Grameen Foundation
Microfinance access and digital financial tools for people living in extreme poverty
Our editorial assessment
Grameen Foundation carries the legacy of Muhammad Yunus's Nobel Prize-winning insight: that very poor people — particularly women — are creditworthy, and that access to small loans can catalyse economic transformation. The Foundation has evolved beyond traditional microfinance into digital financial services and mobile banking, recognising that financial inclusion increasingly runs through smartphones. Their impact across Africa, Asia, and Latin America has reached over 10 million borrowers through partner institutions. The microfinance model has faced legitimate criticism regarding interest rates and over-indebtedness in some contexts, but Grameen's focus on responsible lending practices and community savings groups represents the model at its best.
The problem they're solving
Over 1.4 billion adults worldwide lack access to basic financial services. Without a bank account, savings mechanism, or access to credit, escaping poverty is nearly impossible. Grameen's work in digital financial inclusion addresses this fundamental barrier.
About Grameen Foundation
Grameen Foundation builds on the Nobel Prize-winning microfinance model pioneered by Muhammad Yunus.
Where your dollar goes
How this score was produced
The GiveWise score is our own editorial assessment, produced with a weighted rubric covering program spending, transparency and governance, evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and leadership. It draws on publicly available reports from independent evaluators such as GiveWell, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch, but it is not a rating issued or endorsed by any of those organisations. Read the full methodology →