Mission Driven Finance blog

Ancient trade routes, modern capital: How ‘capital weaving’ unlocked a regenerative mill project in Indian Country

Wilda Wong — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:42 GMT

In impact finance, the challenge isn’t just finding great projects; it’s unlocking the capital to make them happen. This was the case for regenerative flour company Cairnspring Mills, whose growth had outpaced its infrastructure, and for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which had a vision for economic development but needed the right partners to help bring it to life.

Capital weaving in action

Cairnspring Mills—a company we lent to previously—was ready to grow a second mill to process a larger volume of regeneratively grown wheat and meet growing demand. They found a willing and values-aligned partner in the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to locate the new mill, but needed a substantial amount of capital to build it. While many pieces were coming together well, they needed a specific slice of $9 million in junior debt to help unlock other components of the capital stack.

The deal was compelling, but too big for any single interested party in our network. Knowing that we are stronger together, we approached this multi-million dollar opportunity with a “capital weaving” mindset, a concept our Co-founder and Chief Community Officer Lauren Grattan and Senior Director of Indigenous Futures Ted Piccolo first presented at Oweesta Corporation’s 10th Annual Native CDFI Capital Access Convening in Waikōloa Village, Hawai’i earlier in 2025.

Mission Driven Finance wove together a collective $9 million loan with eight Native Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) partners. The weaving of this debt facility helped to unlock over five times the capital for the project in a complex capital stack of equity, multiple tranches of debt, and New Markets Tax Credits with several legal entities.

This structure and process enabled our eight Native CDFIs partners to participate meaningfully in large-scale economic development: Citizen Potowatomi CDC, Four Bands Community Fund, NACDC Financial Services, Native360 Loan Fund, Nimiipuu Fund, Nixyáawii Community Financial Services, Northwest Native Development Fund, and Oweesta Corporation. Peter and Jennifer Buffett’s NoVo Foundation and Terra Regenerative Capital are among the leading equity investors.

In addition to leading underwriting and structuring of the transaction, the Mission Driven Finance team held regular calls with weave participants to walk through deal points, open negotiation items, and how we thought about the opportunity in general. This approach to learning-by-doing ensured that our partners felt equipped to take this specific deal to their investment committees and will feel more confident with complex transactions involving tax credits in the future.

The magic in the weave

“This deal is a blessing for our community, especially after the local flour mill burned down in recent years,” said Dave Tovey (Umatilla), executive director of the Umatilla Tribes’ Nixyáawii Community Financial Services. “It not only integrates our Tribe into the production chain but also showcases a new era for Native economic development. With eight Native CDFIs in the game, this project is exciting and inspiring for the future. We’re showing that by working together, we can create transformative impact for Indian Tribes nationwide.”

As Ted (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation) puts it, “The more you have out the door, the more you can bring in. This deal unleashes the financial capacity of Native lending institutions while directly impacting their communities. This transaction is but the next step in using capital to rebuild the ancient trade routes that Native and Indigenous people created to exchange goods and ideas.”

For Kevin Morse, CEO of Cairnspring Mills, the deal is more than just a financial transaction. He describes the experience as “surreal, gratifying, exciting, and daunting all at once.”

Kevin believes capital weaving is the future of regenerative businesses and Indian Country, as it prioritizes community resilience and food sovereignty over a purely financial-only ROI. The way this investment was structured aligns with Cairnspring’s business model, which embodies a “back to the future” approach, combining modern technology with the ancient stone milling and reflecting a model of community support that he believes is missing from conventional finance.

“There’s magic in the weave,” Kevin said. “People share their risk. People bring their communities and networks, which really build a powerful foundation for not just the deal, but the business.”

Many stakeholders, many impacts

For the people on and around the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the project has the potential to bring multiple benefits:

Economic opportunity: The new mill is projected to generate over $50 million in annual revenue and create more than 20 new jobs in the region. Local farmers are projected to earn over $20 million per year from regenerative wheat production.
Community empowerment: The Tribe receives equity ownership and a long-term lease, aligning the project with their goals of economic development and food sovereignty.
Workforce development: Cairnspring is also partnering with Blue Mountain Community College to create a mill training program to support workforce development.
Environmental impact: By processing grain closer to where it’s grown, the mill significantly shortens supply chains and reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation.

“This is leveraging capital,” said Pete Upton (Ponca Tribe of Nebraska), executive director of the Native360 Loan Fund and chairperson and CEO of the Native CDFI Network. “Bringing big deals like this and being able to increase the asset size of your organization makes a big impact and helps grow the smaller CDFIs to scale. You couldn’t ask for better partners.”

“Being able to really build relationships and partnerships and bring people together to do larger-scale economic development projects on reservations is a pivotal moment for Native CDFIs,” said Jamie Olson (Nez Perce), Chief Lending Officer at Oweesta Corporation. “There’s a large learning curve, but what’s been beneficial is that organizations such as Mission Driven Finance can mentor participants through the process, and that’s been very helpful to build their own internal policies to do this type of lending. If we can pull our resources together, we can make big projects happen. You are actually making transformational change in Native communities.”

This project shows that large-scale, impactful projects are possible with creativity and collective power. Together, we can build an economy that works well for all. We are proud to co-create this model and are actively identifying additional large-scale projects that can benefit from the capital weave approach to bring in Native lending partners who believe in the future of Indian Country.

Disclosure: The experiences described above reflect the perspectives of multiple individuals, including participating lenders. These accounts are shared solely for informational purposes. No compensation or incentives were provided in connection with the experiences shared.

Scaling Impact, Staying Human

Wilda Wong — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:57:16 GMT

Mission Driven Finance® Co-founders Lauren Grattan and David Lynn speak with Anne-Christin Grimme of Known about how Mission Driven Finance is scaling nationally—and what it takes to move capital in ways that actually strengthen communities, accelerate impact, and expand access for founders and fund managers who’ve long been overlooked, digging into:

The big why behind a platform built to turn capital into community-centered change
What the $84T wealth transfer means for the next generation of values-driven investors
How private credit and fund finance can reshape opportunity for emerging managers
What it really takes to build an institutional-grade impact platform from the ground up—while scaling nationally and staying deeply grounded in community
Why raising a fund is not enough—and what real readiness looks like
How to shift into an abundance mindset in moments of uncertainty—and why disruption can reveal the biggest opportunities for those ready to seize them

Where to find the MDF team this 2025 conference season

Wilda Wong — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:54:48 GMT

Many of our team will be on the fall conference circuit again. If you see us, be sure to say hi!

The Hunt Institute’s Early Childhood Leadership Summit

September 24–26, 2025
Washington, D.C.

Senior Director of CARE Operations Sarah Toce spoke on a panel entitled “Local Solutions to Support Early Childhood.”

Neighborhood Economics

September 30, 2025
Chicago, IL

AVP of External Affairs Lindsay Smalling spoke on a panel entitled “Neighborhood economics tools to take home.”

Investing In The Ownership Economy

October 9, 2025
Berkeley, CA

AVP of External Affairs Lindsay Smalling spoke at this event by the Sustainable and Impact Finance Initiative and the Center for Responsible Business.

Iowa SHRM State Conference

October 8–10, 2025
Des Moines, IA

Director of HR Jeannine Wolf-Omerza is attending.

2025 OFN Conference

October 20–23, 2025
Washington, D.C.

Senior Director of Indigenous Futures Ted Piccolo and Managing Director Stephen Nunes are attending.

SOCAP25

October 27–29, 2025
San Francisco, CA

Co-founder & Chief Community Officer Lauren Grattan, AVP of External Affairs Lindsay Smalling, and Director of Investor Relations Monique DeSimone are attending, and Mission Driven Finance is co-hosting a private happy hour reception with our friends at Boston Impact Initiative, Common Future, and RSF.

Economic Futures Summit

November 4–6, 2025
San Francisco, CA

Co-founder & Chief Community Officer Lauren Grattan is attending.

Native CDFI Network Policy & Capacity Building Summit

December 7–10, 2025
Washington, D.C.

Senior Director of Indigenous Futures Ted Piccolo and Managing Director Stephen Nunes are speaking about the $9 million loan package to build the Blue Mountain Mill, a regenerative flour mill on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Mission Driven Finance and Native Lending Partners Invest $9M in Regenerative Flour Mill on Umatilla Indian Reservation

Wilda Wong — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:52:45 GMT

Coalition of Native CDFIs and financial partners enables project to transform Tribal economy

UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION, OREGON (September 18, 2025) — Mission Driven Finance announced a $9 million investment as part of a larger capital raise for Cairnspring Mills’ new Blue Mountain mill on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon. The transaction, structured with eight Native Community Development Financial Institutions and other partners, represents a breakthrough in creative financing for Indigenous economic development.

The Blue Mountain mill rebuilds regional value-added processing infrastructure that has been sorely missing since the closure of a Pendleton mill due to a devastating fire three years ago. The new mill will dramatically increase Cairnspring Mills’ processing capacity and revenue, supporting the local economy with more than 20 jobs, and make regeneratively grown and identity-preserved flour more widely available. For the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the project provides equity ownership, long-term land lease income, and advances their economic development and food sovereignty goals.

“This deal unleashes the financial capacity of Native lending institutions while directly impacting their communities,” said Ted Piccolo, Senior Director of Indigenous Futures at Mission Driven Finance. “We’re rebuilding ancient trade routes that Native peoples created to exchange goods and ideas.”

Dave Tovey, executive director of the Umatilla Tribes’ Nixyáawii Community Financial Services, praised the collaborative financing: “My brother Bill, who serves as the director of Umatilla County’s Department of Economic and Community Development, and I are incredibly proud to see this project come to fruition on Tribal land. This would not have been possible without the bold and creative approach of Mission Driven Finance, making it easy for us and other Native CDFIs to come together and invest in a project with such a transformative impact on Indian Country. We are deeply thankful for their role in bringing this to life.”

The mill addresses capacity constraints at Cairnspring Mills’ flagship Skagit Valley facility in Burlington, WA, which will continue operations, while creating a regional hub for regenerative agriculture. Cairnspring Mills is partnering with Blue Mountain Community College to develop mill training programs for workforce development.

For Kevin Morse, CEO of Cairnspring Mills, the deal is more than just a financial transaction. “This deal represents the culmination of a multi-year journey to bring Cairnspring Mills’ dream to fruition,” Morse said. “Rebuilding infrastructure is expensive, and Tribal communities, more than anyone, understood the value of this project. This collaboration is a symbol of what we can do as a community to create something different that makes a big difference for our homes and our people and future generations.”

The total project is being financed through a combination of equity, debt, and New Markets Tax Credits. Mission Driven Finance’s subordinated debt syndicate unlocked significantly more capital for the project and positioned Native intermediaries as critical growth partners. Participating Native CDFIs include Citizen Potowatomi CDC, Four Bands Community Fund, NACDC Financial Services, Native360 Loan Fund, Nimiipuu Fund, Nixyáawii Community Financial Services, Northwest Native Development Fund, and Oweesta Corporation. Peter and Jennifer Buffett’s NoVo Foundation and Terra Regenerative Capital are among the leading equity investors.

“This partnership is a powerful example of how we can cultivate a more inclusive and robust economy and use creativity to align all stakeholders toward a shared goal—what we like to call ‘capital weaving,’” said Lauren Grattan, co-founder of Mission Driven Finance. “Our existing relationship with Cairnspring Mills gave us confidence in their leadership to grow regenerative agriculture in deep partnership with the Umatilla Tribe’s economic development. We are thrilled to play a role in building both physical and capital infrastructure through this partnership with our Native finance peers for the future of Indian Country.”

About Mission Driven Finance®

Mission Driven Finance is an impact asset management firm dedicated to building a financial system that ensures good businesses have access to sufficient, affordable capital. Built from the ground up with a single purpose—to make it easy to invest in your community—all of their funds and structured products are designed to close financial gaps that will close opportunity gaps. They work with local and national investors to help them create the impact they want and work with businesses and community partners to help them get the capital they need. Mission Driven Finance was launched in 2016 in San Diego, CA, and is a Certified B Corporation. In 2025, Mission Driven Finance was selected again for ImpactAssets’ IA 50 Fund Manager list*, a category for experienced impact fund managers with a minimum three-year track record. Learn more at missiondrivenfinance.com.

Disclosure: The experiences of Umatilla Tribes’ Nixyáawii Community Financial Services, a participating lender, and Cairnspring Mills, a borrower, are shared above. No compensation was provided in connection with the experiences shared.

Mission Driven Finance, LLC is an Exempt Reporting Adviser. CRD # 295160/SEC#:802-114710

*Please visit impactassets.org/IA-50/#criteria to review the IA 50 Fund Manager list selection criteria and methodology.

###

Media contact:
Wilda Wong
wilda@missiondrivenfinance.com
858-880-0252 x708

Letters from Lauren: August 2025

Lauren Grattan — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:51:45 GMT

In a world of challenges, I’m reenergized by meeting people daring to invest in their communities in new ways.

Emerging fund managers, especially those building in alternative asset classes or from underrepresented backgrounds, are driven and tenacious—but rarely aware of all the hidden challenges and unspoken rules for launching and growing funds.

To be frank, the playing field is tilted, with potholes that can trip up even the most promising managers. Our stance: Filling in these potholes positions good fund managers to empower their communities, creating a more inclusive and robust economy.

Filling capital gaps

Key hurdles like capital, timing, and proof gaps prevent innovative managers from scaling their firms. To address these issues, we’ve been quietly rolling out a suite of financial products and back-office services, including MDF Capital Partners and Bold Line Capital (this ImpactAlpha feature explains the joyously nerdy value of capital call lines of credit).

MDF Capital Partners provided the right-sized capital at the right time to MURAL Real Estate Partners, a full-service real estate company focusing on mixed-use revitalization in underinvested markets, to maintain momentum across projects with different timing constraints.

On that point, we are deploying MDF Capital Partners funds through the end of the year to great managers like Robin at MURAL. Fund managers and real estate project sponsors looking for funding can reach out to my colleague Dustin Shay at dustin@missiondrivenfinance.com.

Filling other potholes

In addition to capital products, we’ve also been soft-launching crucial back-office support and fund management services, which we are opening up to a wider group this fall.

If you know either capital allocators (investors, foundations, corporate sponsors, etc.) or capital entrepreneurs (emerging fund managers, real estate project sponsors, etc.) looking for a partner to help them navigate these complexities and grow their impact, please have them reach out to launch@missiondrivenfinance.com.

We all need the next generation of impact managers, and our team is here to help them grow.

Be well and take care of one another,

Lauren Grattan
Co-founder & Chief Community Officer

Mission Driven Finance and Community Capital Management Launch Bold Line Capital: A Short Duration Private Credit Strategy

Wilda Wong — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:51:23 GMT

Mission Driven Finance® is proud to partner with CCM Strategic Solutions LLC (a non-advisory affiliate of Community Capital Management, LLC) to launch a joint venture called Bold Line Capital, a capital call lending facility for impact and emerging fund managers.

Why is a line of credit needed for impact and emerging managers?

As Mission Driven Finance® CEO David Lynn explained in ImpactAlpha, “We need more good emerging managers that are focused on improving people and planet to be able to scale to Fund Two, Fund Three, and Fund Four. And this is one of the tools they need in their toolbox.”

Andy Kaufman, CCM’s chief investment officer, added, “They’re moving faster and quicker because they’re new and they’re innovative. Yet they’re not getting the tools they need to ultimately become as successful as we’d hope.”

CCM’s co-chief impact strategist, David Sand: “As mainstream venture, private equity, and private debt sectors continue to grow, impact and emerging funds often face barriers in accessing financial services from traditional banks. Capital call credit facilities can serve as an important resource, helping these funds to remain competitive. Bold Line was created to help level the playing field and provide equitable access to capital.”

Letters from Lauren: June 2025

Lauren Grattan — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:50:38 GMT

We hit an exciting milestone and want to celebrate with you: Mission Driven Finance has helped flow $200 million in assets into community, doubling volume in under two years!

This capital supports impact-minded entrepreneurs, businesses, nonprofits, and real estate projects, creating an inclusive, robust economy. We’ve moved this money through a variety of vehicles that help us and our stakeholders stay nimble and resilient in a shifting marketplace.

A core strategy is deepening support for capital entrepreneurs on the path to becoming sturdy capital enterprises:

MDF Capital Partners recently financed a real estate developer and a venture capital firm, helping both get over cash flow timing challenges and build momentum in their portfolios. As my colleague Stephen Nunes has pointed out, “The two-year process it can take to get a fund capitalized makes it extremely difficult for managers without personal networks of wealth to build a fund while keeping the lights on.”

Bold Line Capital, a capital call lending facility in support of impact and emerging funds, is a new joint venture between CCM Strategic Solutions LLC (CCMSS), a non-advisory affiliate of Community Capital Management, and Mission Driven Finance.

Lines of credit help fund managers navigate common challenges more nimbly, saving time to focus on what matters most in their fund performance. A national lender serving diverse founders and businesses has drawn and repaid their capital call line multiple times in the past year.

We continue to lend to small- to medium-sized businesses, in California, of course, but now also in New Mexico through Advance New Mexico and Indian Country across the U.S. through the Indigenous Futures Fund:

My colleague Crystal Sevilla, senior manager of borrower services, recently relocated to Albuquerque, where she is building a solid network of lending partners, climate and tech-oriented businesses, and nonprofits. She is assembling an advisory committee, like the one for Advance California, to introduce us to entrepreneurs in New Mexico. Say hi to Crystal!

In collaboration with The Alliance CDFI (of the Yurok Tribe), we supported custom signage company CK Sign Services in purchasing materials and refinancing debt, as well as Liz Perez and GC Green in a critical EV infrastructure project.

If you know great fund managers and entrepreneurs ready to scale and grow, we would love a referral. Send them our way at borrow@missiondrivenfinance.com.

Be well and take care of one another,

Lauren Grattan
Co-founder & Chief Community Officer

Why the care economy is everyone’s business (and what to do about it)

Wilda Wong — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:49:23 GMT

“My mom is 81. I have a daughter who’s three.”

Jenna Bussman-Wise’s personal experience instantly elicited nods at our recent panel on investing in the care economy.

The sandwich generation, or maybe more accurately, the panini generation—crushed by the pressures of caring for both aging parents and young children—feels familiar to many.

Yet, the care economy remains a massively underinvested opportunity hiding in plain sight.

Heather Burke of Care Access Real Estate® (CARE) brought together a panel of experienced practitioners to discuss this investment landscape, centered around the recent white paper Caring for Tomorrow: A Guide to Investing in the Care Economy:

Jenna Bussman-Wise, Tesser Capital Management
Pooja Eppanapally, formerly Women of the World Endowment
Jennifer Stybel, Pivotal Ventures
Heather Burke, Care Access Real Estate, Mission Driven Finance (moderator)

The care economy: a massive, overlooked market “hidden in plain sight”

Here’s the math that should keep every investor awake at night:

Everyone needs care, few can afford it, and hardly anyone is actively investing in solutions.

Families with young children struggle to find child care that’s both affordable and logistically feasible. Home care for aging or disabled individuals remains out of reach for families who desperately need it. Meanwhile, an aging population and caregiver shortages are creating a perfect storm of demand that shows no signs of slowing.

One stark consequence: “In effect, the wage gap is really a care gap,” explained Jennifer Stybel. When families can’t access affordable care, someone—usually women—leaves the workforce. The ripple effects touch every corner of the economy.

Pooja Eppanapally put it simply:

“Caregivers make all other work possible. [The shortage of care options] affects all of us, and it’s going to take all of us to come up with scalable solutions in this space.”

Yet despite being a $649 billion market that touches every family, workplace, and community, the care economy remains largely invisible to mainstream investors. That disconnect between widespread need and capital allocation? That’s an opportunity.

What can investors and institutions do?

The beauty of the care economy investing opportunity lies in its breadth and flexibility. There is space for philanthropic grants to de-risk early ventures, impact-first investments, market-rate private equity to scale proven solutions, and everything in between. Panelists shared various approaches to engage with the care economy.

The full-spectrum investment approach

Think of care economy investing as building an ecosystem. As noted in the white paper, philanthropic capital creates proof points, blended finance models reduce risk for institutional investors, and market-rate capital scales what works. Each type of investment enhances the others.

Infrastructure plays: Funds like Care Access Real Estate® (CARE) help solve the real estate puzzle that hampers child care operations from growing
Technology solutions: Direct investments in companies like Clasp, Tilt, Little Otter, Summer Health and Mon Ami are building platforms that caregivers need*
Venture-focused funds: Specialized funds like Kalos Ventures zero in on the unique dynamics of care, workforce, and education*
Public-private partnerships: Strategic blending of government resources with private capital can fill gaps in public investment and may strengthen future policy recommendations affecting the care economy

The policy-innovation-capital triangle

Stybel captured the interconnected nature of this opportunity:

“We know that in order to achieve lasting change in this area, we need new and better policies. We need more tech innovation and, therefore, more investment going into the space. We need catalytic philanthropic funding to take risks on new ideas and create proof points.”

Translation for investors: This isn’t just about picking winning companies or fund managers. It’s about positioning capital where policy implementation, tech breakthroughs, and market demand intersect.

Your 5-point action plan

Ready to explore care economy investing? Start here.

Examine your current portfolio: What exposure do you already have to the care economy? Understand what you already own to determine what you do next.
Consider intentional care investments: Start with one if you have none.
Challenge your advisors: Ask them to apply a “care economy lens” to your existing strategy. If they’re not sure what that is, share the Caring for Tomorrow white paper!
Break down internal siloes: Ex. Foundations can align investing and grantmaking teams around shared care economy goals.
Become a strategic partner: Get to know the entrepreneurs and operators in this space, and get to know the context of their capital needs.

Right-size your investment strategy with the intended impact. As Bussman-Wise emphasized, “Patient capital around a mission is imperative.”

Growing the care economy is vital for us all. It requires collaboration across sectors, patient capital, and innovative financing models to create systemic change, but there are bright spots that show what’s possible when we work together.

For further exploration

*Mission Driven Finance is not affiliated with these companies or funds and has not conducted due diligence on them as of this writing. Consult your advisors to determine what, if any, investments make sense for your context.

Disclosure: This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security.

“Assets into community” now at $200M, skyrocketing by $100M in two years

Wilda Wong — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:48:37 GMT

Mission Driven Finance sets out to flow capital where it usually doesn’t but should. We’re thrilled to announce that as of April 30, 2025, we’ve deployed $200 million in “Assets into Community”* (AIC) in service of an inclusive, robust economy—a huge leap from our first $1 million in 2018 and from $50 million in 2022. We saw $100 million in growth in just two years!

Our goal? To flow $1 billion into the community by the end of 2027.

Why “AIC”?

We want to measure the capital actively flowing to promising, often under-resourced, leaders and projects. Unlike “Assets Under Management” (AUM), AIC shows money moving off the sidelines to make a real difference.

Reaching this milestone took collective effort. Senior Investment Analyst Byamba Nyanrag shared, “The $200M AIC figure represents hundreds of carefully evaluated opportunities where we’ve balanced financial diligence with community impact. It’s incredibly motivating to see our detailed work translate into such a significant flow of capital to impact-minded organizations and projects.”

“Reaching $200M AIC is a powerful milestone—one that validates for our investors that we can deploy their capital effectively and in ways that create tangible and meaningful impact,” said Monique DeSimone, director of investor relations.

“$200M AIC isn’t just money into companies, it’s a bet on community-driven solutions to some of the biggest social and environmental challenges of our time,” said Dustin Shay, senior director of capital initiatives. “It’s also just the beginning. We’re building a more inclusive, impact-driven economic system from the ground up, and we’re only growing from here.”

AIC in practice: A community-focused approach to affordable housing

Members of the Hogar Hispano team

“Assets into community” means we’re building a system that benefits everyone, supporting community-focused strategies. A great example is a housing facility with Hogar Hispano, Inc. (HHI), a national nonprofit serving communities impacted by economic challenges, disinvestment, and other hardships.

HHI collaborates with numerous partners nationwide to stabilize housing, revitalize communities, build wealth, and preserve homeownership primarily for low- to middle-income (LMI) individuals and families of color.

Since 2011, HHI has helped create or preserve homeownership of over 3,800 homes by purchasing more than $400M in single-family properties.

The HHI Pool Facility enables Hogar Hispano to acquire non-performing mortgages and distressed single-family homes to preserve home ownership and create affordable housing opportunities.

While HHI’s work is complex, Mission Driven Finance saw the potential to help families in communities across the country tap into the steadying power of owning their homes.

Previously, HHI relied on high-cost, short-term financing to acquire these assets. This limited their ability to move quickly on high-impact opportunities and have the time to do deep work with homeowners and other stakeholders.

Our new, more flexible blended financing facility allows HHI to better bid on properties and offer equitable paths to homeownership. It also means they can be more patient with borrowers facing challenges, reducing the risk of foreclosure and supporting long-term stability.

What does empathy have to do with it?

Empathy—and equity—informs how we put AIC into practice.

“Curb-cut” thinking creates solutions for those most in need that ultimately benefit everyone.

Civil rights advocate Angela Glover Blackwell once said, “When the nation targets support where it is needed most—when we create the circumstances that allow those who have been left behind to participate and contribute fully—everyone wins.”

It’s not just about a rising tide lifting all boats; it’s about ensuring everyone has a boat.

Meet us on the road to $1 billion

Reaching $200 million AIC was a collective effort—thank you to our team, portfolio companies, investors, community partners, clients, and champions. If you are reading this, you are probably part of this collective—thank you!

Help us reach the next milestone.

Learn about our investment strategies: missiondrivenfinance.com/invest or contact us
Explore financing options: missiondrivenfinance.com/loans

We can’t wait to celebrate moving $1 billion into the community with you!

How to get values-aligned funding: Lessons for entrepreneurs from Trading at the Bay

Wilda Wong — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:47:03 GMT

Ever feel like you’re navigating a maze when it comes to finding the right funding for your business?

You’re not alone.

All too often, entrepreneurs, especially those building businesses rooted in community and values, hit a wall trying to access capital that aligns with their mission. This spring, Mission Driven Finance, along with fellow capital providers and visionary entrepreneurs, gathered for Trading at the Bay* in Oakland, CA, to flip the script on conventional funding conversations. We explored how to find capital that fits your goals, respects your values, and empowers you to own your power in the funding journey.

A beautiful day for connection on the sunny side of the Bay (photo credit Irwin Lewis)

Some key takeaways:

Talking to Funders: Know Your Worth

Getting funding can feel intimidating, but remember, you bring value to the table.

Own your power: Don’t be afraid to state your needs clearly. You can help define what success looks like, prioritize safety (cultural and otherwise), and push for fair processes. Funders don’t hold all the cards.
Know your stuff: Approach conversations with confidence in why you started or run this business now, knowing your business’s worth, key drivers, and how you navigate changes in your industry. You want to show that you’re a solid bet in uncertain times.
Ask questions: Treat it like vetting a partner, because it is. Ask funders for references from other businesses they’ve funded. Talk to those entrepreneurs.
Be crystal clear: Tell funders exactly what you need the money for, how much, and why. Example:

“I need $10k to buy X machine, which will let me produce Y more units that customers are asking for, but I can’t deliver with our current setup.”

Funding Options Explained: Finding the Right Fit

Think of funding types like different tools—use the right one for the job.

Funder panel (L–R): Gaspar Magallanes, Yisroel Quint, Nicole Johnny, Lauren Grattan (photo credit Irwin Lewis)

Grants

Best for: Specific projects, getting started, sometimes including research and development, and community impact work

Where to look:

Tribal Funding Registry (tribalfunding.org)
City and county websites (You might need to dig; they aren’t always well-advertised.)
Foundations (often for nonprofit activities)
Fellowships (can provide time/space to develop ideas)

Keep in mind: Grant hunting, writing applications, and reporting take time and effort. Make sure the “juice is worth the squeeze” when assessing a grant opportunity. View foundation “ratings” by current and former grantees to learn more about what specific foundations expect: grantadvisor.org

Focus on building relationships. As Yisroel Quint said (quoting his mentor Paula Morris),

“If you want money, ask for advice. If you want advice, ask for money.” Funders often want to offer more than just cash.

They can have a different view on the landscape and make connections with other resources.

Loans

Best for: Buying inventory or equipment, covering operations during growth, and managing cash flow

Where to look:

CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions) that finance small businesses in the Bay Area, like Working Solutions and Pacific Community Ventures, that care about community impact, not just repayment
Look up mission-aligned banks and credit unions that may prioritize your success as a small business
Ask business support organizations for their recommendations on lenders and check out other groups, such as:
- Local Chambers of Commerce
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
- Specialized centers (for women, veterans, etc.), often at universities
- Alliance for Community Development
- National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
- Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
Alliance for Community Development’s Good Money Guide

Watch out for merchant cash advances. They promise fast cash but often come with very high costs and tough terms. The speed can be tempting, but read the fine print carefully.

Get organized. Have your financial info ready before you talk to lenders. This includes both historical financials (at least last year’s info) and future projections. If you need help putting these together, see the technical assistance resources.

Talk to your lender. If your business hits a rough patch or you think you might miss a payment, let your lender know ASAP. Most want to help you figure it out. Don’t ghost them.

Gut check: Does the lender keep their promises during the application process? That may show how they’ll act later.

Be strategic: Will this loan actually help you reach your business goals? Don’t take on debt just because you can.

Equity

Best for: Major scaling and growth when you need more capital than a loan

What it is: Selling a percentage of your company—the investor becomes a part owner

It’s a commitment: Think long-term partnership—an investment cycle often lasts eight years or more (“not unlike the average American marriage”)

Consider:

How much control are you comfortable giving up?
What’s the plan for the investor to eventually get their money back (the “exit strategy”)?

Look for:

Impact investors who care about your mission and financial returns
Founder-friendly investors who respect your vision and leadership
Example:

“Some investors, like Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, explore options like helping founders sell ownership back to their Tribe (like Eighth Generation did).” — Nicole Johnny

Do your homework. Ask for references, talk to other founders in their portfolio, and ask tough questions upfront

Getting Through Tough Times

Every entrepreneur faces challenges—those “valley of death” moments when cash is tight. It can go against your instincts to be vulnerable about your business, but connecting with others who have walked similar paths can help.

Entrepreneur panel (L–R): Liz Perez, April McGill, Joey Montoya, Risa Blumlein Keeper (photo credit Irwin Lewis)

Real Talk from Peers

Joey Montoya (Urban Native Era) “bootstrapped” for eight years—not taking outside money to grow—and constantly tweaked designs and focused on his brand story before landing a huge deal with outdoor retailer REI.

April McGill (American Indian Cultural Center) navigated the ups and downs of government grant cycles, always “chasing money” but staying focused on uplifting artists.

Liz Perez (GC Green) started her business out of fear and necessity, initially using expensive funding (18% factoring) to develop a successful track record and build relationships to get better financing terms.

Practical Tips

Big orders:

“Use purchase orders from large clients to qualify for bridge loans or negotiate advance payments to manage cash flow.” — Joey Montoya

Know your why:

“Keep your end goal in mind—it fuels perseverance.” — Joey Montoya

Learn and adapt: Every challenge teaches you something for the next one.

“We all fail and we all get back up.” — April McGill

You’re Not Alone

Your success contributes to the whole ecosystem.

The Alliance for Community Development (photo credit Irwin Lewis)

Remember:

“We all do better when we all do better.” — Paul Wellstone via Lauren Grattan

Lift each other up:

“Support other Native-owned and Tribally-owned businesses whenever you can.” — Liz Perez

Pay it forward:

“If you take out community-focused loans (like from CDFIs), being thoughtful about repayment helps ensure those funds are available for the next entrepreneur.” — Gasper Magallanes

Tap into resources: See a list below.

Your Funding Checklist

Before you seek funding, ask yourself:

What’s the goal? Exactly why do I need this money, and what will it achieve?
Am I ready? Are my financial records organized and up-to-date?
What’s the right type? Does self-funding, a grant, a loan, or equity make the most sense right now?
Is it a good fit? Does this potential funder understand and respect my values and business? (Ask them.)
Do I know my rights? Are there laws or policies that can help protect my business during negotiations?

Funding can be complex, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. If you want to explore options like the Indigenous Futures Fund, contact us at borrow@missiondrivenfinance.com.

The Mission Driven Finance team (photo credit Irwin Lewis)

With Gratitude

We share our deepest thanks to all the panelists who shared their knowledge with us: Nicole Johnny, Gasper Magallanes, April McGill, Joey Montoya, Elizabeth Perez, and Yisroel Quint. We are grateful to our host Intertribal Friendship House, caterer Wahpepah’s Kitchen, exhibitor Urban Native Era, and event planning partner Next Street.

Thank you also to tabling partners and capital providers who showed up to engage with entrepreneurs:

Other Resources

City and county websites
Chambers of Commerce
First People’s Fund
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
Tribal Funding Registry
Working Solutions CDFI

Getting Ready for Capital

*Why “Trading at the Bay”? The event was so named to acknowledge that trade, whether for goods, services, or currency, has always happened where waters meet. The Bay Area is a giant confluence of waterways where Indigenous people have conducted trade for centuries, and continue to do so today.