More than 127 loans, worth over $26.4 million. Disadvantaged farmers, artisans, and fishermen helped in 26 countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. A 99% repayment rate, showing that our model works as well in practice as in theory.

2007 was a time of great change and growth at Root Capital, allowing us to reach more grassroots businesses than ever before. We increased our loan disbursements by 32%- from $19 million in 2006 to over $25 million in 2007.

We expanded to four new countries and nine new industries. Our loans now strengthen the livelihoods of rice farmers in the Philippines, artisans and wine-makers in Chile, peanut farmers in Malawi, and to rural women in Ghana who produce shea butter. Other new industries include animal feed, bananas, cashews, timber, vanilla, and dried fruit.

Rice-a-Roni. Uncle Ben's. Tinawon White and Kalinga Unoy? Root Capital is helping farmers in the Cordillera region of the Philippines-who grow more than 300 varieties of heirloom rice known for their exceptional texture, aroma, and taste-make these varieties the new household names. This heirloom rice is grown by "terracing" along the slopes of mountains, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides (photo credit: Eighth Wonder).

In 1995, five of the most spectacular terrace areas were designated as UNESCO World Heritage "cultural living landscapes." But even that honor hasn't helped the Cordillera region escape its extreme poverty, and young people and families are turning away from the traditional methods of cultivation, because there has been no financial incentive to keep producing these more labor-intensive heirloom varieties (new, hybrid rice can be grown at lower elevations).

But thanks to the non-profit RICE, Inc. (Revitalize Indigenous Cordilleran Entrepreneurs) and Root Capital partner Eighth Wonder, a Montana-based importer committed to Fair Trade principles, that's about to change.Root Capital is providing Eighth Wonder a short-term $35,000 loan for 20 metric tons of heirloom rice, which will be imported to the U.S. for sale. Indian Harvest Specialty Food has already agreed to purchase the rice.

Rural grassroots enterprises are dynamic organizations run by farmers and artisans responding to and driving the booming international demand for products such as coffee, cocoa, Brazil nuts and handcrafts. Strong financial statements and a well- equipped finance team may not be the most exciting things for a small grassroots business, but they are among the most important to their long-term success. To strengthen the financial management capacity at these businesses, Root Capital launched Root Capacity, our financial education and training program, in 2006.

Its first initiative-Porvenir Financiero, or PorFin-offers workshops and customized training to managers and members of grassroots businesses in northern Latin America. A partnership between Root Capital and EARTH University of Costa Rica, PorFin is funded through grants from the Multilateral Investment Fund of the InterAmerican Development Bank, Citi Foundation, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Starbucks Coffee Company, The Rohatyn Group and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.

In 2007, seven hundred people in Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua completed PorFin workshops. The courses included Business Basics, Internal Credit Management, Financial Management, Training of Trainers, and Financial Literacy. Importantly, as PorFin participants return to their organizations, they report improving their internal efficiencies with the knowledge they gained.

For example, many have implemented more rigorous accounting systems, professionalized overall organizational financial management and trained their peers in business skills. As a result, the benefits of PorFin extend to all members of the participating organizations - a total of 22,000 farmers and artisans in 2007 alone. In 2008, PorFin will expand into Costa Rica, El Salvador and Honduras.

Fast Company magazine and Monitor Group recently named Root Capital a 2008 Social Capitalist Award winner for the third year in a row. Root Capital President Willy Foote accepted the award on behalf of the entire organization in a ceremony on January 8 in Washington, DC. Root Capital was featured as a leading non-profit for using the tools of business to address the world's most pressing social problems and for demonstrating a consistent and unusually large impact on society.

The Marketing and Communications Associate will support Root Capital's communications and marketing activities and will work closely with and report directly to the Director of Marketing and Communications. As a small and growing organization, this position offers a tremendous growth opportunity for candidates to gain valuable experience on high level, strategic projects, but also requires the willingness and flexibility to dedicate significant time to hands-on project implementation. Our marketing strategy is targeted at building relationships with key partners including financial institutions, corporations, foundations, and high net-worth individuals. The Marketing and Communications Associate will play a key role in promoting the work of Root Capital and building the field of social finance and sustainable trade.