Ø Helps the world’s poorest people by funding institutions that help them to help themselves through financial services (e.g., microloans, savings and financial services)

Ø Emphasis on health and agriculture

Ø Geographic target areas:

Central and Latin America Asia

Middle East and North Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ø Partners with Grameen-Jameel Microfinance Limited and Grameen Foundation India

Ø Since its inception, has assisted 9.4 million of the world’s poorest people with a distribution of $225 million

Ø Located in Washington, D.C.

Over the years,the Grameen Bank has become one of the largest and most successful microfinance loan organizations in the world. Alex Counts, current president of the Grameen Foundation, worked closely with Professor Yunus for six years before founding the organization. Professor Yunus remains a director emeritus on the Foundation’s board of directors.

1. Can be an effective way to provide low- cost financial services to poor individuals and families 2. Has been shown to help in the development and growth of the local economy as individuals and families are able to move past subsistence living and increase disposable income 3. Is able to reduce poverty through increasing individual and household income levels, as well as improving healthcare, nutrition, education, and helping to empower women.

-Grameen Foundation