For those of you in Seattle, there is a private screening of “To Catch A Dollar.”  For those of you elsewhere around the country, look for the release in theaters or check to see if there are any private screenings in your town.

Thirty years ago, Mohammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi Banker, U.S. educated Professor, economist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient responded to the plight of the severely poor. He loaned only $27 to forty-two people, taking them out of a predatory life-long loan shark cycle and provided them the opportunity to work themselves out of
poverty. These were people too poor to ever qualify for traditional banking means.  And thus was sparked his development of the all new field of Microcredit and Microfinance.
Today, this Nobel-Prize winning strategy to end poverty has resulted in over a billion dollars being loaned by Grameen Bank and has helped millions of women in developing countries.  See how Grameen America is taking the same system to the streets of New York City.

When: Thursday, August 26th, 2010
6:00 pm – Reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres
7:00 pm – Private Screening & Special Guest Speaker
Where: Two Union Square
601 Union Street, 51st Floor
Downtown Seattle
Price: Ticket Levels: $100 | $50 | $25

Please RSVP to Fortunato Vega
(206) 336-1611
fortunato911@gmail.com

Watch the trailer:

Washington CASH (Community Alliance for Self Help), a local Seattle is hosting an event in Pioneer Square in September.  Washington CASH provides the business training, supportive community and capital to help enterprising individuals with limited financial resources gain self-sufficiency through small business ownership, is hosting an event in September called Cocktails For CASH.  Come enjoy music, free appetizers, and discounted happy hour cocktails in downtown Seattle where all donations will help people in our own community become small business owners.  This is a great opportunity to meet staff from Washington CASH as well as network with other microfinance enthusiasts in the community.
When: Thursday, September 16th, 4:30-7:30PM
Where: New Orleans Creole Restaraunt: 114 First Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
RSVP: Sonia@washingtoncash.org

The Borgen Project believes that leaders of the most powerful nation on earth should be doing more to address global poverty. They are hosting their 2010 Summer Bash in Seattle:

What: The Borgen Project is an innovative, national campaign that is bringing political attention to global poverty. Join a diverse crowd, ranging from college students to diplomats at The Borgen Project’s 2010 Summer Bash.
When: Thursday, August 5, 6PM
Where: The Triple Door, 216 Union Street, Seattle, WA 98102
Cost: $20 online. $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.borgenproject.org.

Here’s more information about the Borgen Project:

Source: SeaMO

Last week I attended a presentation on Mobile Banking given by Ignacio Mas of the Gates Foundation. The issue he discussed focused on the great need for financial infrastructure, specifically providing access to savings, to everyone in developing countries. He noted that 70% of people in developing countries have no access to financial services and that providing such access to saving is possible if we can leverage physical infrastructure and technological systems that are already in place.

The basic idea he presented discussed providing people the opportunity to bank at stores (kiosks) and provide access to deposits/withdrawals over their cell phone using a SIM card. This would alleviate the need for people to travel to a physical banking institution which is often too far and too costly; increase the business and income generated by store owners; and would utilize existing shops and small retailers.

MAS discussed M-PESA, a cell phone provider in Kenya, and explained their business model as the primary example for the direction that he hopes mobile banking will take. The way M-PESA currently works is a person purchases a cell phone and a SIM card from any one of 11,000 plus M-PESA agents. The SIM card is prepaid and a used to make calls and send SMSs until the funds expire. At that point, more funds are added so that the service will continue. The key here is that money is effectively deposited for prepayment and with-drawled upon with cell phone usage. Thinking about the thousands of people who have a cell phone, but no savings account (or access to basic financial tools), prompted a merger of forces to face the challenge. In May 2010 M-PESA joined forces with Equity Bank and now customers are able to transfer funds, lend money, and most importantly save money through their cell phone. Customers can also check bank balances, review previous transactions, and have access to additional basic financial services. The customer benefits as they have tools to save, the agent benefits from increased business, and the overall mission of the Equity Bank is met as they are able to provide clients with customer-focused financial services that socially empower both clients and other stakeholders’.

The M-PESA partnership with Equity Bank is paving the road to Mobile Banking by combining technologies, infrastructures, existing cell phone agents, and a market of cell phone users with out savings accounts. This is just a small part of a bigger goal of providing general financial infrastructure to people with out access to savings, credit, and loans in developing countries. The goal of the Gates Foundation is to continue investing in the mobile banking model; develop additional technology and deploy the system in five more countries over the coming years. To learn more about microfinance in the Seattle area visit www.seattlemicrofinance.org.

Wokai, the microfinance lending platform in China, is hosting a dinner with renowned panelist who will be speaking on poverty in China and the challenges that the solution faces next week in Seattle.

When: Thursday, June 10, 2010. 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Where: Four Seas Restaurant
714 South King Street
Seattle, WA 98104

Featured panelists:

Stevan Harrell, Professor of Anthropology, University of Washington
“Education as a means of poverty alleviation in China.”
Based on his interest in environmental sustainability and community development through education, Stevan founded Yangjuan Primary School in Sichuan Province in 2000.  Stevan now heads the UW Worldwide Program, exchanging undergraduates with Sichuan University and involving many of them in ecological fieldwork and community service at Yangjuan School. In 2005, he founded the Cool Mountain Education Fund, a small NGO that gives scholarships to graduates of Yangjuan School.

Kam Wing Chan, Professor of Geography, University of Washington
“The plight of rural immigrants and solutions to better integration into society.” Kam’s areas of focus are urban and economic geography, migration, labor markets and urban finance in China.  Kam has been widely published, including The World Bank & PRC State Development Planning Commission.  His current research projects include Internal Migration and the Hukou Reforms and Urbanization and Land Conversion.

Heng-Pin (Ping) Kiang, Board Member, Rural Development Institute
”The role of secure land rights in alleviating poverty in rural China.”
An attorney and entrepreneur, Ping has been a board member of the Rural Development Institute for more than ten years and is a member of RDI’s executive committee and Chair of its Resource Committee.  RDI is an international nonprofit organization working with governments of developing countries and other partners to secure land rights for the world’s poorest people. RDI has been a principal foreign advisor to China ‘s central government on rural land issues since 1987.

Wokai Seattle Chapter, Panel Moderator
Wokai is a non-profit microfinance organization committed to alleviating poverty in China using a person to person web based platform.  Founded in 2008, Wokai to date has raised over $170,000 in microloan capital to help over 300 impoverished individuals in rural China lift themselves out of poverty.

Cost is $25 per person. Includes dinner and a $10 credit to a Wokai borrower of your choice.
Click here to register for this event
For questions regarding this event, please email Seattle@wokai.org

Global Partnerships is holding its first ever Social Investor Forum in early June, and since many people passionate about microfinance are also passionate about putting their money into initiatives that produce a social as well as economic return, I thought I’d post the event here. For those of you who are in the greater Seattle area, or willing to travel, and interested in social business and investing, I hope you can make it.

Below are further details regarding the event from the Global Partnerships’ website:

WHAT: Global Partnerships Social Investor Forum

WHEN: Tuesday, June 8, 7:30-9:00 a.m. (Registration and breakfast at 7:00 a.m.)

WHERE: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th Street, Bellevue, Washington

With $39 million in capital at work, Global Partnerships has a 15-year track record of investing in Latin American microfinance.

Attend our inaugural Social Investor Forum on Tuesday, June 8 and learn about investment opportunities that generate both social and financial returns. Gain a deeper understanding of GP’s investment strategies and partner organizations, and ask questions of President & CEO Rick Beckett and board leadership, including Board President Dean Allen, CEO of the McKinstry Co.

This event is designed primarily for current investors and donors to GP but is open to the public. There is no cost to attend.

Space is limited! Register online to reserve your spot, or call 206.652.8748.

Last night I went to the Seattle Town Hall where Muhammad Yunus was speaking with a couple of my friends who had never heard him speak.  I’ve seen Yunus speak before when he was here two years ago, but it is always great to hear him speak.  This time, it was a little different because he is touring and promoting his new book Building Social Business:

“In this book, Yunus shows how social business has gone from being a theory to an inspiring practice, adopted by leading corporations, entrepreneurs, and social activists across Asia, South America, Europe and the US. He demonstrates how social business transforms lives; offers practical guidance for those who want to create social businesses of their own; explains how public and corporate policies must adapt to make room for the social business model; and shows why social business holds the potential to redeem the failed promise of free-market enterprise.”

He discussed how Grameen has three branches within New York City, how microcredit is working in the US, and how he would love NY to have zero pawnshops, which was an interesting way of thinking about alleviated poverty.  One thing that I thought was cool was during the Q&A session, someone asked about future plans and how he plans to expand Grameen, and who he will try to reach out to and partner with.  Dr Yunus said that he does not reach out to people, they reach out to him.  All of the people who want to do Social Business with Yunus/Grameen or develop a partnership all reach out to him for advice on how to get started (i.e. Danon).  Social Business, which is quickly showing up on peoples’ radars, is proving itself to work, so bigger corporations are reaching out to people within microfinance to figure out how to build a sustainable social business model.  Dr Yunus is a great speaker as always, and if he is heading through your town, I would definitely recommend going to see him.

In the month of May, Seattle is the place to be for microfinance!  Earlier this week, Vittana celebrated its first birthday and had a great turnout.  It was busy, but not packed, which was perfect because I was able to get plenty of face time with the good people at Vittana. Coming up in the next couple of weeks, there are three microfinance events that are sure to be great:

Careers in Microfinance Panel Discussion and Reception
Where: Kane Hall 120, UW
When: Tuesday, May 25,7:30-9:00PM
Price:  $10, $5 for students

This event will feature panelists from the Grameen Foundation, Vittana, Global Partnerships, and Washington CASH who will share insights on how they entered the field of microfinance, challenges they encountered, successes they’ve enjoyed, and recommendations that they have for those interested in the field.
Register Here

Muhammad Yunus: Business with a Conscience
Where: Seattle Town Hall
When: Sunday May 23rd 7:30-9:00pm
Price: $5

Microcredit pioneer Muhammad Yunus, winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize (along with the Grameen Bank, which he founded) has developed a new approach to capitalism: social business. Yunus, author of Building Social Business, says social business will create self-supporting enterprises that generate economic growth even as they produce goods and services that make the world a better place. Presented by the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with University Book Store. Series media sponsorship provided by Publicola. Series supported by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust and the RealNetworks Foundation.
Buy tickets

Ignacio Mas of the Gates Foundation on Branchless Banking
Where: Frye Gallery
When: Tuesday, June 8th 7:00-9:00pm

Ignacio Mas is Deputy Director in the Financial Services for the Poor program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Ignacio has been a Senior Adviser in the Technology Program at CGAP, Vice President of Marketing and Account Management at interTouch, Director of Global Business Strategy at Vodafone Group, and Senior Manager responsible for telecoms investments in Europe at Intel Capital. Ignacio has been a Visiting Professor of International Business at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. He holds undergraduate degrees in mathematics and economics from MIT and a PhD in economics from Harvard University.

For more info on any of the events, visit SeaMO

A little while ago Vittana hit a milestone of $100k in loans.  Tomorrow, on 5/18, they hit another milestone: they are turning one!  Come help Vittana celebrate by coming to the party this Tuesday at the Spitfire in Seattle.

When: Tuesday, May 18; 6-10 p.m.

Where: Spitfire, 2219 4th Ave., Seattle, WA

RSVP here

About Vittana
“We believe in the power of education to change circumstances forever and in its ability to help young people take charge of their lives.

Vittana is a different kind of organization. Our founders, board of directors, staff and supporting organizations are drawn from some of the best technology companies, non-profit organizations and design and law firms in the world. We’re drawing upon the best lessons from the business and non-profit worlds to help create lasting change for students around the world. Learn more about our mission and how it all comes together.”

With the success of the 2009 summit in London, the Hanson Wade Microinsurance Summit 2010 is going to be going on May 26-27 in Miami, Florida.
At this years summit, you’ll be able to:

• Understand the shape and direction this market is heading towards, and what you must do to capitilize on MI business opportunities in developing economies
• Learn about innovative distribution practices to lower your costs and increase outreach
• Educate low income clients on risk management to improve your market penetration rate
• Devise demand driven and affordable products to best meet your clients’ needs and expectations
• Comprehend the role of regulation and supervision in creating, enabling and facilitating the development of MI, and what you must do to be compliant
• Establish how to strengthen your IT infrastructure and specialized service providers for the microinsurance market

With the Microinsurance market still under-served, there is an opportunity to reach a large number of customers in developing markets.  This years challenge is to determine how to “Scale up and distribute more products to more people while maintaining profitability.” Attend this years summit to discuss relevant topics in microinsurance with experts from leading global insurers and reinsurers, MFIs, aid agencies, NGO, development banks, and international and regional regulatory bodies.  This years speakers include:

• Peter Braumüller, Chair, Executive Committee, International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS); Managing Director, Insurance and Pensions, Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA)
• Brandon Mathews, Head of Emerging Consumer MicroInsurance, Zurich Financial
• António Cássio dos Santos, President and CEO, Mapfre Brasil
• Nikhil da Victoria Lobo, Vice President – Public Sector Business, Swiss RE
• Alesia Rodriguez Pardo, Member of the Working Group, FIDES-BID-FOMIN Project, Executive President, CAMARASEG-Cámara de Aseguradores de Venezuela
• José Cucalón De Ycaza, Executive President, Seguros Porvenir; President, Camara de Compañias de Seguros del Ecuador
• Felipe Botero, VP Technology & Operations, Metlife
• Pompy Sridhar, Product Head, Financial Inclusion Solution Group, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company
• Eugenio Velasques, Executive Director and Head of Microinsurance Programs, Bradesco Seguros e Previdencia BSP Affinity
• Rodolfo Francisco Ern, Head of New Business Technology, Bradesco Auto/Re Cia. de Seguros
• Mahmood Sultan, Senior General Manager, Adamjee Insurance
• Bradley Williams, Chief Operating Officer, MicroEnsure
• Aidan Pope, Chief Executive Officer, Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Operations, Guy Carpenter & Company LLC
• Iddo Dror, Director of Operations, Micro Insurance Academy (MIA)
• Maria Victoria Saenz-Samper, Senior Operations Specialist, FOMIN-Fondo Multilateral de Inversiones, IDB-Inter-American Development Bank
• Mariana Torres de Urquidi, Head of Microinsurance Business, Banco Compartamos
• Anna Gincherman, Director of Formalization & New Product Development, Women’s World Banking
• David Piesse, Chairman of Asia Pacific Operations, Unirisx
• Shivon A. Zilis, IBM Corporate Financial Inclusion Initiative, IBM Global Business Services
• Weimin Dong, Founder and Chief Risk Officer, RMS-Risk Management Solutions