Outside the U.S.

http://www.acumenfund.org

Acumen Fund is a global non-profit venture fund which aims to serve the 4 billion people in the world who live on less than $4 a day. Acumen Fund was incorporated in 2001, with seed capital from the Rockefeller Foundation, Cisco Systems Foundation and three individual philanthropists. Areas of concentration so far have been investments in health technology, water systems, housing, and finance. Read more about Acumen Fund...

Ashoka: Innovators for the Public

http://www.ashoka.org

Ashoka identifies and invests in leading social entrepreneurs - extraordinary individuals with unprecedented ideas for change in their communities - and supports the individual, idea and institution through all phases of development. Thus far, over 1,700 Ashoka Fellows have been elected in over 53 countries and are working on projects related to the environment, education and learning, health, human rights, civic participation and economic development. Read more about Ashoka: Innovators for the Public...

Confederación Nacional Cooperativa de Actividades Diversas de la República Mexicana (Mexico; note that site is in Spanish only)

http://www.confe-coop.org.mx/

Founded in 1998, the Confederación Nacional Cooperativa de Actividades Diversas de la República Mexicana is a voluntary, collaborative effort by unions and cooperative federations to establish programs and initiatives that are mutually beneficial. In this leadership role, the Confederación strives to consolidate and strengthen the Mexican Cooperative Movement and improve the quality of life of those involved in cooperatives. Read more about Confederación Nacional Cooperativa de Actividades Diversas de la República Mexicana (Mexico; note that site is in Spanish only)...

European Federation of Employee Shared Ownership (EFES)

http://www.efesonline.org/

The European Federation of Employee Shared Ownership, EFES, is an umbrella organization for employee owners, companies and all persons, trade unions, experts, researchers, institutions looking to promote employee ownership in Europe. EFES’ website provides resources, best practices, tools, and discussion forums on all things employee ownership not only in Europe, but across the globe.

Institute for Development Evaluation, Assistance and Solutions (IDEAS)

http://www.ideasnet.org

Founded in 1975, the IDEAS mission is to contribute to the sustainable economic development of poor and moderate income people. This is done primarily by providing services to microfinance institutions (MFIs) and other organizations that provide financial products and non-financial services. Read more about Institute for Development Evaluation, Assistance and Solutions (IDEAS)...

International Co-operative Alliance

http://www.ica.coop

The International Co-operative Alliance is the peak association that represents over 800 million members of cooperatives worldwide. Read more about International Co-operative Alliance...

International Labour Organization

http://www.ilo.org

The International Labour Organization, a UN-organization headquartered in Geneva, maintains extensive information on this site about labor practices worldwide, including sections on cooperatives and community development (“social”) finance. Read more about International Labour Organization...

International Organisation of Industrial, Artisanal, and Service Producers' Co-operatives (CICOPA)

http://www.cicopa.coop

CICOPA is the international federation of worker cooperatives, representing worker co-ops in 39 countries. Its web site includes links to its member federations throughout the world. Read more about International Organisation of Industrial, Artisanal, and Service Producers' Co-operatives (CICOPA)...

Living Knowledge, The International Science Shop Network

http://www.livingknowledge.org

The concept of the “science shop” originated in the Lowlands. Similar to university community partnership centers in the United States, science shops are organizations created as mediators between citizen groups (trade unions, pressure groups, non-profit organizations, social groups, environmentalists, consumers, residents association, etc.) and research institutions (universities, independent research facilities). The website contains papers from international conferences, back issues of the Living Knowledge journal, and back issues of the science shop network's bimonthly newsletter. Read more about Living Knowledge, The International Science Shop Network...

National Cooperative Business Association, “CLUSA International Program”

http://www.ncba.coop/ncba-clusa/home

The Cooperative League of the USA (CLUSA) is the international arm of the National Cooperative Business Association, which provides technical assistance to develop cooperatives internationally. Since 1953, CLUSA has managed over 200 projects in 53 countries and has performed over 1,000 short-term consultancies in 79 countries. Read more about National Cooperative Business Association, “CLUSA International Program”...

New Philanthropy Capital (London, England, United Kingdom)

http://www.thinknpc.org/

Through a combination of independent research, tools and consulting advice, New Philanthropy Capital provides a variety of services to funders, charities, and professional advisors to help them have a more significant impact in their fields. Launched in 2002 by former Goldman Sachs staff, NPC works within the United Kingdom and internationally to help improve the coordination and capacity of both funders and charities. Read more about New Philanthropy Capital (London, England, United Kingdom)...

Opportunities Without Borders

http://www.owob.org

Founded in 2006 as a result of experiences abroad by Colorado State business students, Opportunities Without Borders has aimed to leverage universities around the world focused on social entrepreneurship to provide on the ground assistance and education to micro-enterprises around the world on how to expand their sales and operational capability. Student teams partner with local organizations, university faculty, industry mentors, NGOs, and potential investors to assist micro-businesses to assess market opportunities. Read more about Opportunities Without Borders...

Root Capital

http://www.rootcapital.org

Targeting small grassroots businesses - those that tend to be deemed too risky by banks and too large for microfinance - Root Capital is working to create a new lending model that fills in this missing link and addresses this market failure. To date, Root Capital has provided financial training and $100 million in credit to 210 grassroots enterprises in 30 countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia with a 99% repayment rate. Read more about Root Capital...

The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor

http://www.cgap.org

CGAP, founded in 1995, is a consortium of 28 public and private development agencies working together to expand access to financial services for the poor in developing countries. The web site includes a wide variety of publications and on-line resources about international microfinance issues and trends. Read more about The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor...

The Working World

http://www.theworkingworld.org

The Working World is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that was established to support the growth of worker cooperatives in Argentina. Since 2004, the organization has made 73 "micro" loans and disbursed a total of more than $500,000 in loan financing (1.65 million Argentine pesos) to support the operations of dozens of Argentine worker cooperatives. Read more about The Working World...

U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council

http://www.ocdc.coop/index.html

OCDC is a coalition of eight cooperative development organizations that use successful American-based cooperative strategies to assist low-income areas in developing nations. These members use their knowledge and resources in numerous long-term projects in over 70 countries worldwide to bring about economic growth and peace in conflict-affected states. Read more about U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council...

United Nations Development Programme

http://www.undp.org

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 166 countries and is helping support global and national efforts to reach the international Millennium Development Goal of cutting the world's rate of poverty in half by 2015. Read more about United Nations Development Programme...

United Nations, International Year of Microcredit 2005

http://www.yearofmicrocredit.org

The international growth of micro-credit finance has been so great that the United Nations has declared 2005 to be the International Year of Microcredit. The web site includes articles on microfinance, lists of additional suggested books and data sources, and links to international development organizations. Read more about United Nations, International Year of Microcredit 2005...

Wagemark

https://www.wagemark.org/

Inspired by the late management expert Peter F. Drucker’s analysis of the corrosive effects of wage inequality, Wagemark is an international wage certification for organizations that are committed to ensuring that the wage ratio between the total earnings of their highest paid employee and the average of the lowest decile of employees is no greater than 8 to 1. Organizations can register online (for a minimal fee that supports research on building a more equitable society). Obtaining a Wagemark certification demonstrates an organization’s commitment to fair wages and to operating a healthy business with transparent practices that promote long-term, sustainable growth that benefits everyone.

Women's World Banking

http://www.womensworldbanking.org

The Women's World Banking network aims to have a major impact on expanding the economic assets, participation and power of low income women as entrepreneurs and economic agents by opening their access to finance, knowledge and markets. Their web site includes information about the program, publications, and contact information for national affiliate members. Read more about Women's World Banking...

World Council of Credit Unions

http://www.woccu.org

The World Council of Credit Unions is a representative organization for credit unions around the world. Through publications, meetings, and technical assistance, WCCU works to extend credit unions as viable tools of economic development. Read more about World Council of Credit Unions...

Confederación Nacional Cooperativa de Actividades Diversas de la República Mexicana (Mexico; note that site is in Spanish only)

http://www.confe-coop.org.mx/

European Federation of Employee Shared Ownership (EFES)

http://www.efesonline.org/

The European Federation of Employee Shared Ownership, EFES, is an umbrella organization for employee owners, companies and all persons, trade unions, experts, researchers, institutions looking to promote employee ownership in Europe. EFES’ website provides resources, best practices, tools, and discussion forums on all things employee ownership not only in Europe, but across the globe.

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