Field Building & National Leadership
Scaling Community Solutions From the Mission to the Nation
MEDA is dedicated to field building—strengthening the community development sector by sharing proven models and strategies. We don’t just serve the Mission; we partner with organizations across the country to build capacity, advance place-based strategies, and drive lasting systems change.
Through our National Partnerships, MEDA supports a growing network of mission-aligned organizations via cohort-based learning, national convenings, peer learning communities, and tailored one-on-one technical assistance.
As practitioners first, we know what it takes to design and sustain community-rooted solutions. From program design to internal systems, we help partners create the conditions for outcomes that are equitable, measurable, and built to last.
Building the field in action
*2024 data
Ways We Partner
MEDA meets organizations where they are—whether they’re exploring new ideas, building internal capacity, or ready to implement bold, community-driven solutions. Our support ranges from one-time learning opportunities to deep, sustained technical assistance tailored to each partner’s goals.
Learning Community Model
MEDA’s National Partnerships team offers resources, trainings, and events on affordable housing, asset building, and organizational development for groups exploring these topics without committing to full-scale planning.
Cohort Model
We offer support for organizations with topic knowledge and funding that are ready to learn about planning and implementation in housing, asset building, organizational development, and collective impact.
1:1 Technical Assistance Model
We offer tailored technical assistance for organizations that have topic knowledge, funding, and some strategic planning, but require continued support for additional organizational development and implementation.
MEDA’s Place-Based Frameworks
Learn the areas of community development we cover in National Partnerships.
Community Placekeeping
Since 2014, MEDA has developed best practices in the development and preservation of affordable housing as a tool for community placekeeping in the Mission District. This model supports partners seeking to build organizational capacity to launch or expand their own community development or community real estate efforts.
Comprehensive Cradle-to-Career and Collective Impact
MEDA has led a cradle-to-career initiative rooted in collaboration with schools, community partners, and residents. This work focuses on building civic infrastructure, leveraging affordable housing and small businesses, expanding workforce and asset-building supports, and using data to measure impact and elevate community voice.
¡VIVA! Financial Capability
Designed for nonprofit organizations looking to build or strengthen their financial capability services, this curriculum shares MEDA’s proven coaching practices to help clients improve their financial health across four key areas: Debt, Income, Savings, and Credit (DISC).
Community Ownership
MEDA’s community ownership framework empowers community organizations and residents to shape their neighborhoods and create a shared future of prosperity. The three strategies include transformative land use policy, creating permanent affordable real estate opportunities, and access to capital for small businesses.