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Founded in 1999 by Willy Foote, Root Capital is a non-profit social investment fund that grows rural prosperity in poor, environmentally vulnerable places in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia by lending capital to small and growing agricultural businesses.

Root Capital expands access to finance for enterprises whose credit needs are too big for microfinance and risky for commercial banks. They pair this credit with customized training in financial management, governance, and agronomic capacity. In addition, the firm provides a variety of loan products. To date, Root Capital has lent $1.6 billion to over 750 enterprises reaching 2.4 million farm families (over 10 million people) and provided training to more than 1,625 enterprises. In partnership with agricultural enterprises, they increase rural livelihoods, create jobs for young people, level the playing field for women, and help farmers adapt to climate change in some of the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems.

A unique lending approach:

Root Capital uses Kiva financing to offer short-term loans to younger agricultural businesses or cooperatives in Nicaragua and Perú, whose credit needs fall below the current Root Capital loan size guideline.