The Cause: According to the World Bank 2008 report, almost half of the world's population- over 3 billion people- live on less than $2.50 a day. The poorest 40 percent of the world's population accounts for 5 percent of global income, while the richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income (Human Development Report 2007). Microfinance offers those who were previously considered "un-bankable" because of their lack of collateral, an opportunity to expand their businesses, increase their incomes, and transform their lives. It is a mechanism for poverty reduction and rural development.

The Scope: International microfinance experts identified 13 top microfinance-related nonprofits working at the international level. These organizations include microloan providers, micro credit providers, microfinance institutions, information research organizations, online platforms, consulting practices, and more.

131 International Microfinance experts recommended the following 12 outstanding nonprofits.
Meet the experts and read more about this research.

	Top Nonprofit	Mission
1	ACCION International	ACCION’s mission is to give people the financial tools they need to work their way out of poverty. By providing “micro” loans, business training, and other financial services to poor men and women who start their own businesses, ACCION helps people work their way up the economic ladder, with dignity and pride.
2	Grameen Foundation	Grameen Foundation's mission is to enable the poor, especially the poorest, to create a world without poverty.
3	BRAC	Our mission is to empower people and communities in situations of poverty, illiteracy, disease and social injustice. Our interventions aim to achieve large scale, positive changes through economic and social programmes that enable women and men to realize their potential.
4	Microfinance Information Exchange	MIX's three primary objectives are 1) Improve MFI performance and transparency 2) Boost public and private investment in microfinance through the increased exchange of information 3) Lead benchmarking activities.
5	Opportunity International	Our mission is to empower people to work their way out of chronic poverty, transforming their lives, their children’s futures and their communities.
6	Kiva	Kiva's mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.
7	ASA (Foundation)	The institutional mission of ASA is to support and strengthen the economy at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid by facilitating access to financial services for the poor, marginalized and disadvantaged.
8	Women's World Banking	The mission of the Women’s World Banking global network is to expand the economic assets, participation and power of low-income women and their households by helping them access financial services, knowledge and markets.
9	Pro Mujer	Pro Mujer is an international women’s development and microfinance organization whose mission is to provide Latin America’s poor women with the means to build livelihoods for themselves and futures for their families through microfinance, business training, and healthcare support.
10	CARE	CARE’s mission is to serve individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world. Drawing strength from CARE’s global diversity, resources and experience, it promotes innovative solutions and is an advocate for global responsibility.
10	Freedom from Hunger	Freedom from Hunger brings innovative and sustainable self-help solutions to the fight against chronic hunger and poverty. Together with local partners, we equip families with resources they need to build futures of health, hope and dignity.
11	FINCA International	The mission of FINCA International is to provide financial services to the world's lowest-income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets and improve their standard of living.

Check out all nonprofit reviews for International Microfinance.

Have questions about these results? Review our methodology.