"THROUGH THE GRAMEEN AMERICA PROGRAM, I HAVE MADE FRIENDS, MADE NEW PEOPLE, AND LEARNED FROM OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS."
HEATHER
HARLEM, NY
In the most rigorous, independent, third-party evaluation of microfinance in the United States to date, top-tier research organization MDRC is assessing Grameen America’s program in Union City, New Jersey. MDRC used a randomized controlled trial design—the gold standard of research methods that uses the same rigorous methods as pharmaceutical trials. While there have been several evaluations of international microfinance programs, few robust studies, and no randomized controlled trials, have been conducted of U.S. microfinance programs—until now.
THE FIRST-EVER RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF MICROFINANCE IN THE U.S.
Grameen America is building on our proven record of scale and impact to embark on a five-year campaign to realize our bold ten-year goals, providing opportunities for economic mobility for more than 750,000 women and their families.
Grameen America will raise $600 million, through a combination of $300 million in philanthropy and $300 million in debt capital, to meet the urgent need for affordable capital and demand for Grameen America’s program across existing and new geographies. The remaining funding needed will be generated internally through interest income, and invested back into the program and communities.
The $1 billion total investment will support our ability to deliver a transformative $40 billion in loan capital invested in 750,000 women over the next ten years.
Through our accelerated growth and scale, Grameen America will change the paradigm of addressing economic inequity. We will deepen our impact by moving women and their families beyond financial stability to advance true upward mobility while advocating for a more inclusive financial system. These investments in women entrepreneurs will have a lasting impact on personal financial wellbeing, and also generate wealth for their families, support job creation in their local communities, and drive economic growth.
The
Vision
600M
Campaign
$300M
In Philanthropy
$300M
In Debt Capital
A Transformational
Grameen America has provided $4 billion in affordable capital to more than 190,000 women entrepreneurs across 27 U.S. cities. Over the next decade, we aim to open two times the number of locations, reach four times the number of women entrepreneurs, and disburse ten times the amount of loan capital.
The
Goal
70+
Locations
2x growth
750,000
Women Served
4x growth
$40 Billion
in Loan Capital Disbursed
10x growth
In ten years, Grameen America will reach:
The
Urgent Need
Grameen America reaches a group of women that are traditionally excluded by other lenders due to lack of credit and financial history. Without access to capital, it is nearly impossible for under-resourced women to launch a business to generate income and support economic mobility. Grameen America recognizes the creditworthiness of low-income women entrepreneurs, demonstrated by the program’s high repayment rate of 99%.
Our
National
Impact
190,000
Women Served
$4 Billion
In Loan Capital Disbursed
99%
Repayment Rate
13x
Multiplier Effect*
$5,900
Average Loan Size
200,500
Jobs Created and Maintained
What
Sets Us
Apart
Grameen America reaches communities that are excluded from the financial mainstream. Unlike traditional lenders, we do not require collateral or credit history.
Grameen America’s unique group-lending model builds strong peer networks and trust. We provide peer networking opportunities, share business resources and advice, and strengthen their network of women-led businesses.
We help our members build credit. Grameen America reports loan payments to credit bureaus to help women establish positive credit histories.
We provide financial, business, and health education. We partner with experts to provide training on a variety of topics, including credit awareness, savings planning, digital advertising, nutrition, women’s health, and more.
Each dollar invested in our microloan portfolio has a multiplier effect of over 13x in just five years. The women in our program repay their loans at a rate of 99%, which means every loan is repaid and reinvested back into the communities we serve, creating a lasting community resource.
The impact of Grameen America’s model is tested, studied, and proven. An independent, third-party study demonstrated that Grameen America’s model resulted in increases in credit scores, savings, and growth in business ownership in addition to reductions in material hardship, among program participants. The study marked the first time a microfinance institution in the United States has been evaluated using a randomized controlled trial, the gold standard of evaluations.
We hire staff directly from the communities we serve. We are creating jobs and bringing resources, knowledge, and expertise to underserved communities.
Our Limitless
Strategy
With strategic support from Blue Meridian Partners, Grameen America is well-positioned to accomplish its goals, driving a decade of sustainable growth, innovation in products, capacity-building, and ensuring financial inclusion for all.
Broaden
Our Reach
We will expand access to affordable financial services in underserved communities, reaching 4X the number of women with 10X the amount of capital ($40 billion) over the next 10 years.
Deepen
Impact
Leveraging MDRC validated impact, we aim to innovate our programming to improve outcomes, moving our members from financial stability to true upward economic mobility through savings, credit establishment and repair and business growth.
Innovate to
Expand Access
Accelerating our commitment to serving the most systemically disenfranchised women, we will continue to innovate Elevate by Grameen America and leverage learnings to expand access to new communities.
Promote
Systems Change
We will be more intentional about disrupting narratives and leveraging our data and insights to influence the broader financial system toward inclusion for all.
Invest for Scale
To execute on our key strategic priorities for breakout growth and impact, we must strengthen the organization’s technology, data capabilities, and infrastructure, and significantly invest in human capital.
“Small businesses need to thrive for communities to thrive. Grameen America is giving women a hand up, especially women who may not be able to get funding in other ways. They go straight on your merit and your word to pay your loan back, all while helping build your credit. For me, it’s not just about the money, it’s about the community and the support.”
Barbara
Tea Lounge Shop Owner, Memphis, TN
How You Can
Get Involved
Philanthropy for
Lasting Impact
Philanthropic dollars enable us to expand access across the country, innovate our model, and enhance our program services to create deeper impact in communities.
To learn more about philanthropic partnership opportunities, please contact Jill Monum at jmonum@grameenamerica.org.
Invest with
Purpose
Commercial lenders, foundations, and investors can have a significant impact on communities through our impact investment initiatives, including program-related investments and Community Reinvestment Act-loans.
For information about investment opportunities, please contact Lucas Ramirez at lramirez@grameenamerica.org.
12.5%
of women live in poverty in the United States
30%
of low-income neighborhoods are credit invisible
4%
Women entrepreneurs account for only 4% of all conventional small business loans, which is roughly $1 out of every $23
As of February 2024
* Loans repaid are recycled back into the loan portfolio. Over the course of five years, a single dollar has the potential to become $13 in loans disbursed.
Join Our
Movement
We are calling on changemakers to join our movement to invest in women as agents of economic growth and create a more inclusive financial system. Through the Women Are Limitless campaign, we can drive positive change for hundreds of thousands of women, families, and communities across the country.
