Equity means more than access—it Implies Ownership.
In Oakland and across the Bay Area, families are working hard but falling behind. Generations of systemic racism—redlining, wage gaps, predatory lending, and exclusion from capital—have left Black, Brown, immigrant, and working-class communities with limited tools to build lasting wealth.
At the McFadden Finch Foundation, we invest in programs and policies that help people not just survive—but grow, save, and own. That includes income support, asset-building, and wealth creation strategies rooted in community.
Because equity without economic power doesn’t last.
What We Fund
We support efforts that help individuals and families increase income, reduce debt, and grow assets.
We fund:
- Financial literacy and credit-building workshops led by trusted community organizations
- Matched savings programs (e.g. IDAs, baby bonds, and youth savings initiatives)
- First-time homebuyer education and down payment assistance
- Income support and guaranteed income pilots
- Wealth-building strategies for returning residents and justice-impacted communitie
- Community-run financial tools like lending circles and cooperative investment funds
We prioritize projects that reflect cultural understanding, community trust, and long-term economic mobility.
Why It Matters
- The racial wealth gap in the Bay Area is one of the largest in the country.
- For many Black and Brown families, owning a home—or even maintaining savings—feels out of reach.
- Many people work multiple jobs and still can’t build stability.
- Financial systems weren’t built for our communities. It’s time to change the system—and fund new ones.
We believe building wealth is a form of justice.
Our Approach
We fund strategies that are:
- People-centered – led by and for community members, not banks or institutions
- Accessible – simple to use, culturally responsive, and free of predatory practices
- Flexible – recognizing that financial well-being doesn’t follow one path
- Transformative – shifting not just outcomes, but the underlying systems that block wealth for many and hoard it for few
We back community innovators, trusted messengers, and local organizations reimagining how wealth is built—and who gets to build it.