Starting February 22, Whole Foods Market will launch its annual Prosperity Campaign to raise funds for its giving arm, Whole Planet Foundation. Whole Planet works to alleviate poverty by funding microcredit in communities across the globe. Grameen America is honored and proud to be the domestic partner of Whole Planet. Professor Yunus urges companies to shift their business principles from mere profit to include social good… Meet Whole Foods. Whole Foods Market’s commitment demonstrates that suppliers, vendors, employees and customers together are empowering entrepreneurs in the US. Whole Planet has pledged $250K towards every new Grameen America branch—essential seed money in our quest to alleviate domestic poverty.

Even neater, Whole Foods employees, “Team Members,” are raising funds to empower their own neighbors! As microfinance grows worldwide, the sphere of impact becomes ever more localized.

Support your neighbors with a trip to a Whole Foods near you!

Read Whole Planet's Blog Post

               This week’s Mocha Monday spotlight’s Acumen Fund. Acumen Fund mission is to create a world beyond poverty by investing in social enterprises, emerging leaders, and breakthrough ideas. Convinced that neither charity not the marketplace alone is the answer, Acumen Fund advocates for “patient capital”—philanthropic capital for social and financial returns. 

One exciting Acumen Project is the “Gulu Agricultural Development Company”.   Why Gulu? Gulu, Uganda has suffered a brutal civil war for the past three decades and peaceful reconciliation is only beginning to take root.  Acumen Fund –in partnership with Root Capital—funded a cotton ginning company to revive Gulu’s cotton sector. Check out the photo essay slideshow, here!

This week’s Mocha Monday spotlight’s Echoing Green. Echoing Green accelerates social change by investing in social entrepreneurs who work to solve social, environmental, economic, and political inequities. Through Echoing Green’s innovative approach, all individuals are given access to reach their potential. 

Check out the 2011 Fellows and see which project speaks to you. Our pick—Equal Opportunity Schools. Addressing the education gap which develops from academic tracking, EOS ensures all students are enrolled in classes of appropriate academic rigor.