Root Capital
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| Founded | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Founder | William Fulbright Foote |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Location |
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Area served | Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia[1] |
Key people |
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| Website | rootcapital |
Root Capital is a nonprofit organization operating in poor rural areas of Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. According to its website, Root Capital "seeks to maximize the positive social and environmental impact of [its] work through a three-pronged strategy: finance, advise, and catalyze."[3]
Operations
Root Capital claims to follow a three-step approach towards making a positive impact in the poor rural areas of Africa and Latin America where it operates. The three steps are:[3]
- Finance: This involves making loans to rural small and growing businesses, including both short-term and long-term loans.
- Advise: This involves delivering financial training to current and prospective clients.
- Catalyze: This involves innovating on their own methodology to increase their own impact.
According to its impact page,[4] Root Capital has disbursed US$1.1 billion between 1999 and 2017 and reached 5.7 million household members in rural communities.
Root Capital is one of several money managers to pursue a gender lens investing strategy.[5]
Funding
Root Capital seeks funding from both individual donors and foundations. Foundations that have funded Root capital include Mulago Foundation,[6] Jasmine Social Investments,[7] and Peery Foundation.[8]
External reviews
Charity Navigator had given Root Capital a four-star rating (its highest possible) continuously beginning in 2005, but downgraded their rating to three stars on December 1, 2019.[9]
Charity evaluator GiveWell had a conversation with the CEO of Root Capital in September 2011,[10] and planned to publish a detailed review of Root Capital in 2013,[11] however GiveWell's review of Root Capital was still not complete as of November 2019.
References
- ^ "About Us". Root Capital. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ^ "Our Team". Root Capital. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ^ a b "Our Approach". Root Capital. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ^ "Impact Dashboard". Root Capital. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
- ^ Sullivan, Paul (August 14, 2015). "With an Eye to Impact, Investing Through a 'Gender Lens'". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
- ^ "Root Capital". Mulago Foundation. Archived from the original on 2013-07-26. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ^ "Who We Fund". Jasmine Social Investments. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ^ "Partners". Peery Foundation. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ^ "Charity Navigator - Historical Ratings for Root Capital". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
- ^ "Conversation with Root Capital". GiveWell. 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ^ "Root Capital". GiveWell. Retrieved 2012-12-05.