by Claire Kelly, Whole Planet Foundation Regional Director for West Africa/Middle East
Blog
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of Whole Planet Foundation’s microfinance partners (MFIs) have faced increasing demands from clients for both loans and savings withdrawals. At the same time, many clients have faced difficulties in making repayments on their existing loans due to slowed business activity and/or travel restrictions and lockdowns. In response to these constraints, Whole Planet Foundation’s microfinance partners have been working to provide as much flexibility for microcredit clients as they can. This effort has included responses such as grace periods and restructured lo
by Village Enterprise staff and Whole Planet Foundation's Senior Digital Fundraising Specialist Olivia Hayden
Blog
For three entrepreneurial women business partners in Uganda, the emerging COVID-19 crisis posed an immediate threat to their newly started business. Pictured above, the three entrepreneurs, Nancy, Lilly, and Irene stand on their business premises in Patira East Village.
by Stephanie Manciagli, Whole Planet Foundation Regional Program Manager for Latin America and Caribbean
Blog
Whole Planet Foundation’s annual Field Officer Awards for the Latin American region were distributed in August 2020. This special honor is designed to go to a Field Officer who has gone above and beyond his/her role to provide financial services to low income entrepreneurs . Often, award nominations are submitted that showcase Field Officers that have overcome various hurdles and made a particularly positive contribution that enabled their organization to be successful.
TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2020 /3BL Media/ - Scotia Global Asset Management today announced the launch of a suite of Scotia Low Carbon Funds, diversified portfolios of high-quality investments designed to provide a lower carbon intensity than the broader market:
Whole Planet Foundation will expand poverty alleviation through microcredit
Blog
The Whole Foods Market Foundations combined forces in a Communities Campaign last month to raise awareness and funds, enabling shoppers to join causes such as poverty alleviation in the United States and around the globe through Whole Planet Foundation.
by J.P. Kloninger, Whole Planet Foundation North America Program Manager
Summary:
Whole Planet Foundation has contributed $5.6 million to our primary microfinance partner in the United States, Grameen America, to alleviate poverty by funding microcredit loans for low-income entrepreneurs.
After five consecutive years of declines in the national poverty rate, the United States is expected to experience a spike of approximately 6.5% (from 12.4% to 18.9%) in 2020. This means an increase of over 21 million individuals living in poverty, resulting in the highest poverty level in the United States since 1967. Low rates of financial inclusion make the climb out of poverty extremely difficult.
Blog
Whole Planet Foundation has contributed $5.6 million to our primary microfinance partner in the United States, Grameen America, to alleviate poverty by funding microcredit loans for low-income entrepreneurs.
After five consecutive years of declines in the national poverty rate, the United States is expected to experience a spike of approximately 6.5% (from 12.4% to 18.9%) in 2020. This means an increase of over 21 million individuals living in poverty, resulting in the highest poverty level in the United States since 1967. Low rates of financial inclusion make the climb out of poverty extremely difficult.
The accelerated digital transformation brought on by the pandemic means that startups must in turn quickly pivot their business models to the new normal, but these challenges also open up opportunities for entrepreneurs to respond.
That’s a key message heard during a recent Canadian Club Toronto virtual panel focused on advice and best practices for Canadian startups and how to set women entrepreneurs up for success.
Online Auction to alleviate global poverty through microcredit
Blog
This October, Whole Planet Foundation celebrates its global impact on poverty and the partners who further its mission. In 2005, Whole Foods Market launched Whole Planet Foundation, its non-profit dedicated to global poverty alleviation through microcredit in communities around the world where the company sources products. The Poverty is Unnecessary Project spotlights Poverty is Unnecessary Fund supplier partners who collectively are committed to donating $250,000 and culminates in the foundation’s signature Annual Benefit and Auction via an online format.
The consequences of global climate change are not a distant problem. They are real and plainly visible today. Raging wildfires are once again devastating forests across the Western United States, with smoke spreading east across the continent, causing unhealthy or hazardous air quality for millions. Just last month, monsoons wreaked havoc in India as a year’s worth of rain fell in just one month. History shows that it is the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged communities that bear the brunt of the financial blow that often accompanies climate events.
