Mills Scofield

JUNE 16, 2013

This week''s post is by Andy Posner , Co-Founder & Executive Director of Capital Good Fund ( CGF ), a non-profit microfinance organization targeting the root causes of poverty through innovative micro-loans and personal financial coaching. Grant funding, to be sure, is an option, but an unreliable one at that.

Innovation 161

Innovation Microfinance Business Model Self-aware 161

Mills Scofield

AUGUST 27, 2012

Among this group has been a founder of a wildlife foundation, a married Wall Street duo, a management consultant, his digital artist wife, and an urban planner. That $1000 may never have been donated if the allure of coming to Zanzibar for a marathon was not present, even if it cost the donor $2500 of his own money. How do we do it?

Incentives 171

Incentives Marketing Microfinance Entrepreneur 171

Harvard Business Review

OCTOBER 5, 2016

A major challenge for international development efforts is determining which financial tools provide durable buffers against such setbacks. The Grameen model of microfinance gained a great deal of attention in the international development field after early data showed that it was associated with high repayment and low default.

Microfinance 10

Microfinance Insurance Banking Bottom-up 10

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 8, 2011

On this 100th International Women's Day , it is right to reflect on how women have become the heart of the microfinance industry. It is easy to forget that the initial motivation for microfinance roughly 30 years ago was, to a great extent, gender neutral. But ensuring that microinsurance is designed specifically for women is critical.

Microfinance 15

Microfinance Banking Globalization Insurance 15

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 22, 2013

Calling himself the ICT4D jester (using the development jargon for "information and communication technologies for development"), he has no shortage of material. At the program's peak, 700 pumps covered 27,000 acres, with the loans constituting 9% of BRAC's total microfinance portfolio.

Technology 18

Technology Microfinance Banking Document 18

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 13, 2012

But even more so, I believe that deep down, managers and executives feel that getting by on razor-thin margins is the morally correct way to do business among the poor. The microfinance industry is a rare D and E success story. Given its flaws, I've often wondered why the low-price, low-margin philosophy has persisted.

Microfinance 13

Microfinance Prahalad Bottom-up Banking 13

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 1, 2013

Sasikala, a Block Development Officer (BDO), talked to the Kodapattinam villagers about microfinance , only Shantha, of all the villagers, saw the opportunity and took action. Undeterred, Shantha persisted until she persuaded the required number of people to sign up for the microfinance project. I knew I wanted to succeed.

Microfinance 8

Microfinance Innovation Committee Banking 8