Lumana in the Press

Bolstering Microfinance with Education and Strong Partnerships

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During their time in New York City for the Microfinance and Sustainable Development conference, Cole Hoover and Sammie Rayner of the Lumana team got the pleasure of meeting Rob Katz, a managing editor at NextBillion who is also a part of the team at the Acumen Fund and moderated our panel called "Models that work". After getting to know Rob, he immediately put Lumana in touch with one of the NextBillion writers, Kevin Keeper, who wrote this article. We hope you will read and share it with others who are interested in learning about microfinance and sustainable development.

Small loans, big impact

A month in Africa can change the course of your life. At least it has for Samantha Rayner, who came to the UW Foster School of Business with ideas of fashion design and is now the executive director of Lumana Credit....

Samantha Rayner and Lumana Credit change lives in rural Ghana

ImageAs financial superheroes go, Samantha Rayner (BA 2009) is pretty mild-mannered. And Lumana Credit, the micro-lending organization she founded last year with Foster School classmates, goes about its life-changing work without much fanfare.

Lumana Credit - Sustainable Gifts That Work

ImageLumana Credit, a Seattle based microcredit organization is calling it a “Gift That Works”. Through the whole month of December they are asking you to give a gift on behalf of someone special in your life that will have an impact that extends far beyond the holiday season. Your gift will quickly be put to work helping female entrepreneurs in rural Ghana. Lumana’s mission is to empower these women with micro loans and business education classes so that they can work to lift themselves out of poverty. These micro loans will build stronger communities in the rural world through empowering under served populations with the necessary tools for successful entrepreneurship.

Support Seattle Microfinance Startups with Your Holiday Giving

ImageIn the early stages of a nonprofit, your choice to give is not based on a track record or a proven idea. It’s based on a belief in the people behind it. This holiday season, three local microfinance nonprofit startups are offering gift opportunities–and the people behind these nonprofits are the most compelling reason to give.

Lumana Credit Gift Drive: Give Hope for the Holidays

ImageLumana Credit is working to raise funds to expand its microfinance program in Ghana. Give the gift of a micro loan on behalf of a friend, family member, or colleague, and they will receive a traditional, personalized Ghanaian Kente card expressing their gift of hope given to a woman in need.

Micro Lender, Macro Impact

ImageLots of students are inspired by campus speakers. Some are even motivated.

...from Seattle to Africa

Image"Seattle is a great community for microfinance," Rayner says. Seattle-based nonprofit Village Volunteers, which supports community projects in rural Africa and Asia, helped her make connections in Ghana. Rayner spent two months there last year teaching business and providing loans to 30 clients from a $3,000 fund she raised privately. One example of the difference Lumana loans are making: A juice seller is now able to purchase purified water instead of using unclean well water.

Young Social Entrepreneurs Launch Lumana Credit

ImageAccording to U.S. News & World Report columnist Kimberly Palmer, many young idealists are starting nonprofits. Oftentimes, they are "disillusioned by the bureaucracy of large, established organizations." They want to make a difference in their own way and don't think that lack of experience should keep them from doing something good.

What job search? UW graduates launch a non-profit instead

ImageThe Business of Giving
Exploring philanthropy, non-profits and socially motivated business, from the Gates Foundation to your donation. A fresh look at the economy of good intentions.