Most microfinance organizations focus on huge loans or short-term aid — but Tom Eggert’s WorldWise Microfinance is flipping the script. Starting with just $3,000, they’ve issued over $600,000 in revolving loans that change lives for just a fraction of what typical aid costs — often less than the price of dinner. How? By empowering local partners in six countries to fund small businesses, often supporting women, in a way that’s sustainable, dignified, and truly impactful. In this eye-opening episode, Tom shares the evolution of a nonprofit built on the belief that real change happens when people take responsibility for their own futures.
About Worldwise Microfinance
WorldWise Microfinance is a Madison, Wisconsin–based nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and their families to break the cycle of extreme poverty through accessible, affordable, locally based microloans. These loans help individuals lift their families from poverty by starting and running small businesses. What started as a class project at UW-Madison now has loan programs in the Philippines, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, and has funded over $500,000 in loans.
For more information about WorldWise Microfinance and its ongoing work, visit www.worldwisemicrofinance.org.