Daily Archives: 12/10/2009

(Community Matters) Dean Lisa Sevron conducts research and writes extensively on microenterprise development organizations (MDO), which are a type of community development finance institution (CDFI).  PeopleFund isn’t a microfinance organization; most domestic microfinance orgs average $9k, with loans up to $30k.  We *are* a microenterprise lender, however.  We focus a bit higher on the food chain, average loans of $70kish, ranging up to $250k.  Most of our borrower’s have some proven cash flow and some collateral, though not enough of either for tradtional bank financing.  Nevertheless, our borrowers pay us back (95%+) and we generate over 70% of our operating budget from earned income.

Lisa talked about the Five Myths of MDOs:

1. We’re done when we make the loan
2. Microbusinesses grow up to be big businesses
3. It’s all about credit
4. US and lesser developed country microlending is the same
5. Success = new business starts

Carol Thompson & Sylvia Stern  (Silverton’s Andy White in the background)

Five Greatest Challenges:

1. Fragmentation
2. Insufficient data
3. Lack of accreditation & regulation
4. Narrow product lines
5. Inconsistent  & unreliable funding streams

PF staff along the wall: Margo Weisz (ED), Barbra Boeta, Eric Scott, Ayleen Perez, Brad White & Tanya Ladha

Lisa’s four recommendations:

1. Restructure the field
2. Innovate
3. Standardize
4. Accreditation & standards

(Community Matters) I’m going to kill them.

I love love love this airline – we rarely travel with anyone else.  We’re both a bit irrationally driven to achieve gold or platinum elite status every year so we’re likely to be upgraded everytime we fly, and we nearly always are.  And, Now . . . a new level of platinum, President’s Platinum Elite.  hmm, an even higher tier with higher priority in upgrades.  Regrettably, this one based on spend rather than miles or segments – $30k minimum in 2010.  Completely conflicts with our even more irrational fun in finding the lowest rates whenever (and almost always) we fly.  I’m NOT even tempted.  I’m not Babe, I promise!