Skip to Content

About Us

Bankers without Borders® is Grameen Foundation's global volunteer initiative, connecting private individuals and companies with microfinance institutions and other organizations serving the poor. Bankers without Borders is an international reserve of professionals who contribute their time and skills to fight poverty by supporting microfinance and technology for poor people around the world. From human resources to marketing, from cash management to telecommunications, Bankers without Borders gives volunteers a chance to use their professional expertise where needs and returns are greatest. Whether working on-site or remotely, whether consulting or training, members of Bankers without Borders help increase the scale, sustainability, and impact of the programs that Grameen Foundation supports.

Resources:

We Serve
mfis

Microfinance Institutions & Networks

By providing small loans to create self-sustaining businesses, microfinance institutions (MFIs) are improving the lives of more than 150 million poor people around the world. Yet MFIs often lack access to the knowledge, skills, and people that they need to improve their organization and their services. Bankers without Borders® provides a cost-effective way to fill that gap, helping MFIs and other organizations serving the poor identify their needs, define projects, and expand their services to the poor.

 volunteers

Individual volunteers

Whether your skills are in accounting or graphics, software or public relations, whether you prefer an opportunity in the US, something virtual, or an engagement in a developing country, YOU can help the world's poorest people escape poverty while simultaneously enhancing your own professional skills and network.

 corporate-partners

Corporate Partners

Companies, Professional Associations, and Higher Education Bankers without Borders® provides a turn-key approach for companies, professional associations, and educational institutions to spur poverty-fighting initiatives in developing markets. We leverage the unique individual and organizational talents of our corporate partners to help them achieve their public service objectives. Individual participants and corporate team members enhance their professional skills and experience while helping the world's poorest citizens achieve sustainable livelihoods.

Mission & Purpose

Inspired by the microfinance concept pioneered by Grameen Bank, Grameen Foundation was created in 1997 to grow the microfinance sector. By providing business and technological resources to Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), we have accelerated their battle with global poverty. Similarly, Grameen Foundation created Bankers without Borders to strategically harness the intellectual capital of the private sector through skills-based volunteer engagements. For the purpose of increasing the scale, sustainability, and impact of microfinance and technology solutions that enable the poor to create a world without poverty.

Bankers without Borders®:

  • Provides a framework to efficiently mobilize individuals and the private sector
  • Builds the business and technological capacity of MFIs around the world helping them expand their services to the poor
  • Leverages the expertise of professionals in a variety of technical, financial, and business skills
  • Increases volunteerism in the global battle to break the cycle of poverty

Our Values

  • We seek to empower the world’s poor, especially the poorest women
  • We hold ourselves and our partners accountable for transparency and measurable results, including social and financial performance
  • We champion innovation that makes a difference in the lives of the poor
  • We first seek to form partnerships with those who can advance our mission before acting alone
  • We respect, invest in and promote local social entrepreneurs and local ownership and,
  • We honor the voice, professionalism and integrity of our staff and volunteers