We are following up the summer with an active fall season, full of conferences and new fund milestones. Just this week, at SOCAP24, I joined a panel addressing the pressing cash flow challenges for emerging and underrepresented fund managers. Launching an investment fund is expensive and time-consuming; especially for first-time fund managers who don’t come from communities where wealth has historically been concentrated.
Inspired by our experiences bringing new funds to market and supporting aspiring managers, we devised a solution called MDF Capital Partners, recently spotlighted by ImpactAlpha. The fund is designed to alleviate common fundraising challenges that impact funds and projects face, particularly gaps in proof, size, and timing.
Another way to grow impactful fund managers and lenders is by tapping into recent waves of government funding as with the Initiative for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (IIE), now housed under the Milken Institute. One of our roles within the initiative is to work with Native-led capital intermediaries to harness and flow federal dollars equitably in Indian Country. In recent coverage also by ImpactAlpha, our VP of Capital Initiatives Stephen Nunes highlights the variety of federal investments, while I share my perspective of the Native finance landscape in Working Nation. Also check out this article in The New York Times spotlighting IIE partner Change Labs!
To co-create these models of an inclusive economy with all sorts of rad partners, we’ve assembled a fantastic internal team. At nearly 50 folks across 20+ states (!), it was a treat to get together in person for three days of deep work and friendly competition of bowling and making guacamole. No matter what the post-election landscape looks like, we’re committed to building momentum with you, our partners and community.
Be well and take care of one another,
Lauren Grattan
Co-founder & Chief Community Officer
