Community first. Equity always.
At the McFadden Finch Foundation, we don’t just fund programs—we support people, build infrastructure, and back local leadership over the long haul.
We focus our efforts in Oakland and the greater Bay Area, partnering with grassroots organizations, small businesses, artists, youth leaders, and local advocates to create real, measurable change. Our work is rooted in trust, informed by lived experience, and guided by what communities say they need, not what philanthropy thinks they should want.
Our Model : Local Investment, Long-Term Partnership
We move resources in three core ways:
1. Grantmaking
We provide flexible, general operating support to small and mid-sized nonprofits, especially those led by Black, Indigenous, immigrant, and working-class communities. We fund across youth development, arts and culture, housing, education, and economic empowerment.
2. Lending
We offer accessible loans to small businesses, nonprofits, and community development projects in the Bay Area. Our lending is designed for those often excluded by traditional banks, entrepreneurs of color, early-stage organizations, and groups serving high-need neighborhoods.
3. Capacity Building & Leadership Support
Through training, coaching, and capital, we strengthen the skills, infrastructure, and networks of local leaders. From financial systems to strategic planning to healing-centered leadership—we support what keeps organizations strong and sustainable.
What Guides Us
We’re not chasing numbers, we’re investing in people and measuring what matters.
- Community Voice: We follow the lead of local organizers, educators, artists, and residents.
- Equity in Action: We prioritize funding to groups that have been historically underfunded.
- Relationship over Transaction: We build trust, not just pipelines.
- Place-Based Focus: We know Oakland. We stay local, dig deep, and partner for the long term.
How We Make Decisions
We use a participatory, relationship-driven process. We rely on:
- Input from local partners and community leaders
- Transparent criteria that reflect equity and community alignment
- Flexibility to respond to emerging needs
- Accountability through shared learning, not burdensome reporting
Let’s Work Together
Whether you’re a local organization looking for support, a funder looking to partner, or a resident looking to get involved, our door is open. Email us info@mcfaddenfinchfoundation.org