finance has flowed more than $50 million in assets into the community!

Letters from Lauren: July 2022

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