Kiva conducts regular, ongoing monitoring of all Lending Partners, but only posts status updates here in response to relevant, major changes at the partner.

Status update — November 5, 2018

Kiva has moved this Lending Partner to inactive status, which means VisionFund Mexico is no longer fundraising loans on Kiva, though Kiva fully expects the partner to continue to send repayments owed to Kiva lenders for as long as the partner has an outstanding balance. VisionFund Mexico has stopped posting 2 years ago and they're currently in the process of re-evaluating their Kiva strategy. If and when this partner requests to fundraise again on Kiva, Kiva will first conduct any additional monitoring and due diligence tasks we believe necessary.

 Partner Description:

VisionFund Mexico has over 15 years of experience operating a variety of microcredit programs and other services that incubate and develop microenterprises located in rural and semi-urban regions and communities in 12 Mexican states.

The organization’s mission is to offer financial and non-financial services to families that do not have access to formal banking services and to improve their quality of life. Its target market consists of men and women who have the willingness and ability to repay, who run small businesses or wish to start one, and who need small loans to establish sustainable incomes.

Through group loans, VisionFund Mexico supports productive economic activities in trade, industry, services, agriculture and livestock. This includes the making of traditional sweets, handicrafts (clay objects and figures), textiles (weaving), traditional foods like tortillas, baking and more.

The organization adapts to the needs of its market through:

Communal Banks (Bancos Comunales): Loans granted to groups of 8 to 30 people who cross-guarantee each other’s loans. This system makes it possible for the poorest entrepreneurs to obtain credit. Weekly meetings of group members with VisionFund Mexico loan officers ensure accountability and support, and build business skills. Loans typically range from US$50 to $500.

Solidarity Groups (Grupos Solidarios): Loans granted to groups of 4 to 10 people and designed for more experienced entrepreneurs with larger enterprises who guarantee each other’s loans. Members who make repayments on time become eligible for larger individual loans within VisionFund Mexico. Loan sizes range from US$300 to $800.

Entrepreneurial Families (Familias Emprendadoras): Loans that are granted to at most 8 members from the same family for a joint economic project or various individual ones, with the ultimate goal to strengthen the union of the family.

Individual Loans: Loans awarded to borrowers with good credit history, a successful micro-business and a long relationship with VisionFund Mexico.

Collateral Loans: Loans given to clients to buy school supplies for their children.

VisionFund Mexico provides numerous innovative nonfinancial services to its micro-clients. These include classes in money management, business and marketing. Fish farmers are trained in how to best raise fish. Micro-entrepreneurs are taught how to turn ideas into formal business plans. And a number of beekeeping families have been taught to produce and market honey -- as well as sell it internationally at fair market prices with VisionFund Mexico’s help and training. Future projects include a re-forestation initiative in the state of Veracruz, with borrowers receiving training and trees to plant.

VisionFund Mexico is a reliable and formally-established organization committed to the development and wellbeing of our clients. 

Status Update - November 13, 2012

Fundación Realidad (FRAC) recently transferred its microfinance portfolio and operations to VisionFund Mexico, a new lending institution established in 2012. FRAC and VisionFund Mexico are sister organizations under the World Vision umbrella, and FRAC will continue to function as a provider of non-financial services to complement VisionFund Mexico's lending operations. 

VisionFund International is the microfinance subsidiary of World Vision. In 1993, World Vision began to implement microfinance programming through the creation and development of microfinance institutions (MFIs) to benefit the economically active poor in countries where it had existing programming. In 2003, World Vision established VisionFund International to oversee and manage this network of affiliated MFIs.

VisionFund International is a nonprofit organization that owns the for-profit entity VisionFund Mexico. While this shift represents a change in legal status, VisionFund Mexico will continue to serve the same populations and pursue the same social mission as FRAC.