Our Growth
We began lending to rural grassroots businesses in 2000 because we saw a pressing need that was not
being met—namely, access to affordable credit for sustainable enterprises that stimulate economic
growth and environmental stewardship in the developing world. We have honed a model that channels
capital to these businesses when they need it most while mitigating the risks that have kept them
isolated from mainstream financial markets for so long.
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| Cumulative Results |
| Repayment rate |
99% |
| Number of farmers/ artisans reached1 |
265,000 |
| Organic agriculture under cultivation |
1.7 million acres |
| Number of people trained (through Root Capacity) |
1,300 |
1Total number of members represented by our borrower enterprises.
| Key Lending Figures |
| |
Cumulative (as of Dec. 31, 2007) |
2007 |
| Amount disbursed |
$80 million |
$32 million (disbursed or committed) |
| Number of loans disbursed |
395 |
133 |
| Number of borrowers |
169 |
106 |
In 2007, through their purchases from local farmers and artisans, our borrower enterprises collectively
infused over $150 million into their local communities. Root Capital loans supported a total of $192
million in sales of the products we financed.
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Expansion plans
From 2008-2011, we will significantly grow our loan portfolio to demonstrate the
broad applicability of our model across different industries, geography and cultures.
Specifically, we intend to grow from $20 million in lending capital at year-end 2007 to
nearly $60 million by 2011. In the same period, we will increase annual loan disbursements
from $32 million this year to over $110 million. As a result, by 2011, we plan to:
- Provide loans to more than 500 rural grassroots businesses in critical habitats of 40 countries.
- Strengthen market linkages between international buyers and 400,000 small-holder producers.
- Contribute to economic, social and environmental improvements for 2.6 million rural people.
For more information, see the Executive Summary of our Strategic Plan.
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