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January-March 2006
Resources & Links
Activities, Web sites and other cutting-edge information for global givers
Kiva brings peer-to-peer microloans online
A few clicks of the mouse can connect individuals wishing to help finance microenterprises in poor communities to microentrepreneurs in the developing world who can use that financing. Kiva (www.kiva.org), a recently launched web-based nonprofit is enabling individuals to loan small sums of money through the PayPal service to needy individuals without the need for an intermediary such as a bank or microfinance institution. Potential lenders can view profiles of microentrepreneurs and their plans online, review a summary of their financing to date, and make a loan of as little as $25 online. In its first months of operation, the website facilitated enough microloans through its Uganda partner Village Enterprise Fund to fund over 30 businesses in that country. Kiva recently announced partnerships with the Shurush Initiative in the West Bank and Gaza, REDC Bulgaria, CRESP Senegal and Prisma Microfinance. The first round of local microbusinesses posted to Kiva by the new partners are available for review at Kiva's website. (AlterNet, December 15, 2005; Kiva Update, February 9, 2006)
E-newsletter promotes global engagement by European foundations
Europe in the World (EITW), an online portal for European foundations interested in global development, has launched a web-based news service. EITW's monthly News Digest highlights information on and for foundations that are working internationally or that want to get involved in international work. It provides updates on grants and initiatives, opportunities to collaborate, good practice in funding global development relevant reports and resources, and key events on the international donor's calendar. To subscribe, visit www.europeintheworld.info. (PhilanthropyUK Newsletter, December 2005)
Skoll World Forum March 29-31
With the social sector "approaching a tipping point," the 2006 Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship (skollworldforum.sbs.ox.ac.uk), is aiming a spotlight on the variety of financial mechanisms for social change. Through a series of speakers, seminars, workshops and case studies, the Forum will explore topics such as mezzanine finance, debt and equity-like offerings, leveraging of non-financial assets such as cultural or social capital, and the potential for creating a 'social stock market' and longer-term investment funds that factor in social and environmental risks. The Forum will focus on ways that social entrepreneurs, philanthropists and social investors, governments and multilateral agencies, the finance sector and business can add value to one another. Speakers include former US Vice President Al Gore and David Blood, ex-CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management; Mo Ibrahim, Chair of CelTel International, a fast-growing mobile telecommunications company in sub-Saharan Africa; representatives of tribal groups from southern India; Jan Piercy, advisor to ShoreBank Corporation and ShoreCap International, and many more.
Fast Company honors "Social Capitalists" who are changing the world
The January/February issue of Fast Company (www.fastcompany.com) presents winners of the magazine's 2006 "Social Capitalist" awards, 25 entrepreneurs who are using "business smarts to tackle social woes, and changing the world." A special online edition accompanying the January issue includes full profiles of the winners and finalists, an explanation of the methodology used in the contest, and ways to donate. Several among the top 25 are working globally, including Acción International, Grameen Foundation USA, Heifer International, the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health and Unitus. Unitus (www.unitus.com), founded and chaired by Mike Murray, a member of the Global Philanthropists Circle, identifies the highest potential microfinance institutions in developing countries and helps speed their growth with investments and consulting.
Alliance magazine: Philanthropy, 2025
How might the world of philanthropy look in the year 2025? Find out in the December 2005 issue of Alliance magazine (www.alliancemagazine.org), which explores the challenges and opportunities presented by new people, tools and pressures in the field. Guest editors are Katherine Fulton and Gabriel Kasper of the Monitor Institute. The issue examines the future of philanthropy in the US, India, the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Central Europe, Russia and East Africa. It also features interviews with the new heads of the Council of Foundations and the European Foundation Centre, Steve Gunderson and Gerry Salole. Barbara Merz and Lincoln Chen weigh in on the growing importance of remittances to Mexico from Mexicans living and working in the US. Also the February edition of the online Alliance Extra features an interview with Bob Dunn, the new president of Synergos.
© 2006 The Synergos Institute
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