FINCA News

2011 – A Record-Setting Year for FINCA!

December 30, 2011
2011 proved to be a year of achieving new goals and setting all-time records for FINCA’s 21 subsidiaries worldwide. We’d like to share a few of our most notable successes with you. 

UN Goodwill Ambassador Mira Sorvino Supports FINCA at Canadian Fundraiser

September 15, 2011
Academy-award winning actress Mira Sorvino was the guest of honour at FINCA Canada’s annual fundraising, hosted by FINCA Canada Board Member Linda Wolfond and her husband Greg, where she spoke about how microfinance can help prevent human trafficking.

How did FINCA become one of the world’s leading microfinance organizations?
Three-part video series provides all the answers

7/7/2011
FINCA President and CEO Rupert Scofield shares the lessons he’s learned over the past 25 years with the UK’s Telegraph, talking about what it takes to turn a small idea into a thriving, poverty-alleviation organization.

Reaching Millions More through Socially-Responsible Investments

6/17/2011
With the strength of its global network, FINCA is partnering with a group of socially-responsible organizations that have long-standing lending relationships with FINCA, and whose missions explicitly align with FINCA’s own goal of alleviating poverty.

How did FINCA become a Global Microfinance Leader?
FINCA's President & CEO Publishes a Book

May 2011
If you've ever wondered how FINCA has grown from an idea scribbled on a legal pad to a thriving network of wholly-owned microfinance institutions serving hundreds of thousands of clients with a broad array of products and service, then you might be interested in President & CEO Rupert Scofield's book The Social Entrepreneur's Handbook: How to Start, Build and Run a Business that Improves the World. In his new book, Rupert provides readers with a no-holds-barred, honest assessment of what it’s taken over the past 25 years to create one of the world’s premier poverty alleviation organizations.

Responding to Concerns about the Microfinance Industry

May, 2011
Recent reports in the media re: client protection, interest rates and commercial vs. non-commercial microlenders has prompted us to provide our supporters with an explanation of how FINCA ensures that we keep the welfare of our clients first and foremost in all of our endeavors, and hold to the highest ethical standards.

FINCA Surpasses 800,000 Clients Served Worldwide

May, 2011
FINCA concluded the first quarter of 2011 serving 800,814 clients across our 21 programs--a new record in client outreach. Given the five-person average family size of our clients, FINCA's financial services potentially improved the lives of over four million children and adults struggling in poverty.

Village Banking Campaign Call-To-Action a Big Success

April, 2011
In May 2007, with your help and support, FINCA launched the Village Banking Campaign, an ambitious call-to-action campaign designed to harness social momentum and mobilize the people and resources needed to alleviate poverty on a global scale. We are pleased to share the success of the campaign, on the heels of FINCA celebrating 25 years of poverty alleviation in 2010

Providing a Hand Up in Haiti since 1989

January 12, 2011
One year after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, its people still face enormous challenges. FINCA has been providing a Hand Up in Haiti since 1989. Learn more about what we do in Haiti.

FINCA Celebrates 25 Years of Creating Pathways out of poverty!

November 18, 2010
On November 18th, 2010, FINCA celebrated 25 years of creating pathways out of poverty for people - mostly women - struggling to survive on less than $2 per day. Through its network of 21 programs in Africa, Eurasia, the Greater Middle East and Latin America, more than 725,000 lowest-income entrepreneurs - 70 percent women - can access small loans and other services to create better lives for their families.

Celebrate FINCA’s 25th Birthday!

August 27, 2010
FINCA clients and staff across five continents are marking a historic milestone in 2010—our 25th year of providing life-changing small loans and other financial services to help struggling families break the cycle of poverty! In honor of our anniversary, we've redesigned our site to make it livelier and easier to navigate, so you can see how you are helping FINCA change the world one woman, one family, one community at a time.

Founder John Hatch Recalls Inspiration that led to FINCA and Imagines Future Free of Poverty

FINCA founder John Hatch recently recalled the moment, 25 years ago, when he conceived of, “a new idea for helping subsistence farmers and other severely poor families pull themselves out of poverty.” From his inspiration has flowered a network of programs across 21 countries, serving over 700,000 families. “Yet our best years lie ahead,” he writes. “I never tire of predicting that within the next 25 years the global microfinance movement is destined to serve the entirety of the world’s poor, thus allowing mankind to abolish poverty altogether.”

Haiti at 100 Days - Rebuilding Underway

100 days after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, tens of thousands of Haitians are looking for a hand up, not a hand out, to help rebuild their country and their lives. You can help.

Text FINCA to 90999 to donate $10 or give online today.

Kyrgyzstan - Two Weeks of Protests

April 21, 2010
Since my update last week, we have learned that protests and sporadic clashes are still erupting in Kyrgyzstan as the local population adjusts to the new political landscape. We are hopeful that the environment will stabilize but continue to monitor the situation closely.

Update on FINCA Kyrgyzstan

April 14, 2010
In the days since last week’s uprising in Kyrgyzstan, I am saddened to report that two of our clients were among those who died in the midst of the civil unrest. As well, the businesses of eight clients in Bishkek were looted in the aftermath of the violent protests. Our hearts are with each and every one of our 108,000 clients in Kyrgyzstan during these difficult times.

FINCA Kyrgyzstan Offices Closed During Civil Unrest

April 12, 2010
Last week's uprising in Kyrgyzstan has resulted in opposition leaders seizing power, with clashes between police and protesters leaving dozens dead.  We have been in constant contact with FINCA staff in Kyrgyzstan, working closely with our security provider to monitor the situation on the ground, and ensure the safety of FINCA Kyrgyzstan employees.

Does Microfinance Make an Impact?

April 8, 2010
Two recent studies have brought into question microfinance's economic impact on the lives of the poor.

FINCA Armenia Secures Loan to Help Struggling Poor

March, 2010
FINCA Armenia will be able to extend its life-changing loans to as many as 6,000 of Armenia’s lowest-income entrepreneurs, thanks to a local currency loan worth US$ 4 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

FINCA is a Leader in the Protection of Microfinance Clients

FINCA has long been a leader in the microfinance industry in setting standards for the protection of microfinance clients. FINCA and other leading microfinance institutions (MFI) worldwide recently drafted and endorsed a statement in support of the Smart Microfinance Campaign, a core set of client protection principles to help MFIs practice good ethics and smart business.

FINCA Azerbaijan Ranked Among Best in the Country

January 2010
The Azerbaijan Microfinance Association has honored FINCA Azerbaijan as one of "the best of the best" of its 26 members during a ceremony attended by directors of Azerbaijan’s National Bank, several cabinet ministers, and leading investors and bankers.