Root Capital

I've recently discovered yet another awesome organization doing good things. Root Capital, based in Cambridge, MA, works "to pioneer finance for grassroots businesses that build sustainable livelihoods and transform rural communities in poor, environmentally vulnerable places."  Their primary focus is in Latin America, and as they are a growing, ten year young company, they are expanding their efforts in Africa as well.  This particular organization is attractive because they employ medium-sized ($25,000-$1 million) loans to help further sustainable development of business enterprises and they identify both the loan recipient (sustainable coffee production is a popular sector) and the purchaser (Starbucks is a partner).  My personal interest rests in Root Capital's impact assessment.  This organization performs social, economic, and environmental impact assessments using three strategies: "Social Value Metrics collected at the borrower enterprise level; Key Performance Indicators to communicate Root Capital's organizational effectiveness; and household-level Impact Assessment." These approaches, combined with the use of survey research and involvement at the individual level, make for a business model unlike any I have found.  And on top of all that, Root Capital is a non-profit lender with a 99% repayment rate.