Project Description

The SME financing gap is estimated to be upwards of $5.2T (FDIC, World Bank). Social impact fund NESsT is closing the gap, deploying over $160M in capital to SMEs in Latin America and Eastern Europe, including Sustainable Fishery Trade (right) the first social enterprise dedicated to just and sustainable trade for small and medium-sized fisheries in Lima, Peru. After joining NESsT’s portfolio, fishers received 30-50% higher income with the collective.

Goal

My goal on the development team was to execute compelling proposals by highlighting success stories in our portfolio such as SFT, to raise fresh and follow-on funding for social entrepreneurs.

Approach

Speak with founders across Latin America to uncover their stories.
Reach out to stakeholders at funding institutions to learn best practices.
Set up a multi-media campaign including email, social media, and blog.
Diligent follow-on reporting to increase chances for future support.

Outcome

Secured funding through a blended finance approach equal to over $1M. This combined grants from USAID, the IKEA Foundation, and private donors, with multiple donors committing to multi-year investments.