Purpose
The Microenterprise Funders Group is an informal affinity group of funders interested in U.S. microenterprise. Its purposes are to:
- increase awareness regarding the U.S. microenterprise field;
- educate members on trends in practice;
- create opportunities for members to share ideas regarding their funding strategies; and
- foster collaboration among donors and investors.
Members
The Microenterprise Funders Group consists of representatives of a range of institutions that provide financial support and capital to microenterprise programs in the United States. Members include national, corporate, family and regional grantmakers, state and federal public agencies, and financial institutions and other investors. The group is open to all funders and investors that currently support or are interested in microenterprise development in the U.S., and participation in all activities is currently free of charge.
Activities
Activities of the Microenterprise Funders Group include periodic meetings and networking events, and Webinars. The Group comes together in person at least twice a year. It meets once in May in conjunction with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity's National Conference and Training. The Group also has hosted meetings and gatherings in association with other affinity groups. For example, the MFG has co-hosted a number of networking events, meetings and Webinars with the Asset Funders and EITC Funders networks. The fall 2008 gathering was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Neighborhood Funders Group. Visit our meeting archive to access notes from some of our past meetings.
History and Members
The Microenterprise Funders Group was formed by a group of ten foundations that came together to explore mutual interests in fall 2005 at the suggestion of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Foundations participating in the meeting included the Mott Foundation, Ms. Foundation for Women, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Citigroup Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation, Wachovia Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company, Linked Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, and the Friedman Family Foundation. Collectively, these members have provided funding support for microenterprise programs and services, initiated and supported research on microenterprise, invested in national and regional intermediaries that support the microenterprise field, and funded efforts to develop supportive policies for entrepreneurship.
Since that first meeting, membership in the group has grown to include representatives from several dozen organizations. Click here for a list of participating funders.
Leadership and Staffing
The activities of the Funders Group are guided by a steering committee. Committee members are:
- Jack Litzenberg, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
- Amanda Feinstein, Walter and Elise Haas Fund
- Yma Gordon, Citi
- Bob Friedman, Friedman Family Foundation
The Microenterprise Funders Group is staffed by FIELD, thanks to the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. |
Join Us!
Participation in the Funders Group is open to any funder that supports or has an interest in microenterprise development in the United States. To join or learn more contact Elaine Edgcomb, Director of FIELD.
Recent Events:
The MFG sponsored a donors-only session at the recent Microfinance USA 2010 Conference. Download the presentation or read our postings to the conference blog.
Visit the conference blog
FIELD Funder Guides:
Each guide offers a brief look at a specific issue or aspect of microenterprise and pinpoints opportunities for funders. Most guides highlight the work of already-engaged funders. For more information, or to download the guides, click here.
Funder Webinars:
Click here to access recorded versions of Webinars sponsored by the Microenterprise Funders Group.
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