As Important as Ever: Microloans for Women-Owned Small Businesses in the United States

JP KloningerCOVID-19, Microfinance Partners, The United States

After five consecutive years of declines in the national poverty rate, the United States is expected to experience a spike of approximately 6.5% (from 12.4% to 18.9%) in 2020.  This means an increase of over 21 million individuals living in poverty, resulting in the highest poverty level in the United …

Why Does Such A Thing Exist? Solidarity Microfinance for Women in the United States

JP KloningerMicrocredit, Microfinance Partners, The United States

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines poverty as “the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.”  However, what is “usual” or “socially acceptable” can vary quite a bit from one person, family, or community to the next, and certainly from one country to …

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2020

Jason MartinezEvents, The United States

In Partnership with United Nations Association, Austin Chapter On Wednesday evening, March 4th, Whole Planet Foundation was invited to celebrate International Women’s Day with the United Nations Association Austin, Texas Chapter. The theme of the evening event was a reflection on Women and Economic Development. Introductions and opening comments were made by …

Whole Planet Foundation and Major Donors are Alleviating Poverty in Florida through Grameen America

Joy Stoddard100K Supplier Partners, 25K Supplier Partners, 50K Supplier Partners, The United States, Whole Foods Market Stores

Featured photo: Some of our group with microcredit client Yareli and her daughter, in her bakery. Photo courtesy of Olivia Hayden. Whole Planet Foundation alleviates poverty in 17 cities in the United States and 75 additional countries that supply Whole Foods Market stores with products. In Miami, the Foundation supports …

Whole Planet Foundation and Donors Visit Harlem Entrepreneurs Supported by Grameen America

Joy StoddardMicrofinance Partners, Supplier Partnerships, The United States

Whole Planet Foundation has funded microfinance partner Grameen America since 2007, contributing $4.7 million to date to alleviate poverty in the United States in 14 cities including New York. Grameen America is dedicated to helping entrepreneurial women who live in poverty build businesses to generate income for themselves and their …

Supporting Refugees with Microcredit in Phoenix

Joy StoddardDomestic Microlending, Foundation News, Microcredit, The United States, Travel

Whole Planet Foundation and donors meet in Arizona to witness a holistic approach to microcredit. With more than 22 million refugees in the world today, Whole Planet Foundation is proud to partner with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) who has been supporting refugees for 40 years. A refugee is defined as …

WPF Invests $1,000,000 in Austin

Joy StoddardThe United States, Uncategorized

When Whole Planet Foundation starting funding microcredit in our own town, everything changed for our locally based donors who got to meet the women we had been describing, women whom we met all over the globe.  Women who are smart, strong, capable, industrious, skilled, and eager to share their challenges …

WPF Invests $500K in Boston

Joy StoddardDomestic Microlending, News, The United States

With our partner Grameen America, Supplier Alliance for Microcredit donors Seventh Generation, Papyrus-Recycled Greetings, shoe vendor SR Max and Whole Foods Market Boston-area team members visited clients during an extraordinary day! We were able to meet ten empowered businesswomen like Damaris who runs her neighborhood restaurant that grew out of …

WPF Invests $300,000 in Des Moines

Whole Planet FoundationDomestic Microlending, News, The United States

Whole Planet Foundation’s partnership with microfinance partner Solidarity Microfinance began in June 2015.  On her last visit, WPF’s Roxana  audited the grant and observed progress in person. While she was in Des Moines,  she met microcredit client Renata. For over two years, Renata has been taking Herbalife nutritional supplements to …