Do you believe that small change can bring big change? We do! Read on to find out how you can share your story in our Facebook essay contest for a chance to win a trip for two to India, courtesy of Intrepid Travel. So far, we’ve supported more than a …
Interest Rates in Microfinance
Do you remember walking to class in college and that same guy would ask you if you needed a credit card? I think his name was Timmy. For me at least, it came down to easy cash from Timmy or the blood bank. Books (beer) weren’t getting any cheaper. After …
Photos: Typical Microcredit Client Businesses
Imagine you’re given $200 to start your own business, what do you do? Given that our average loan size around the world is about $200, this is the decision microcredit clients are often faced with. Most of these entrepreneurs have never been given access to capital and most have struggled significantly …
Group Lending
One aspect of microfinance that is as equally as important to the borrowers as it is the lenders is the Group Lending method that the Grameen Bank uses. Group, or solidarity lending, as defined by Wikipedia (everyone’s favorite website) is a lending practice where small groups borrow collectively and group members …
Reel Change Film Frenzy 2012
Starting Friday 13th at noon, we will be working 48 hours straight with a film team to create a short documentary as part of the Reel Change Film Frenzy! Presented by Lights. Camera. Help. and The Alamo Drafthouse, this film festival will include ten Austin nonprofits who will be teamed up with …
Beyond Microfinance
Access to capital for the poor is absolutely critical if we want to eradicate poverty. It’s why at Whole Planet Foundation, this is what we focus on – raising funds to distribute to microfinance institutions (MFIs) who lend the money out to the poor. Unfortunately, the poorest countries also tend lack …
Pro Mujer and Whole Planet Foundation working together in Latin America
Dr. Gabriela Salvador, MD, MPH, Director of Health and Human Development said, “It is a one-stop shop. Women come to us for loans and we take the opportunity to reach out to them and give them health services and education.” Whole Planet Foundation partners with many different microfinance institutions (MFIs) around the …
Whole Planet Foundation Overview
As Whole Planet Foundation (WPF) continues to grow and we gain fans on Facebook, Twitter and outside the four walls of Whole Foods Market (WFM), it’s hard to keep everyone up to date with what the Foundation is doing. Recently, I was asked by a fan on Facebook if I could …
Changing Lives
Look how our partnership with Guayaki is changing lives in South America! Guayaki, supporter of the Whole Planet Foundation’s $10,000 Fund, is the first to bring you certified organic, fairly traded and rainforest-grown yerba maté. Guayakí works with farmers in South America to promote sustainable growing practices, to preserve and …
The Journey Begins
A HUGE thanks to Payal from Cafe Spice for contributing to this blog! My Journey Begins When Café Spice proposed to donate to the Whole Planet Foundation, I decided to take the trip to Kerala with the group. The WPF asked if I’d like to blog about the visit, …