Trickle up.

Regular readers know I'm a big fan of microloans. But if you're at the base of the pyramid, living on $1-2 per day, a loan just won't cut it. That's where Trickle Up comes in.

Trickle Up supports microenterprise through business training and seed capital grants in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Loans are usually about $100, and recipients must participate in classes on business planning and development, finance and more. "The typical Trickle Up entrepreneur is a woman under 40 years of age who is responsible for raising children and paying for their schooling." They helped launched 11,141 businesses in 1007 and improved tens of thousands of lives in the process. You can meet some of the Trickle Up entrepreneurs.

Trickle Up has been around for almost 30 years and look at their results:

* 9 of 10 Trickle Up businesses continue after the first year.
* 7 of 10 microentrepreneurs increase their family's food intake.
* 5 of 10 are able to send more children to school.
* 5 of 10 are able to buy better clothing for their families.
* Women lead 85% of Trickle Up businesses.
* People with disabilites account for about 10% of the people Trickle Up serves.

Because the total loan amounts are so small, you'll know your donation will have a huge impact on a family. Ready to donate? You'll narrow the base of the pyramid when you do!

"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions." - Naguib Mahfouz