Root Capital

Root Capital is a nonprofit organization operating in poor rural areas of Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. According to its website, Root Capital "seeks to maximize the positive social and environmental impact of [its] work through a three-pronged strategy: finance, advise, and catalyze."[3]

Root Capital
Founded1999
FounderWilliam Fulbright Foote
TypeNonprofit
Location
  • Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
  • 130 Bishop Allen Drive, 2nd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States, Phone: (617) 661 5792
Area served
Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia[1]
Key people
  • William Fulbright Foote (founder, CEO)
  • Peter Bernard (Chief Operating Officer)
  • Jared Chase (Chief Financial Officer)
  • Catherine Gill (EVP of Investor Relations & Communications)
  • Brian Milder (EVP of Strategy, Advisory & Innovation)
[2]
Websiterootcapital.org

Operations

Root Capital claims to follow a three-step approach towards making a positive impact in the poor rural areas of Africa and Latin America where it operates. The three steps are:[3]

  • Finance: This involves making loans to rural small and growing businesses, including both short-term and long-term loans.
  • Advise: This involves delivering financial training to current and prospective clients.
  • Catalyze: This involves innovating on their own methodology to increase their own impact.

According to its impact page,[4] Root Capital has disbursed US$1.1 billion between 1999 and 2017 and reached 5.7 million household members in rural communities.

Root Capital is one of several money managers to pursue a gender lens investing strategy.[5]

Funding

Root Capital seeks funding from both individual donors and foundations. Foundations that have funded Root capital include Mulago Foundation,[6] Jasmine Social Investments,[7] and Peery Foundation.[8]

External reviews

Charity Navigator had given Root Capital a four-star rating (its highest possible) continuously beginning in 2005, but downgraded their rating to three stars on December 1, 2019.[9]

Charity evaluator GiveWell had a conversation with the CEO of Root Capital in September 2011,[10] and planned to publish a detailed review of Root Capital in 2013,[11] however GiveWell's review of Root Capital was still not complete as of November 2019.

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References
  1. "About Us". Root Capital. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  2. "Our Team". Root Capital. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  3. "Our Approach". Root Capital. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  4. "Impact Dashboard". Root Capital. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  5. Sullivan, Paul (August 14, 2015). "With an Eye to Impact, Investing Through a 'Gender Lens'". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  6. "Root Capital". Mulago Foundation. Archived from the original on 2013-07-26. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  7. "Who We Fund". Jasmine Social Investments. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  8. "Partners". Peery Foundation. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  9. "Charity Navigator - Historical Ratings for Root Capital". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  10. "Conversation with Root Capital". GiveWell. 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  11. "Root Capital". GiveWell. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
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