NCCLF Board member, Finance Committee member, and investor Jean Driscoll

When asked the inspiration for her many years of involvement in social justice and environmental causes, Jean Driscoll cites the influence of her grandfather, Aurelio. “He was in the Spanish Civil War, and he sacrificed a lot to be on the side that was right. Not the side that won, but the side that was right. He never lost sight of what he valued, and that made a huge impact on me.”

After completing an undergraduate degree and working for a time in Washington, D.C., Jean earned an MBA from Columbia University. She then began her extensive work with nonprofits, focusing on open space and affordable housing. As an independent consultant, she spent many years championing the financing of land conservation projects, helping to establish and operate lending programs for the Packard Foundation, Open Space Institute, and the Resources Legacy Fund. Recently, Jean turned her attention to education, and is working toward the creation of an elementary charter school in West Oakland. The innovative school would provide low-income families access to an additional educational option for their children.

Jean is the mother of two children, ages 15 and 13, and has a 27-year- old stepson. Her husband, Peter Calthorpe, is an urban designer who has been at the forefront of the sustainable development movement. Her involvement with NCCLF dates back to its inception. She became a donor in the 1990s and now, nearly twenty years later, Jean is an investor, Board member, and Finance Committee member. Her acumen and experience, combined with her commitment and encouragement have proven to be an invaluable asset as NCCLF works to meet its mission. We are proud to have her as a member, advisor, and friend of the Loan Fund.