FAQs

What is Unitus?

Unitus is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing innovative, market-based solutions to global poverty.

We work to create pathways out of poverty for the world’s working poor by increasing access to life-changing microfinance services. To reach the most people in need as quickly as possible, Unitus seeks out and partners with young, high-potential microfinance institutions (MFIs), helping them to build capacity, attract capital, and achieve exponential growth. Through this leveraged approach, Unitus seeks to empower millions of the world’s working poor while transforming the financial systems now left out of their reach.

Rather than directly providing microcredit loans, Unitus connects the ambitious, visionary entrepreneurs who lead our partner MFIs with the business expertise, capital investments, and innovative tools and services required to grow faster, dream bigger, and reach farther. In turn, their success provides hope and opportunity for thousands who would otherwise remain stuck in the downward cycle of devastating poverty.

Where does Unitus work?

Unitus works with the most high-potential microfinance leaders in developing countries around the world to rapidly expand access to microfinance services for the working poor in those areas.

Why doesn’t Unitus work in the United States?

A core component of our change philosophy is that we wish to accomplish the most good for the greatest number of people. When we examined how to create the most significant change for the poorest populations, it was evident that we should focus our efforts on the countries in the world where access to credit and basic financial services are least available and poverty is the most widespread.

Why should I give to Unitus?

If you are committed to alleviating global poverty and want to see your donation dollars maximized, we believe you should consider a personally significant donation to Unitus. Here are a few reasons why:

• High-Impact Results. We work where microfinance services are needed most—our current reach extends to seven countries, four continents, and thousands of villages around the developing world, and is expanding rapidly to new regions each year. Since we began just 7 years ago, more than 3.5 million families have accessed life-changing financial services through our microfinance partners.
• An Efficient, Highly-Leveraged Strategy. With Unitus, your philanthropic dollars go farther. We scout out the most promising, high-potential microfinance institutions (MFIs) around the world and help them grow quickly—transforming their operations and multiplying their reach to the poor.
• Our Dynamic Staff. Our staff includes star talent from companies like McKinsey, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and Amazon, all dedicated to bringing their business skills to bear in the fight against global poverty. Our team members are dedicated to working with growth-oriented MFI leaders on the ground to create effective, lasting solutions to the problems that have prevented the microfinance industry from reaching out to more of the world’s working poor.
• Our Rigorous Selection Process. Our rigorous selection process ensures that our donor dollars are put to work where they can make the biggest impact. Unitus only partners with high-potential microfinance institutions who could serve thousands more hardworking micro-entrepreneurs, given the right support. While more than 300 microfinance institutions have applied to be Unitus partners (as of the end of 2007), less than 30 have met our criteria.