Patrick Diamond is the founder of Laurel, a consultancy that builds funding strategies for a better world. Before launching Laurel in 2022, he worked at MIT Solve, where he partnered with business and philanthropic leaders to make investments more open and equitable. Guided by human-centered design, Patrick helped shape funding strategies that addressed some of the world’s biggest challenges.

As a founding member of MIT Solve, he played a key role in shaping the organization, team, and impact. From 2017 to 2022, he led innovation programs in health care and workforce development, helping direct $26.45 million in funding to social entrepreneurs around the world. He worked with partners like the Gates Foundation, Intuitive Foundation, New Profit, Horizon Therapeutics, and Cambridge University to design and implement these programs.

Before MIT Solve, Patrick led strategic initiatives in fundraising, volunteerism, community relations, and communications for a growing community health center in Baltimore, deepening his commitment to mission-driven work.

At Laurel, Patrick co-founded SELF with Intuitive Foundation, a groundbreaking initiative that expands access to surgical training in low- and middle-income countries through open-access, simulation-based learning. He also co-designed Catalyze Challenge, a national funder collaborative where philanthropic funders pooled $14 million to support 60+ organizations, reaching more than 45,000 learners across the U.S. Through this work, Patrick led the design and implementation of career-connected learning programs that helped schools, nonprofits, and employers plan, pilot, and scale solutions that prepare young people for the evolving workforce.

Patrick lives and works in Portland, Maine, where he is an active supporter of Maine and Northern New England’s entrepreneurial community. He serves as a board member of Startup Maine, helping to strengthen the region’s innovation community.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Maryland and a Master of Public Administration and a Certificate in Health Innovation from the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently working to become a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy to further deepen his expertise in strategic giving and social investment.