Who We Are

Poverty is unnecessary. Each of us – even the poorest citizens of our world – can reach our full potential if given access to the right information and resources. That’s why Grameen Foundation is working to transform the lives of the poor, and to transform the development sector.

Because we believe that people everywhere have an inherent desire to improve their lives, we harness the strength and ingenuity of the poor by providing them with access to the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty – actionable information, appropriate financial services and unique business opportunities. We lay the groundwork for measureable results by creating and piloting our approaches in the field, working with international and local partners, as well as with the poor themselves, to create lasting solutions that can work worldwide, transforming the lives of millions.

We also help poverty-focused organizations reach more people by providing them with the tools and services they need to better understand their customers and themselves. Our world-class team is constantly working to identify opportunities and create sector-wide solutions that can transform the way the development sector works, accelerating the impact of our efforts – impact that, collectively, will one day eliminate abject poverty.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, Grameen Foundation was founded in 1997 by friends of Grameen Bank to help microfinance practitioners spread the Grameen philosophy worldwide. Though we share the ideas of 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus – a founding director, and a current director emeritus – Grameen Foundation and Grameen Bank are independent organizations and have no financial or institutional links.

We are a leader in the fight against poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East/North Africa and Latin America. Our cutting-edge programs and resources have helped many millions of poor people – mostly women and children – improve their lives. Our work is made possible by supporters who share our passion and commitment to tackle the hardest problems and empower the poor.  For more information on our work, please feel free to explore our 2011-2012 Annual Report.

Our Mission

Grameen Foundation's mission is to enable the poor, especially the poorest, to create a world without poverty.

Our Values

In all our work, we embrace and draw inspiration from our rich Grameen Bank Heritage. Our core values are:

• We seek to empower the world’s poor, especially the poorest women
• We hold ourselves and our partners accountable for transparency and measurable results, including social and financial performance
• We champion innovation that makes a difference in the lives of the poor
• We first seek to form partnerships with those who can advance our mission before acting alone
• We respect, invest in and promote local social entrepreneurs and local ownership
• We honor the voice, professionalism and integrity of our staff and volunteers
  

Have more questions? Explore the links on the left sidebar, or read our Frequently Answered Questions (FAQ).