Letters from Lauren: December 2023

This fall, we reached a landmark moment, flowing over $100 million in assets into the community since our founding.

As of November 30, 2023, we:

• Added nearly $40 million in assets into community
• Closed 62 transactions across 11 strategies designed to support underfunded communities in building an inclusive economy
• Purchased eight homes for child care through Care Access Real Estate (CARE)
• Closed out the San Diego COVID-19 Nonprofit Loan Program—$5.2 million disbursed to 26 nonprofits across 27 loans that have now matured, with a loss ratio of less than 0.04%
• Welcomed 35 values-aligned small businesses and nonprofits to the portfolio
• Had 115 hours of discovery and check-in calls with current portfolio companies
• Hired 13 people (and still hiring!)
• Spoke at 29 conferences and events across the country and virtually
• Appeared in the media 24 times

Just last week, Stephen Nunes and I traveled to snowy Santa Fe to meet with partners on a new place-based strategy, for which we got unanimous approval for an anchor $10 million commitment! More to come.

 

On January 10, I’ll be chatting with some of my favorite people in the field—Jaime Gloshay of Common Future, Betty Francisco of Boston Impact Initiative, and Stephanie Gripne of Impact Finance Center—about cultivating diversity in leadership, supporting emerging managers, building inclusive ecosystems, and success stories and best practices. Join us.

As a way to encourage collective rest across the team after a busy year of milestones and accomplishments, Mission Driven Finance is closed from December 25, 2023, through January 1, 2024. Stay tuned for more big updates in the new year.

 

 

Wishing you a safe and happy winter solstice,

Lauren Grattan
Co-founder & Chief Community Officer

P.S. We crowdsourced some ways our team is taking care of ourselves this winter:

• Hot water all day
• Spicy foods
• Canceling plans
• Irish sea moss
• Elderberry syrup
• CoQ10 + vitamin D + magnesium before bed
• Oranges to keep the scurvy away