Hope International (Christian microfinance)

HOPE International is a Christian faith-based nonprofit organization based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that equips individuals living in poverty with savings and microfinance services. HOPE International now operates in over 20 underserved countries and has assisted over 3 million people with small loans and savings services since it began operations in 1997.

History
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Jeff Rutt and the Pennsylvania-based church he attended partnered with a church in Ukraine. After hearing from the Ukrainian community that handouts were actually damaging local initiative and industry, and upon looking into different forms of development aid, Rutt initiated a microfinance program to empower Ukrainians. The program was successful, and in 1997, Rutt established HOPE International.

After further work in Ukraine, the organization began looking for opportunities to expand its operations into other countries where a need for such services had been identified. In 2004, Peter K. Greer became HOPE's president after spending several years at various microfinance organizations and attending graduate school at Harvard University (Kennedy School of Government).

Homes for HOPE
Homes for HOPE, an affiliate program of HOPE International, was established in 1998 by Jeff Rutt. Through Homes for HOPE, home builders and trade partners are able to build benefit homes on a pro bono basis. To date, the organization has raised more than $10,000,000 in support of HOPE International, and has completed projects in 23 states in the United States, as well as in Alberta, Canada. In 2008, Jeff Rutt was awarded the Hearthstone Builder Humanitarian Award for his humanitarian efforts.

Approach to poverty alleviation
The organization operates through one of two models.

Savings groups
The first model is the savings group program. Savings groups operate on rotating savings and credit association (ROSCA) or accumulating savings and credit association (ASCA) models, most typically formed by a group of 10 to 20 individuals who meet regularly to make savings deposits into a common fund. Clients regularly save money to stabilize household income, provide a safety net in emergencies, start or expand businesses, or pay for household expenses such as school fees. Many groups also allow savers to take out loans as well as accumulate savings.

In addition to saving together, group members meet to connect, offer mutual support, and pray and worship together.

Microfinance institutions
HOPE’s second model is microfinance institutions. This approach involves a group of 10-50 entrepreneurs who together receive loans from HOPE International or its local partner. Each loan recipient cross-guarantees the loans of other group members since there is no form of collateral to offer for the loan. Accountability to the group provides an incentive to make regular loan repayments.

In certain HOPE-network countries, entrepreneurs can qualify for individual loans, typically for higher loan amounts than those in the group model. Clients may graduate from receiving group loans once they have proven creditworthiness, or they may qualify from the start due to their financial situation, business success, or credit history.

Tracking outcomes
HOPE tracks impact across four domains: material, personal, social, and spiritual. In 2014, they formed a Listening, Monitoring, and Evaluation (LM&E) team to better understand the impact of their services.

In a survey conducted in Malawi in 2019, where HOPE has worked since 2013, they learned that 81% of savings group members surveyed reported being able to meet a significant financial emergency need within one month, compared to 37% of the broader Malawian population as reported by the World Bank in The Global FINDEX Database 2017.

In 2023, HOPE partnered with a third party, 60 Decibels, to measure the impact of Urwego Finance, HOPE's microfinance institution in Rwanda. Some findings from the 500 entrepreneurs who participated in the survey facilitated by 60 Decibels are as follows:


 * Three in five surveyed entrepreneurs accessed a loan for the first time.
 * 47% of surveyed entrepreneurs said their business earnings have "very much increased." In this measure of impact, Urwego ranks in the top 20% of all MFIs surveyed by 60 Decibels.
 * 97% of surveyed entrepreneurs said their quality of life had improved, with many mentioning their ability to cover expenses and buy assets.
 * 80% of surveyed entrepreneurs said the number and quality of their family's meals increased.
 * Before joining Urwego, entrepreneurs who were surveyed employed, on average, three employees. After working with Urwego, they employed an average of seven employees.

Financial accountability
HOPE International’s work is funded through individual donors, churches, foundations, businesses, and Homes for HOPE. From 2017-2023, approximately 98% of loans in the HOPE network were repaid. HOPE-network loan recipients repay loans with interest, and investments remain in their local microfinance institution, stimulating the local economy and allowing for continued loan distribution.

Charity Navigator has awarded HOPE International its highest four-star rating for 17 consecutive years (2006-2023), and as of July 2024, HOPE earned a score of 100% in accountability and transparency and an overall rating of 99%.

HOPE International also has a philanthropic dividend policy. As HOPE-led microfinance institutions become sustainable, they are committed to giving away 10% of their profits to support local Christ-centered ministries serving children and youth.

Countries in which HOPE International operates / Partner organizations

 * Benin: Savings group program established in 2023
 * Burundi: Turame Community Finance partnership established in 2008 and transitioned to HOPE-managed in 2016; HOPE savings group program launched in 2012; savings group program partnership established with Compassion International in 2018
 * Dominican Republic: Esperanza International partnership established in 2005 and transitioned to HOPE-managed in 2023
 * Ethiopia: Savings group partnership established with Ethiopian Guenet Church Development and Welfare Organization and Meserete Kristos Church in 2023
 * El Salvador: Savings group partnership established with Compassion International in 2023 and ENLACE in 2021
 * Guatemala: Savings group partnership established with 410 Bridge in 2023
 * Haiti: Savings group program established in 2009
 * Indonesia: Savings group program partnership established with Compassion International in 2019
 * Kenya: Small and Micro Enterprise Program (SMEP) Microfinance Bank partnership established and transitioned to HOPE-managed in 2023 ; savings group program partnerships established with Compassion International in 2019, with Untold in 2019, and with 410 Bridge in 2022
 * Malawi: Savings group program established in 2013
 * Moldova: Microfinance partnership established with Invest-Credit in 2005
 * Paraguay: Diaconía partnership established in 2018
 * Peru: Comas Christian & Missionary Alliance Church partnership established in 2011
 * Philippines: Center for Community Transformation (CCT) partnership established in 2007
 * Republic of Congo: Microfinance program established in 2010
 * Romania: Microfinance partnership established with ROMCOM in 2007
 * Rwanda: Urwego Finance partnership established in 2005 and transitioned to HOPE-managed in 2016; HOPE savings program established in 2007; savings group program partnership established with Compassion International in 2019
 * Tanzania: HOPE savings group program established in 2022; savings group program partnerships established with the Anglican Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2019 and with Compassion International in 2019
 * Thailand: Savings group program partnership established with Compassion International in 2018
 * Ukraine: Microfinance program established in 1997; savings group program established in 2017
 * Uganda: Savings group program partnership established with Seed Effect in 2021
 * South Asia: Savings group program partnerships established in 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2023 (country names withheld for security reasons)
 * Zambia: Savings group program established in 2015
 * Zimbabwe: Savings group program partnership established in 2011; transitioned to HOPE-managed in 2017

Governance
HOPE International has a 14-member board of trustees chaired by Jeff Rutt. Peter Greer was appointed as president of the organization in 2004 after working abroad with various microfinance organizations and graduating from Harvard Kennedy School. Greer heads HOPE International’s executive council. Program directors also oversee the organization’s work from within its countries of operation.