Calvert Foundation: Investing in Communities(TM)

Magnifying Glass Search

Invest in Microfinance - Abroad or in the U.S.

Calvert Foundation now offers the opportunity to invest in U.S. microentrepreneurs though eBay company MicroPlace.

MicroPlace, an online brokerage specializing in socially responsible investments that address poverty, now offers microfinance investment opportunities in the United States. For the first time, online investors can earn a financial return while funding loans to the working poor here at home in the U.S.  

Investment dollars are used to provide microfinance loans to the world’s working poor. As opposed to charity, MicroPlace enables investors to earn a return and toalign their investment wallet with their social values.The purchase process for U.S. investments is similar to other investments offered on MicroPlace. Minimums for first-time purchases are $100, with subsequent minimums at $50. 

The U.S. investments, issued by Calvert Foundation, allow investors to channel their investment dollars to two leading microfinance institutions in the U.S., ACCIÓN Texas and ACCIÓN USA. These institutions offer credit, business loans and other financial services to low- and moderate-income self-employed people in the U.S. According to the Aspen Institute's FIELD Program, there are approximately 10 million micro-entrepreneurs in the U.S. who could benefit from the services that microfinance programs provide. 

What is microfinance?

Microfinance provides financial services to the world's working poor, primarily in developing countries, but also here in the U.S. This practice extends small loans (often less than $200) to hard working people too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans or other forms of credit. In contrast to charity, these loans enable the working poor to lift themselves out of poverty. Microfinance is nothing new for us, but partnering with MicroPlace builds on our history and track record of this kind of lending.

Who does microfinance help?

Microfinance helps families in developing countries who lack access to credit and live in poverty. Microfinance has been especially beneficial to women, empowering them to become successful in starting businesses, which in turn allows them to better support their families. Through investment in microfinance, Calvert Foundation has helped families around the world.


What can I do?

Here are some simple ways to help:

1. Spread the Word
Check out MicroPlace and use their "send an ecard" feature in the lower right-hand side of their homepage to invite five of your friends, family and co-workers to check out the new site.

2. Support Calvert Foundation
Through MicroPlace we are positioned to substantially increase Community Investment Note sales. However, for every dollar raised, we need core capital in order to make loans to our microfinance institution partners. Every $1 donated to us supports $20 of lending activity through MicroPlace – but also through investments made directly to us. A donation to our Giftshares program will bolster the core capital requirements needed to realize this opportunity.

 

 

 

 

Special Thanks

Calvert Foundation is grateful to the following organizations for their support in launching MicroPlace:

We are also working with subadvisors that helped us provide a more robust supply of investments to MicroPlace: MicroVest Capital Management, Triple Jump Fund Management, and Unitus, Inc.

Last, but not least, we are extremely thankful for ongoing pro bono legal support from the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, which provides us with invaluable legal guidance for our design and implementation of this initiative.