Now more than ever, in the microfinance industry, transparency and objective evaluation is needed to rise above criticism and offer stakeholders a realistic perspective on the risk and returns related to microfinance investment. Chuck Waterfield, founder of MFTransparency, and Sebastian von Stauffenberg, CEO of MicroRate, will host a webinar focusing specifically on the role of [...]
Tag archive for ‘Entrepreneurship’
Microfinance Investment Transparency & Evaluation Webinar
Join ACCION San Diego, CDC Small Business Finance, and VEDC for a day of Education, Resources & Business Growth at the 2nd annual Access to Capital Business Expo! The Expo includes breakfast, lunch, workshops, and One on One Consultations! Saturday April 16th from 8am-2:30pm! Discuss your financing needs in a one-on-one consultation Obtain information from [...]
Learn more about the world of Microfinance and join the San Diego Microfinance Alliance (SDMFA), the Center for International Development at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), the School of International Relations & Pacific Studies and the EPTEAM Network Association at University of California-San Diego (UCSD), for three sessions of Microfinance 102, the continuation of Microfinance [...]
Success Story from Foundation for Women
Meet Foundation for Women (FFW) microcredit borrower, Malou Gibson, who is now on her second FFW loan cycle with the Foundation for Women. Malou is a Holistic Health Care Practitioner who worked for various spas in San Diego by day and did computer work for hospitals at night, sneaking in a few hours of sleep [...]
What is a Microfinance Alliance Partner? Meet VIA International, just one of many incredible San Diego based organizations dedicated to building “paths to self-reliance for an interdependent world!” Focus is placed on community based programs designed to improve the quality of people’s lives through nutrition and ecology training, community leadership education and microcredit and microenterprise [...]
How do you plan to celebrate 100 years of women’s economic, political and social achievements? We encourage you to join Women’s Empowerment International, International House, UCSD’s Women’s Center, EPTEAM Network, and Women Equity Council at the United Nations Association of San Diego (WECUNASD) at UCSD on March 6th for International Women’s Day! This event promises to [...]
As we begin the New Year, I’d like to take a moment to reflect. When we think about all that The San Diego Microfinance Alliance and its partners have done throughout 2010 it is amazing. When we think about how much more there is to do, it can be both exciting and overwhelming. For those [...]
Social Change-One Class at a Time
As the fall semester of the academic year comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to highlight the efforts of two socially minded professors and their class. Dr. Judith Liu and Dr. Donald Kelly, professors in the sociology department at the University of San Diego, taught a course entitled Social Change: Global [...]
In a recent press release, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the introduction of a free guidebook for small business owners. This guidebook is the result of collaboration between SBA and Microsoft. The guidebook is called Business Technology Simplified and it was created with the intent of helping small business owners navigate the already [...]
Microfinance at USD’s Alternative Gift Fair
Each year around Thanksgiving we begin to hear Christmas music on the radio and see holiday decorations at the mall. This time of year generally corresponds to large discounts and preparing gift lists for those special people in our lives. However, what do we get for someone that seems to have it all? What do [...]
Microfinance Means More than Mini Money Management
When we hear the word “microfinance”, support and encouragement may not be the first words that come to mind. However, with the growth in awareness of microfinance initiatives these words are likely to follow shortly after one’s initial thoughts. To further illustrate the relationship between microfinance and the support & encouragement it produces, I’d like [...]
Despite advances in technology, it remains difficult to support others from a distance. From a distance, it is easier to misunderstand the support others really need. From a distance, it is easier to minimize the severity of the situation in which others find themselves. From a distance, it is easier to get distracted with our [...]
As a young man in college, my appreciation for a home cooked meal grew exponentially. These days a home cooked meal is almost as rare as teenager without an iPod. Fortunately, there is an upcoming event that will provide for those of us daydreaming about homemade tamales and envisioning a world without poverty. On Sunday, [...]
Building Friendships, Building Business
Each Tuesday morning a group of like minded women gather to celebrate the past week’s successes, learn from the past week’s setbacks and support each other as they build their businesses. There are many groups like this around San Diego and around the world. However, working with this group has given us a glimpse into [...]
Calling All Women in Business: 2 Hours to Empower & Inspire
Attention all female entrepreneurs and those that support them. Next Thursday, October 28th, is a wonderful opportunity for both existing & aspiring female entrepreneurs to learn more about how they can begin to make their dreams a reality! Interested yet? Well, read on. ACCION San Diego has brought together community partners and local businesses to present [...]
Do you know anybody interested in losing weight?
I imagine we both know that is not really a fair question. Firstly, the media in America (and other places around the world) promotes a body image that can actually be quite unhealthy. Secondly, losing weight only takes care of the surface issue of how you look. With these thoughts in mind, a better question [...]
Microfinance Spotlight: Rocio – Handmade Crafts
Microfinance Spotlight: Rocio works with La Maestra, a SDMFA partner. “It feels good to be able to do something after I had the stroke and to have the chance to teach positive things to people. I helped a blind Cuban woman make her own purses, and that was very satisfying because it helped this woman [...]
Local Events Geared Towards Small Business Owners
SDMFA partner ACCION is holding two events in San Diego that are geared towards small business owners. You can find more information about both events, and other microfinance-related activities by visiting our local events calendar. This Thursday, ACCION is holding a Multicultural Women’s Business Luncheon. The luncheon will feature internationally acclaimed speaker Dee Sanford, who [...]
ACCION Client Spotlight Ludwig Law Firm, A.P.C. Lucy Ludwig works as an attorney out of her 1940′s two-bedroom, ocher-colored stucco house in Normal Heights. Armed with a J.D. from California Western School of Law, a L.L.M. from the University of San Diego, and a bilingual skill-set, she opened the doors of Ludwig Law Firm in [...]
The History of Microfinance in the U.S.
The Opportunity Fund developed a microlending timeline, complete with a one page overview of the history of microfinance in the U.S. for their annual conference. The timeline stretches from 1973, when ShoreBank Corporation began to provide investment capital to business owners who were denied access to credit by larger financial institutions, to 2010 when the first [...]
Documentary On Microfinance In San Diego
Collaborative Capital is a 20 minute documentary that paints a picture of domestic microfinance in San Diego. Produced by Kaley Hearnsberger, recent graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University, the film interviews local microlenders and local borrowers to illustrate how microfinance is empowering individuals, creating jobs, and helping entrepreneurs live out their dreams. The film also [...]
Free Social Media Class for Small Businesses
Want to start a twitter, facebook, and blog for your business, but aren’t sure how to start? San Diego Microfinance Alliance’s partner, ACCION, is having a free social media class for small businesses. The class is split up into two parts: a social networking 101 and preparing your bolg or landing page to get the most [...]
2010 Microfinance USA Conference
Join leading practitioners of microfinance in the U.S. for the 2010 Microfinance USA conference (in San Francisco). Drawing upon the overwhelming success and momentum generated by the 2009 Microfinance, CA conference, Microfinance USA will bring together investors, policymakers, social entrepreneurs, practitioners, small business owners, and curious individuals to explore how microfinance produces jobs, increases incomes, [...]
2nd Annual Microfinance Summit In San Diego
The San Diego Microfinance Summit will take place April 28th from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The summit will bring together students, business owners, members of the community, microlenders, bankers, and many others to learn, network, and become more involved in microfinance. The summit will highlight both international microfinance issues as well as teach about the local micro-lending climate.
ACCION San Diego Client Spotlight SWEET TREATS The Hip, Sleek Ice-Cream Truck for the Young at Heart! Picture an old school ice cream truck transformed to look like a 1950′s Hot Rod. Then add a killer stereo system, along with a selection of the finest quality ice cream bars, gourmet cookies & brownies, hot drinks, snacks, [...]
Partnership Helps Small Biz Secure Much-Needed Financing
The San Diego Business Journal posted an article on the CDC, an SDMFA partner, and its collaboration with two local nonprofits to help small business owners receive necessary financing. Click here to read the full article.
