Social Finance

During annual field visits to our microfinance partners, we often see them searching for better ways to help their clients. Unexpected household shocks can seriously jeopardize the livelihoods of the poorest entrepreneurs and their families. The microfinance sector may be in its infancy in successfully providing access to financial products to buffer the effects of devastating health emergencies, floods, droughts, fires and other disasters, but we have seen innovative approaches from partners all over the world designed to mitigate these unexpected events.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), NeighborWorks® America and its network member Affordable Housing Resources today announced the NeighborhoodLIFT® program is coming to the Nashville area with a $4.2 million commitment by Wells Fargo to boost homeownership. This will be Wells Fargo’s 54th LIFT program event in the U.S.

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation is proud to sponsor the Earth Equity Advisors Fall Speaker Series event on 10/3 featuring Katharine Wilkinson of Project Drawdown and John Sutter of CNN.

Cargill has made its first ever sustainable premium payment by electronic transfer to cocoa farmers in Ghana. Just over 10,000 farmers are benefiting from the 2 million GHS mobile payments made by Cargill in partnership with its customers through the Cargill Cocoa Promise, Cargill’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of farmers and communities that will secure a thriving cocoa sector for generations to come.

In a research report developed by BNY Mellon and the UN Foundation called “Return on Equality: Investment Opportunities to Help Close the Global Gender Gap,” we highlight a $300 billion market opportunity in taking a products-and-services approach to gender parity.

Some 50 fintech entrepreneurs gathered for breakfast at the Shoreditch headquarters of Rise, Europe’s largest fintech workspace, to hear how the bank’s funding platforms can help their companies make the move from start-up to tech star.

Whole Planet Foundation welcomes nuun hydration as a new member of the $10,000 Fund and as a sponsor of this year’s Virtual 10K Run, which aims to raise funds for microlending projects in 69 countries. “Our mission at nuun is simple in that ‘we inspire everyone to move more,’” says Kevin Rutherford, CEO (Chief Eternal Optimist) at nuun hydration. “The team at nuun is thrilled to partner with the positive change agents at Whole Planet Foundation, getting more people moving in the Virtual 10K Run, while giving back to help lift entrepreneurs out of poverty.” Visit Whole Planet Foundation’s blog for hydration tips from nuun and a chance to receive a limited edition nuun x WPF water bottle with your Virtual 10K registration and t-shirt purchase.

Some argue that buildings with healthy features command up to a 20 percent rent premium over market rate, in addition to savings on operational costs. Launched in October 2014, WELL has registered or certified 450 projects, encompassing nearly 100 million sq. ft. of space in 27 countries, including 361 office projects.

Whole Planet Foundation is warming up for its second annual Virtual 10k Run that takes place next month during August 3-7! Nearly 100 participants have registered and because the run occurs simultaneously where you are and in the digital sphere, spaces are endless! Please register today. We are inspired by top sponsors including The Seaweed Bath Co. who even invited their employees to run with us!