The Silicon Valley Microfinance Network is honored to have the support of the following sponsors:

Opportunity Fund advances the economic well-being of working people by helping them earn, save, and invest in their future.

Opportunity Fund believes that everyone should have the chance to build a dignified life, regardless of their economic background. Their role is to help working families realize their dreams and move beyond worrying about how to live day to day. By investing in those who don’t have ready access to financial resources, they strive to break the cycle of poverty for good.

The Dignity Fund was formed to bring needed capital to the microfinance industry and fuel the social empowerment of the poor. Microfinance is one of the most significant anti-poverty tools at work in the world today, yet only 20% of the world’s poorest households have access to financial services. The growth of microfinance institutions has caused the sector to outstrip its traditional sources of funding from governments, multilateral institutions, and donors.

The Dignity Fund aims to address this gap by providing loans, guarantees, and other types of debt instruments to high-performing microfinance institutions serving the poor in developing countries. The Dignity Fund believes that additional capital will allow these organizations to reach more clients, thereby allowing more poor entrepreneurs to lift themselves out of poverty with dignity through access to credit, savings, and other financial products.

The Gray Ghost Fund is a $75 million for-profit fund of funds focused exclusively on investments in microfinance funds that supply start-up and expansion capital to microfinance institutions around the world. Gray Ghost was established in late 2003 by Bob Pattillo, a lifelong philanthropist with over 10 years microfinance experience.

The Gray Ghost Fund seeks to promote microfinance as a viable alternate investment opportunity through its profitable microfinance portfolio. Microfinance is one of the few investments that offers both competitive financial return and measurable social impact. The aim of the fund is to mobilize private capital to enhance the scale and scope of microfinance as a tool in global poverty alleviation.

(in-kind facilities sponsor)

Omidyar Network is a mission-based investment firm committed to unleashing human potential. Established by Pamela and Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, Omidyar Network supports the conditions that enable individuals to tap their own potential to make life better for themselves and others. Since 2004, Omidyar Network has funded nonprofit and for-profit efforts in a number of areas, including microfinance, participatory media, open innovation, and transparency in government.

MicroPlace is launching a service that enables individuals to learn about microfinance, find investment opportunities, and invest. We will accomplish this mission by maintaining a web-based, eBay-like marketplace to connect ordinary people (with investable assets as little as $100) with microfinance entities that need capital.