Root Capital :: Press

Root Capital Named One of Top 100 Best NGOs

January 23, 2012 - Press Release

Root Capital was named one of the Top 100 Best NGOs by The Global Journal, a print and online publication based in Geneva and New York that covers the issues and players shaping global governance. In its inaugural “Top 100 Best NGOs” list, The Global Journal recognizes the significant role of NGOs as influential agents of change on a global scale, increasingly at the forefront of developments shaping the lives of millions of people around the world.

News Flash: Progress Happens

December 15, 2011 - The New York Times

In our second column, late last year, I wrote about Root Capital, an organization that supplies credit to small-scale agricultural producers in poor parts of the world. In 2010, the organization disbursed $80 million in loans. This year, it disbursed $120 million: 50 percent more. It now finances farmer-owned businesses that support 220,000 producers, extending benefits to roughly a million people.

Alpha Hunters: Investing in Global Development

December 15, 2011 - AllAboutAlpha.com

While many see opportunities in the developing world solely as philanthropic, there are an increasing number of socially conscious investment funds who realise that alongside the work in alleviating poverty and dealing with extreme social-issues, there are clear needs (and opportunities) which exist for nations who are fighting hard to ‘catch up’ with the west.

Root Capital - Carifresh Video

December 7, 2011 - The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund's $1,000,000 grant and loan to Root Capital is providing financing for small and medium-sized businesses in Haiti, including Carifresh, an agricultural exporter.

Forbes' List of the Top 30 Social Entrepreneurs

November 30, 2011 - Forbes

Forbes has named William Foote as one of its "Impact 30" - a new list of the world's leading social entrepreneurs.

Root Capital: A Case Study in Impact Investing

November 9, 2011 - Americas Quarterly

Root Capital introduces big investors to small rural farmers and cooperatives—with dramatic results.

So, you want to be an impact investor?

November 4, 2011 - Americas Quarterly

Investing for social or environmental impact is still a brand-new field. Here's a road map to take you past the pitfalls.

The black gold of Haiti, coffee creole is hot again

November 1, 2011 - The Miami Herald

Decades of political chaos and plummeting prices have crippled Haiti’s once rich coffee production. Now increasing global demand and short supply are giving Haiti coffee a welcomed jolt.

Sustainable Farming and Livelihoods Take Root

September 7, 2011 - Care2 (Ashoka)

Organic and fair trade agricultural SMEs are expanding their markets despite the global economic downturn, and are getting a boost in the developing world through organizations like Root Capital.

Greed Has Gone Good: Social Capital Markets 2011

September 6, 2011 - Forbes

Gordon Gekko could very well be intrigued. Given the battering Wall Street has had recently with downgrades, debt ceiling crises and drops in the Dow, even the crude capitalist might consider the benefits of social capital markets.

8 Virtuous Investment Options

August 30, 2011 - The Huffington Post

Hidden deep inside the layered mystery of how markets work and the marketplace allocates resources, capitalism innovates to generate jobs making faster computers and deadly cigarettes.

MIF supports innovative financing scheme for sustainable agriculture in Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua

August 4, 2011 - Inter-American Development Bank

The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) approved a loan and technical assistance of $4.9 million to Root Capital, a nonprofit social investment fund that is pioneering finance for cooperatives, producers’ associations, and small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas producing under sustainable agricultural schemes.

Root Capital Makes Money By Investing Where Wall Street Won't: Poor, Rural Farmers

July 12, 2011 - Fast Company

Investing in sectors that most business people find too risky, this firm is finding that the returns from helping small businesses in the developing world can be more than simply charity.

Root Capital selected for the 2011 ImpactAssets 50

June 15, 2011 - Press Release

Root Capital has been selected for the 2011 ImpactAssets 50—a list of leading private debt and equity fund managers that deliver social and environmental value in addition to financial returns.

On the Road in Haiti

May 31, 2011 - Huffington Post

Marcia DeSanctis writes about her recent trip to Haiti with Root Capital and The World We Want Foundation (3W).

William Foote receives 2011 Bavaria Award

May 12, 2011 - Press Release

Root Capital Founder and CEO William Foote was honored by Ceres and Trillium Asset Management Corporation as one of this year’s winners of the fourth annual Joan Bavaria Awards for Building Sustainability into the Capital Markets.

Social Finance Needs ‘Pathological Collaboration’

April 26, 2011 - Axiom News

Root Capital CEO William Foote says infrastructure and industry alliances will bring social finance to scale in an interview with Camille Jensen of Axiom News.

Profiling Root Capital, Impact Investor

April 13, 2011 - Social Finance Blog

Heather Crosbie profiles William Foote at the 2011 Harvard Social Enterprise Conference and highlights Root Capital's work targeting leadership in local communities and driving social impact.

Root Capital receives Charity Navigator’s 4-star rating for the fifth consecutive year

April 13, 2011 - Press Release

Root Capital has received a 4-star rating for excellence in fiscal responsibility, sustainability, and transparency with donors, investors, and supporters from Charity Navigator, America’s most-recognized charity evaluator. The 4-star rating denotes exceptional financial performance by a charity organization. This is the fifth consecutive year that Root Capital has received a 4-star rating.

Global Agricultural Value Chains: Sustainable Growth as a Means for Sustainable Development

March 4 2011 - Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Featured in the San Francisco Fed's Community Development Investment Review, this article was written by Patricia Devaney, Director of Knowledge and Impact. It discusses Root Capital's model for sustainable economic development, addressing the financing needs of rural small and growing businesses and building agricultural value chains.

William Foote to deliver keynote at 2011 Social Enterprise Conference at Harvard

March 3, 2011 - Press Release

Root Capital Founder and CEO William Foote will deliver the opening keynote at Harvard’s 2011 Social Enterprise Conference. The Social Enterprise Conference is one of the leading forums for thought leaders, practioners, and students working in social enterprise to engage in dialogue and debate.

BYU and Peery Foundation honor William Foote with 2011 Social Innovator of the Year Award

February 17, 2011 - Press Release

Brigham Young University (BYU) and the Peery Foundation selected Root Capital Founder and CEO William Foote as 2011 Social Innovator of the Year.

Financing Fair Trade Coffee from Haiti

January 27, 2011 - Karen Ansara's Haiti Blog

William Foote offers his reflections on the potential for Root Capital's model to help Haiti recover post-earthquake.

Fear of Profit

October 29, 2010 - New York Times

David Bornstein revisits his "Fixes" column about Root Capital, exploring the debate sparked by a division of attitudes on the importance of profits and the role of markets.

Filling the Gap Between Farm and Fair Trade

October 26, 2010 - New York Times

This article chronicles Root Capital's history, strategy, and achievements. It was written by David Bornstein as part of a series called "fixes," which looks at solutions to social problems and why they work.

Countdown to SOCAP: Beyond Innovation

September 30, 2010 - NextBillion

As part of a series leading up to the third Social Capital Markets Conference, NextBillion interviews Root Capital founder and CEO William Foote about the organization and its strategies moving forward.

Shining City: Root Capital

September 29, 2010 - Shining City

William Foote is interviewed on Shining City, a new TV series that features cutting-edge ideas, products, inventions and social programs that originate in New England. Shining City focuses on scientific innovation, sports innovation, global thought leadership, and social entrepreneurship. The show originally aired on the New England Sports Network (NESN) on September 29.

Good Capital Announces $200,000 Investment and Innovative Partnership with Root Capital

August 31, 2010 - Press Release

Good Capital LLC, the San Francisco-based manager of the Social Enterprise Expansion Fund, announced today a $200,000 subordinated loan to Root Capital. As a part of this groundbreaking impact investment, Good Capital and Root Capital have developed a multi-year, strategic partnership that will focus on finding creative and innovative marketing strategies to build Root Capital’s brand and increase its capacity for additional growth.

Root Capital Receives PRI and Grant From Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

December 10, 2009 - Press Release

Root Capital was announced today as the recipient of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s first program-related investment (PRI) from its Agricultural Development initiative. Root Capital will use the six-year, $10 million PRI as loan capital to scale its operations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The $4 million operating grant will support Root Capital’s five-year growth plan to achieve a financially self-sustainable lending program by 2013.

Starbucks to Invest Additional $2 Million in Root Capital

September 1, 2009 - Press Release

The Starbucks Coffee Company announced today an additional $2 million investment in Root Capital. This commitment, announced at the Social Capital Market 2009 Conference, brings Starbucks total investment in Root Capital’s fund to $9 million and marks the five-year anniversary since their first investment in 2004.

Social Investor Aims to "Fill the Missing Middle"

July, 2009 - Coffee and Cocoa International

Coffee and Cocoa International profiles Root Capital founder William Foote, and explains the strategy behind the founding of Root Capital.

Root Capital Awarded Financial Times and IFC Sustainable Banking Award

June 4, 2009 - Press Release

The Financial Times and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced Root Capital as the recipient of its Achievement in Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid Award. The award recognizes ground-breaking financial transactions and initiatives that address the Bottom or Base of the Pyramid (BoP), the more than 4 billion people who live on less than US$2 a day.

Impact Investing: Harnessing Capital Markets to Drive Development at Scale

May/June, 2009 - Beyond Profit

Beyond Profit Magazine highlights Root Capital as a place for impact investors who "seek to make for-profit investments that can also provide solutions to social and environmental challenges."

A New Style of Investing For a New Day

May 27, 2009 - Huffington Post

Kevin Jones -- founding partner of Good Capital and founder of the annual SoCap (Social Capital Markets) Conference -- applauds Root Capital as "a bank that works in rural areas where other banks don't go; like microfinance but on a much larger scale. It creates viable businesses that enable people in the developing world to earn a living in their villages, rather than migrating into squatter settlements in large overcrowded cities."

Root Capital Announces Launch of Innovative Five-year $63M Growth Capital Campaign

March 26, 2009 - Press Release

Root Capital announced today that it has launched a comprehensive Growth Capital Campaign that will significantly increase its capacity to serve rural grassroots businesses in developing countries by establishing a sustainable social enterprise and fully self-sufficient lending program by 2013.

Root Solutions: Nonprofit lender Root Capital connects rural farmers and artisans with the corporations that crave their products

Spring, 2009 - Stanford Social Innovation Review

The Stanford Social Innovation Review features Root Capital as "a well-recognized leader in the social capital field." The article highlights Root Capital's innovation, its strong corporate partnerships, and its positive impact on farmers and artisans around the world.

Social Entrepreneurs Go Mainstream

March, 2009 - Ode Magazine

ODE Magazine highlights Root Capital’s work in its March issue. This article takes a look at how social entrepreneurs are building sustainable organizations and using business solutions to solve some of the world’s most pressing social problems.

Press Release: Rockefeller Foundation Awards $2 Million Loan to Root Capital

November 24, 2008

The Rockefeller Foundation announced today that it has awarded a $2 million loan, in the form of a Program-Related Investment (PRI), to Root Capital. The Rockefeller Foundation’s investment follows a grant of $152,000 that the Foundation made to Root Capital earlier this year to allow the Nonprofit Finance Fund to help Root Capital develop a $60 million growth capital campaign.

Press Release: Social Venture Network Announces 2008 Innovation Award Winners

October 13, 2008

Social Venture Network (SVN) the country's leading network of socially responsible entrepreneurs, investors and nonprofit leaders, announces Root Capital Founder and President Willy Foote as one of six winners of the 2nd Annual SVN Innovation Awards. The Awards support the "next generation" of socially responsible business and nonprofit leaders by providing them access to the people and resources that can help support the growth and success of their enterprises.

Press Release: Clinton Global Initiative Announces Innovative Coffee Partnership

September 26, 2008

The Clinton Global Initiative announces an innovative partnership between Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Root Capital to improve the financial literacy of rural-based businesses in Latin America and Africa.

Investors Boost the 'Missing Middle'

June 24, 2008 - Financial Times

The Financial Times features Root Capital as a leader in the growing field of SME finance. FT highlights Root Capital's "innovative model" and recognizes its work to expand the industry in order to create widespread social, economic, and environmental change.

The Price of Hunger

June 23, 2008 - LA Times

The LA Times highlights the important role of agricultural credit in addressing the food crisis and singles out Root Capital for leading the way: "Innovative nonprofits such as Root Capital, which lends to sustainable agricultural projects, are showing how to fill the gap [of the missing middle]".

Root Capital Helps Grassroots Eco-ventures

April 21, 2008 - Miami Herald

The Miami Herald recently highlighted a profile of Root Capital and an interview with Founder William Foote as the cover story in its business section.

Press Release: World Economic Forum Announces Root Capital Founder and President William Foote as a 2008 Young Global Leader

March 20, 2008

The World Economic Forum announced that Root Capital Founder and President William Foote has been selected as a Young Global Leader 2008. This honour is bestowed each year by the World Economic Forum to recognize and acknowledge the top 200-300 young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.

Press Release: Root Capital Selected as 2008 Social Capitalist Award Winner

December 14, 2007

Fast Company magazine and Monitor Group announced that they have awarded a 2008 Social Capitalist Award to Root Capital.

Top 15 Charities for Investors for 2007

November 26, 2007 - NuWire Investor

NuWire Investor ranks Root Capital third in its 2007 list of the Top 15 Charities for Investors. Charities were chosen based on their effectiveness and how tangibly the success of one’s donation could be measured.

Transatlantic Innovations in Affordable Capital for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

October, 2007 - The Milken Institute and the German Marshall Fund of the United States

The Milken Institute and the German Marshall Fund of the United States highlighted Root Capital for its innovative model that “catalyzes systemic change” in its recently released report on Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Finance.

From Grower to Green Market: Bridging the Rural Finance Gap

September, 2007 - Microfinance Insights

Root Capital was featured in the journal Microfinance Insights for its unconventional lending approach that is demonstrating the viability of rural grassroots businesses.