Envest Microfinance

Envest Microfinance Established in 2006, Envest Microfinance Cooperative is a Wisconsin – based impact investment fund manager.

We provide financing to local microfinance institutions that generate social and environmental benefits in 10+ countries. Envest was founded by Jon Bishop in 2006 with the intention of creating a source of financing for very small microfinance institutions (Tier 3 MFIs) as well as a tool for investors to merge their financial portfolios and their philanthropic goals. While many see capital markets

, profit, and good business at odds with human welfare, dignity, and respect for others, we at Envest believe that you can be a capitalist, an environmentalist, and a compassionate human being all at the same time

Over the past year, Envest Microfinance partnered with 24 microfinance institutions across 12 countries to deliver meani...
03/31/2026

Over the past year, Envest Microfinance partnered with 24 microfinance institutions across 12 countries to deliver meaningful impact. In 2025, our partner MFIs expanded their outreach to underserved populations, with notable increases in both female and rural borrowers compared to the previous year. The share of female clients rose from 56% to 61%, while rural clients grew from 62% to 69%, reflecting progress in reaching groups that typically face significant barriers to accessing credit. This would not have been possible without our incredible investors who see a return on capital while contributing to a meaningful impact.

We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Latha Bhaskara as our newest board member! Over the past two years Latha has been...
03/17/2026

We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Latha Bhaskara as our newest board member! Over the past two years Latha has been a valued advisor to Envest Microfinance, bringing together her deep passion for microfinance and her investment expertise to drive meaningful impact. “I enjoy sharing insights from my experience to support Envest Microfinance’s incredible mission.” Get to know Latha by clicking the link in the first comment.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day this week, we want to share the stories of three Ugandan women whose husbands ...
03/12/2026

As we celebrate International Women’s Day this week, we want to share the stories of three Ugandan women whose husbands played a key role in helping them overcome significant economic challenges. Molly's husband (pictured here) offered his banana plantation as collateral to secure a loan for sewing machines, allowing her tailoring business to grow. Edith’s husband, Caleb, works alongside her in her fishing business and is a proud, active supporter of her success. Loni invested profits from his quarry to help his wife, Patience, open her own beauty salon. These stories written by Jon Bishop and Annette Ecila Nexa shine a light on husbands who are modeling a kind of partnership that deserves recognition. See link to stories in comments.

When we extended financing to our partner Kigarama Farmers SACCO, one of the loans supported Masheruka Modern, a governm...
12/11/2025

When we extended financing to our partner Kigarama Farmers SACCO, one of the loans supported Masheruka Modern, a government primary school in southwestern Uganda. The school used the funds to construct a new dormitory, drill a water well, install a pump, and add a water purification system. These improvements enabled the school to welcome more students who travel long distances to study, increasing enrollment from 800 to 1,076. None of this would be possible without Envest Microfinance investors who advance human dignity and sustainable economies.

Vilmas Sono is a 25-year-old fruit and vegetable vendor based in Piura, Peru. We met her during a visit to the local mar...
11/13/2025

Vilmas Sono is a 25-year-old fruit and vegetable vendor based in Piura, Peru. We met her during a visit to the local market arranged by a loan officer from our partner Cooperativa Santa Isabel. Quiet and reserved, Vilmas originally comes from a small mountain community in the Piura region. She began selling in the market four and a half years ago to support her growing family. “The best part is that I can have my kids with me while I’m working,” she says with a shy smile. Read Vilmas' story by clicking the link in comments.

This summer Elizabeth Rodriguez, our director of lending, had the opportunity to spend a few days in Piura, Peru for an ...
10/21/2025

This summer Elizabeth Rodriguez, our director of lending, had the opportunity to spend a few days in Piura, Peru for an in-person due diligence visit with Cooperativa Santa Isabel. "Santa Isabel stood out to me immediately for its strong community impact. About 95% of Santa Isabel’s borrowers are women with an average loan size of only $230. I was impressed with its commitment to empowering women, promoting healthcare, and offering workshops that help members build income-generating skills". See link to full article in comments.

We’re excited to introduce our newest partner RDF, a Ugandan microfinance institution with an extraordinary mission. Ove...
08/26/2025

We’re excited to introduce our newest partner RDF, a Ugandan microfinance institution with an extraordinary mission. Over 80% of RDF clients are women and its portfolio is 100% rural. This unusually high rate of rural women is achieved through intentional outreach and the development of group loans. Group loans are particularly effective for women in rural Uganda, as the group structure serves as a form of collateral, something these women typically lack. RDF has demonstrated strong financial performance, and plans to use the much-needed funding from Envest Microfinance to scale its green energy product that was launched in February 2025, and to introduce a new loan product for water tanks and irrigation solutions. To read more see the link in comments.

This is Bernardo Antonio Echeverría, a 24-year-old entrepreneur and client of our partner OPORTUN in El Salvador. Bernar...
08/12/2025

This is Bernardo Antonio Echeverría, a 24-year-old entrepreneur and client of our partner OPORTUN in El Salvador. Bernardo owns a small business in San Miguel that specializes in polarized window tinting and decorative services for cars and motorcycles. Window tinting is environmentally friendly, helping to improve energy efficiency by lowering the need for air conditioning. When we met him earlier this year, Bernardo had been running the business for five years thanks to a loan from OPORTUN, his first formal lender. “It is very difficult for young people to get credit from local banks,” he shared. Bernardo runs the business with his brother and values being his own boss. His reputation has earned him contracts with housing communities to tint all their windows, a turning point that significantly boosted his business. Today, Bernardo has an active loan of $1,600 with OPORTUN and has maintained a perfect repayment record. He dreams of expanding and opening a second shop in the near future. A new investment could help many entrepreneurs like Bernardo launch or grow a businesses. Contact us to learn about investment opportunities.

We're thrilled to expand into a brand-new market, El Salvador. Earlier this year our colleague Elizabeth Rodriguez visit...
07/24/2025

We're thrilled to expand into a brand-new market, El Salvador. Earlier this year our colleague Elizabeth Rodriguez visited a microfinance institution called OPOPRTUN in El Triunfo. She recalls that in this region the majority of residents do not have a bank account. Additionally, 80% of small business owners are unable to secure credit from traditional banks. The new partnership with Envest Microfinance will allow OPORTUN to expand its financial products, including small loans with monthly, weekly, or daily repayment schedules that meet the unique needs of its clients. To read more see the link in comments.

Last year Envest Microfinance has worked with 22 microfinance institutions in 12 countries to make a difference. We thin...
06/17/2025

Last year Envest Microfinance has worked with 22 microfinance institutions in 12 countries to make a difference. We think of impact as bringing positive changes in the lives of people who now have access to finance that can help their community and the environment. For example, our partner Asociacion Arariwa in Peru serves over 70% female clients who typically encounter significant obstacles to accessing credit. In Nicaragua, most of Pana Pana’s borrowers are Indigenous, while RUFI provides essential financial services to South Sudanese war refugees living in Uganda. For many of our partner MFIs, Envest is their first connection to international lending. None of this would be possible without our incredible investors who see a return on capital while contributing to a meaningful impact.

Download our 2024 Annual Report to see how we’re expanding access to for those traditionally excluded. This past year ...
06/05/2025

Download our 2024 Annual Report to see how we’re expanding access to for those traditionally excluded. This past year marked a major milestone as we expanded our team and deepened our investment portfolio. We broadened our global reach by forming four new partnerships with institutions in Uganda, Kenya, Peru, and Rwanda.

03/27/2025

Have you ever wondered what microfinance borrowers pay for their loans? It is common for microfinance investors to be concerned with the interest rates charged to end borrowers and the potential for predatory lending. With Envest Microfinance’s 19-year track record in lending to microfinance institutions, we attempt to provide context for understanding microfinance interest rates and to evaluate whether they are justified. We invite you to read our recently published "Understanding Microfinance Interest Rates" paper by Laura Dreese and Jon Bishop - see link in comments.

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621 N. Sherman Avenue , Ste. B11
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