Envest Microfinance

We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Latha Bhaskara as our newest board member! Over the past two years Latha has been a valued advisor to Envest Microfinance, bringing together her deep passion for microfinance and her investment expertise to drive meaningful impact. “I enjoy sharing insights from my experience to support Envest Microfinance’s incredible mission.” Get to know Latha by clicking the link in the first comment.

This summer Elizabeth Rodriguez, our director of lending, had the opportunity to spend a few days in Piura, Peru for an in-person due diligence visit with Cooperativa Santa Isabel. "Santa Isabel stood out to me immediately for its strong community impact. About 95% of Santa Isabel’s borrowers are women with an average loan size of only $230. I was impressed with its commitment to empowering women, promoting healthcare, and offering workshops that help members build income-generating skills". See link to full article in comments.

We’re excited to introduce our newest partner RDF, a Ugandan microfinance institution with an extraordinary mission. Over 80% of RDF clients are women and its portfolio is 100% rural. This unusually high rate of rural women is achieved through intentional outreach and the development of group loans. Group loans are particularly effective for women in rural Uganda, as the group structure serves as a form of collateral, something these women typically lack. RDF has demonstrated strong financial performance, and plans to use the much-needed funding from Envest Microfinance to scale its green energy product that was launched in February 2025, and to introduce a new loan product for water tanks and irrigation solutions. To read more see the link in comments.

We're thrilled to expand into a brand-new market, El Salvador. Earlier this year our colleague Elizabeth Rodriguez visited a microfinance institution called OPOPRTUN in El Triunfo. She recalls that in this region the majority of residents do not have a bank account. Additionally, 80% of small business owners are unable to secure credit from traditional banks. The new partnership with Envest Microfinance will allow OPORTUN to expand its financial products, including small loans with monthly, weekly, or daily repayment schedules that meet the unique needs of its clients. To read more see the link in comments.