After months of planning and work, the Microfinance Club at USF is finally getting launched! Tom, Neha, Jacob, Wilhelmina, David and I have come together to start this group for USF MBA's. Here's a little bit more about us:
Vision and Mission
The USF Microfinance Club (MFC) is a student association at the University of San Francisco dedicated to promoting prosperity in the developing world. The founding board of what would become the Microfinance Club decided to pursue an ambitious project in the field of microfinance.
The endeavor began as a curricular service project in an MBA leadership class. By raising and strategically donating funds through a portfolio of microfinance institutions (MFIs), the MFC makes otherwise elusive capital (microloans) available for creating and maintaining businesses that provide essential goods and services in low-income communities in developing nations. While the principal of each loan is ultimately repaid into the Microfinance Fund, the MFC uses part of the repaid principal to help support the MFIs. As a result, the Fund must be continually replenished by support from the local community.
The MFC not only raises capital – it raises awareness. Just as our activities empower entrepreneurs on the ground in our target communities, they simultaneously empower the MBA students charged with using their business and leadership skills to cultivate and manage the Fund for future generations. In addition to fundraising and fund-management activities, the MFC helps to educate young leaders about the growing field of microfinance and how it can be used to change lives and communities for the better. Our members help us to research and evaluate MFIs, write blogs and articles, and reach out to the community for support.
Our vision for a world where credit is available to anyone who needs it embodies USF’s Core Values of “social responsibility in fulfilling the University’s mission to create, communicate and apply knowledge to a world shared by all people and held in trust for future generations.”
Future events
Tuesday, April 20th - Kiva speaker at USF @5:15pm Malloy Hall LL4
Friday, April 30th - First Annual Microfinance Club Casino Night, 330 Main Street, 6pm-10pm
Donations
Contact me if you're interested in donating to our group. We are looking to raise funds to start investing in a portfolio of microfinance entities this year.
We appreciate all of the support from USF and from fellow students! Come support us at our group launch party on the 30th!!
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