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28 Microfinance Initiatives

From Crafty Microfinance Blogs to $20-Per-Month Homes

— February 11, 2015 — Social Good
Microfinance initiatives have truly taken off as a way to help people with low incomes and/or living in isolated areas and lacking access to traditional banking services to receive financing to put their plans into practice.

While living in poverty and having to scrap for necessities can make people develop an entrepreneurial and opportunistic spirit, they often are unable to use these skills to better their lives due to a lack of access to education, skills training and financial support.

There are a number of creative ways in which microlending, microloans and other microfinance initiatives can be put into practice. These projects have been particularly useful in the developing world, where the amount of money required for a person in a rural hinterland to begin the makings of a small home-based business isn't great.
5.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
30
Women-Oriented Microlending Programs
Women-Oriented Microlending Programs
'Microlending for Women in Ontario' Supports 800 Women
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29
Charitable Microfinance Companies
Charitable Microfinance Companies
Kiva Loans Empowers Less Unfortunate People Around the World
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28
Creative Credit Programs
Creative Credit Programs
The Microfinance for Artists Research Project Focuses on Socio-Economics
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27
Confidential Microloan Services
Confidential Microloan Services
Trustleaf Lets Business Owners Borrow From Friends & Family Alone
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26
Community-Supporting Tours
Community-Supporting Tours
This Company Uses Tourist Dollars to Support Local Economies
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25
Digital Currency Loans
Digital Currency Loans
Bitcoin Brands Hopes to Use Bitcoins to Extend Microloans
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24
Education-Endorsing Baskets
Education-Endorsing Baskets
These Bolga Baskets are Sold to Help Send Girls to School in Ghana
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23
Peer Support Entrepreneurship
Peer Support Entrepreneurship
Village Capital Attempts to Democratize Enterprises
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22
American-Based Microlending
American-Based Microlending
ACCION Chicago Provides Financial Access to Small Business Owners
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21
Cashless Microfinance
Cashless Microfinance
Musoni Delivers Banking Services by Way of Cellphones
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20
Alternative Banking Loans
Alternative Banking Loans
The Hilltop Microfinance Initiative Helps in Low-Income Entrepreneurs
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19
Urban Housing Banks
Urban Housing Banks
Jamii Bora is a Microfinance Institution Based in Nairobi, Kenya
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18
Microfinancing Poverty Solutions
Microfinancing Poverty Solutions
Lumana Credit is Microlending to Rural Africans from Seattle
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17
People-Focused Finance
People-Focused Finance
Triodos Bank Adheres to the Triple Bottom Line
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16
Low-Income Microfinance Associations
Low-Income Microfinance Associations
RADIM Works in Buenos Aires to Support Economic Development
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15
Micro-Lending Web Platforms
Micro-Lending Web Platforms
Lendwithcare.org Works with The Co-operative
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14
Global Microfinance Networks
Global Microfinance Networks
FINCA Provides Financial Services to Low-Income Entrepreneurs
<
13
NGO-Turned-for-Profit Companies
NGO-Turned-for-Profit Companies
SKS Microfinance is a Loan-Providing Company Based in India
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12
Crafty Microfinance Blogs
Crafty Microfinance Blogs
Ahkun Takes a Different Approach with Local Artisans
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11
Innovative Micro-Crowdfunding Sites
Innovative Micro-Crowdfunding Sites
The Tipping Bucket is a Web Platform for Social Change
<
10
Manifesto-Driven Fashion
Manifesto-Driven Fashion
Holstee Wants Customers to Consider People, Planet, Product
<
9
Green Power Microlending
Green Power Microlending
Energy in Common's Person-to-Person Loans Fight Climate Change
<
8
Global Charity Microfinancers
Global Charity Microfinancers
WildHearts Provides Microloans to Help People Work out of Poverty
<
7
Youth-Oriented Finances
Youth-Oriented Finances
MyBnk Teaches Money Management and Entrepreneurial Skills
<
6
Microloan-Funding Necklaces
Microloan-Funding Necklaces
The Female-Empowering Socially Conscious Accessories Contain Crystals
<
5
Philanthropic Online Platforms
Philanthropic Online Platforms
UNITE is Working to Enable Impactful Connections Throughout Africa
<
4
Microlending Credit Cards
Microlending Credit Cards
KivaB4B Doubles Grants
<
3
Microfinance Investing
Microfinance Investing
Kiva.org Lets You Become a Banker to the Poor
<
2
$20-Per-Month Homes
$20-Per-Month Homes
Each WorldHaus is Built in 10 Days and is Designed for the World's Rural Poor
<
1
Microloan-Giving Tees
Microloan-Giving Tees
The Naked Hippie Invests in Small-Scale Entrepreneurs in the Majority World
<