Grameen Foundation

We have been so delayed in blog posts that we neglected to post about the fantastic organization we are supporting. A portion of  My Little Pakora proceeds goes to the Grameen Foundation. Grameen Foundation was founded in 1997 by a group of people that were inspired by the work of the Grameen Bank in Bangaldesh.  The Grameen Bank makes small loans to the impoverished without requiring collateral. 

Inspired by the work of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, Grameen Foundation was created to help share the Grameen philosophy and accelerate the impact of microfinance on the world’s poorest people. Started in 1976 by Professor Muhammad Yunus with a mere $27 from his own pocket, Grameen Bank today serves more than six million poor families with loans, savings, insurance and other services. The bank is fully owned by its clients and has been a model for microfinance institutions around the world.

Although they are independent organizations, Grameen Foundation and Grameen Bank maintain an enduring relationship. Grameen Foundation draws its inspiration from Grameen Bank by supporting microfinance institutions across the globe that embody its vision and values. Professor Yunus is also a founding and current member of Grameen Foundation’s board of directors. 

Mission Statement: Grameen Foundation's mission is to enable the poor, especially the poorest, to create a world without poverty.

With tiny loans, financial services and technology, we help the poor, mostly women, start self-sustaining businesses to escape poverty. Founded in 1997 by a group of friends who were inspired by the work of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, our global network of 58 microfinance institution (MFI) partners, including our Growth Guarantee partners, has touched more than 45 million people in 23 countries. Our partners reach 9 million clients, and in addition, we introduced and now sustain technology initiatives (Mifos and Village Phone) in Cambodia, Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, bringing our total country outreach to 28. 

We want to thank you, our customers, for helping us support this cause! For more information on Grameen Foundation go to www.grameenfoundation.com and stoppovertynow.org.