Causes: Economic Development, International, International Economic Development, International Relief, Microfinance, Small Business Development

Mission: To alleviate poverty through lasting solutions that help people build assets, create jobs and raise their standard of living.

Results: FINCA International enables access to financial services to over 2 million clients in 20 countries in Africa, Eurasia, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia. With total loans disbursed in excess of $1 billion and total voluntary savings approaching $400 million, FINCA clients use small loans, savings accounts and other responsible financial services to build small businesses, create jobs and invest in their futures. More than 80 percent of FINCA borrowers say the met their goal to start or expand a business or improve their home thanks to a FINCA loan. Additionally, BrightLife, a social enterprise by FINCA International, offers the most high quality and affordable clean energy products in Uganda. To date, BrightLife has impacted more than 100,000 lives with energy products that create healthier and safer homes, increase productivity, reduce household expenses and provide additional income-generating opportunities. Finally, FINCA Ventures, an impact investing initiative by FINCA International, has invested in early-stage companies that are improving access to basic services for poor and low-income families. Combined, these investees have impacted more than 2 million lives in the areas of energy, sanitation, education, health and agriculture, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

Target demographics: FINCA International programs and investments seek to help poor and low-income families in underserved markets around the world, especially women and the unbanked.

Direct beneficiaries per year: Microfinance operations serve over 2 million clients annually in 20 countries on five continents. BrightLife has impacted over 100,000 lives in Uganda with clean energy. FINCA Ventures portfolio companies collectively impact more than 2 million lives.

Geographic areas served: FINCA International programs and investments impact lives in 35 countries around the world. FINCA International is the founder and majority shareholder of FINCA Impact Finance, a global network of community-based microfinance institutions and banks that operate across 20 countries in Africa, Eurasia, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia. FINCA Ventures, the impact investing arm of FINCA International, supports portfolio companies that deliver life-enhancing products and services in seven of these same geographies plus 15 additional countries.

Programs:
• Microfinance: Small loans, savings accounts, insurance and other financial services for low-income individuals and communities to invest in their futures. FINCA International is the founder of and majority shareholder in FINCA Impact Finance, a global network of microfinance institutions and banks that uses financial technology (“fintech”) innovations, like mobile wallets, agency banking, alternative credit coring and digital field automation, to transform finance in underserved markets.
• BrightLife: A social enterprise providing last-mile distribution and financing for solar home systems, improved cookstoves and other basic service products.
• FINCA Ventures: An early-stage impact investor providing patient capital and support to social enterprises developing life-enhancing goods for the poor.
• FINCA Forward: An innovation platform bringing microfinance institutionsand early-stage fintech companies together to expand financial inclusion.
• Research: Customer-driven research to ensure we are delivering deep and meaningful impact for our microfinance clients and social enterprise customers.