The NEO Fund was launched in 2008 after its founders took a hard look at earlier efforts to serve families in poverty and chose to build a stronger, more practical approach. That commitment shaped a microlending program that now serves borrowers in Nicaragua, Guatemala, and India.

Our mission is to expand new opportunity for women with very limited income by making small-business loans accessible to them and their families.

The neighborhoods we work in are marked by severe economic pressure. Most of our borrowers are mothers, and many are raising children on their own while trying to keep a household afloat.

Our work goes beyond providing capital because lasting results require more than funding alone. That is why we offer free business training and one-on-one coaching for women — from shaping a workable business plan to managing inventory, setting prices, and preparing for growth. With those tools, women are better positioned to build income, strengthen their businesses, and improve daily life for themselves and their children.