On a trip to the Caribbean over 30 years ago, Glen and Mildred Robbins gave ten people grants of $100 each to launch their own microenterprises—marking the start of their simple, direct, bottom-up approach to poverty alleviation. The nonprofit they started, Trickle Up, has since helped those making less than $1.25 a day—the extreme poor who aren't able to secure microloans—start or expand 150,000 small-scale businesses in Africa, Asia and Central America like Talam Maiga who started a food stand in Mali and Sormaya Gurung who now raises pigs in Nepal. How it works: Trickle Up provides the business training, then disperses seed capital in two installments, to help locals launch their business, and at a later date to help them grow their business. Help Trickle Up reach its goal of starting or expanding 10,000 businesses this year. Peer-to-Peer Match: The Spud will match the first $100 in donations. Donate in any amount directly to Trickle Up by Friday, then forward your donation confirmation to thespudorg@gmail.com. We'll match the donations in the order we receive the confirmations. Additionally, we'll donate $1 for each new person who likes our Facebook fan page or who follows us on Twitter (up to $250). Find us on Facebook here, and on Twitter here. Photo credit: Trickle Up.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Project #18: Help Provide Seed Capital Grants for Those Making Less Than $1.25 a Day
On a trip to the Caribbean over 30 years ago, Glen and Mildred Robbins gave ten people grants of $100 each to launch their own microenterprises—marking the start of their simple, direct, bottom-up approach to poverty alleviation. The nonprofit they started, Trickle Up, has since helped those making less than $1.25 a day—the extreme poor who aren't able to secure microloans—start or expand 150,000 small-scale businesses in Africa, Asia and Central America like Talam Maiga who started a food stand in Mali and Sormaya Gurung who now raises pigs in Nepal. How it works: Trickle Up provides the business training, then disperses seed capital in two installments, to help locals launch their business, and at a later date to help them grow their business. Help Trickle Up reach its goal of starting or expanding 10,000 businesses this year. Peer-to-Peer Match: The Spud will match the first $100 in donations. Donate in any amount directly to Trickle Up by Friday, then forward your donation confirmation to thespudorg@gmail.com. We'll match the donations in the order we receive the confirmations. Additionally, we'll donate $1 for each new person who likes our Facebook fan page or who follows us on Twitter (up to $250). Find us on Facebook here, and on Twitter here. Photo credit: Trickle Up.
