Welcome to MicroFriend: Where $200 can start an economy


http://www.microfriend.org/ coming this summer! Join the network of women helping other women around the world!


What is MicroFriend?

MicroFriend is a non-profit organization serving as a conduit for women interested in investing in microlending programs that fund female entrepreneurs in developing nations. As a financial aggregator for microlending investors, Microfriend works with microfinance networks (MFNs)and microfinance institutions (MFIs) to fund programs that directly impact women entrepreneurs on a global level. Our goal is to help eliminate poverty by giving women the tools and resources to improve their economic positions.

Annual membership fee: $200 plus a one-time $50 administrative fee. The membership includes:

• Lending to women-owned businesses in developing nations through Microfriend Affiliate Lenders: MicroFriend has partnered with successful Microfinance Organizations that provide loans to women entrepreneurs worldwide.
• Access to MicroFriend Women's Network: Meet other women within the Microfriend Network with converging business backgrounds, lifestyle interests or creative hobbies.
• Invitations to MicroFriend Events: Each year Microfriend will host one event where Microfriend members can meet other members, learn more about microlending and its economic effects, and hear more about the women entrepreneurs who have succeeded. Microfriend events are an additional fee.

Why did we create MicroFriend?

MicroFriend believes that the microfinance model is a financial mechanism that successfully empowers borrowers to better their living standards. MicroFriend has chosen to support MFNs and MFIs lending to women: recent studies show that investment in education, grants and entrepreneurial funding for girls and women provides the highest economic return for these countries (between 95-98% of loans are repaid).

Microlending provides small loans (generally under $200) for borrower’s to finance small self-sustainable business. The repaid loans are usually re-loaned for the purpose of maintaining or growing the borrower’s business. There are multiple case studies that show how some of these small enterprises have grown to become a source of employment in small villages, thus contributing to the elimination of poverty.

Microfriend wants to support female empowerment globally in a direct manner through microlending initiatives by offering:

· Access to MFIs worldwide

· A platform that connects women with women – whether it is through microlending initiatives or the membership network.

· A resource to learn more about microlending and its global impact

Criteria for Affiliate Microfinance Institutions

· Lender must be insured

· Lender must have been operating for at least 5 years with a history of successful returns

· Lender must have microlending programs that focus specifically on female entrepreneurs

· Lender must have microlending programs in developing nations

· Lender must provide reporting of lending activity for Microfriend funds and timeline for return of funds

How It Works

Step 1: Member invests $200 @ http://www.microfriend.org/

Step 2: Microfriend Network aggregates investor funds

Step 3: Funds are dispersed to approved microlending organizations and banks through microlending networks

Step 4: Microlenders loan funds to women in developing nations

Find more information and membership applications on http://www.microfriend.org/, launching this summer - check it out!