David Berge
President and Founder, Underdog Ventures, LLC 

David Berge is the President and Founder of Underdog Ventures, LLC, a company which creates and manages customized community venture capital funds, integrating socially responsible investment, community development finance and philanthropic components.  Underdog Ventures was recognized as one of ten U.S. financial institutions providing especially strong benefits to the environment.  Through his previous retainer-based consulting firm, David advised high net worth in individuals and social venture institutions, while providing one third of his work on a pro bono basis for community development organizations. 

David also is the Chairman and founder of the Underdog Foundation, which provides both community investments and philanthropy.  Previously, David was the Director of Vermont National Bank’s Socially Responsible Banking Fund, which he grew from $38 million to $208 million U.S. in targeted deposits, creating flexible loans in the areas of sustainable agriculture, conservation and the environment, affordable housing, education, and socially responsible businesses.  David also worked as the Senior Loan Officer at the Institute for Community Economics, a community loan fund providing financial and technical assistance to community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives and other grassroots organizations around the United States.

David is a former board member and Chair of the Social Investment Forum, the trade association for institutions and professionals involved in the $2.3 trillion socially responsible investment industry in the United States. He is the former Chairman of the Social Investment Forum Foundation.  He is a former board member and current member of the Social Venture Network.  He is an advisory board member of Altrushare Securities, LLC.  He is a member of the Financial Innovations Roundtable.  He is a former Advisory Board member of the Boston Federal Reserve’s Community Development Advisory Board, the Cooperative Fund of New England Advisory Board, the Equity Trust Advisory Board and the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Board of Directors.

Originally from Austin, Minnesota, David currently resides in Warrens Gore, Vermont.   David graduated with a B.A. from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota and an M.A. from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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