Empowering Women Through Microloans in Andhra Pradesh

Our India work began in 2019 through a partnership with KISES, a grassroots nonprofit serving villages near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. Together, we launched a pilot lending program in three underserved communities. The purpose was simple: test whether modest loans, supported through trusted community networks, could help create lasting economic progress.

We started with three self-help groups, each made up of ten women committed to mutual support, savings, and small-business growth. With funding from the Palmer Foundation, each woman received a $150 microloan to begin or expand an income-producing activity.

The program has grown steadily.

What began with 30 women now reaches 300 women across 10 self-help groups. Over six years, our local team has facilitated more than 2,000 loans totaling roughly $300,000 while also providing continued mentoring and training. These loans are meant to circulate, helping women invest in their work, repay responsibly, and continue building stronger households and communities.

The results can be seen in stronger household income, better food security, improved financial resilience, and growing confidence among borrowers.

Building on that momentum, we established NEO Fund India—a dedicated legal entity created to support the continued expansion of our microlending work in the region. Our focus has not changed: support resilient women as they build greater security and opportunity for themselves and for the next generation.