GBF began as an initiative of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which piloted grassroots business investments and field-tested capacity-building approaches.
GBF split from IFC and became an independent non-profit which continued investing in – and providing advisory services to – high-impact businesses in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
GBF further evolved its model by establishing a $49M for-profit private investment fund, GBI-I, for patient capital investment, and raising additional funds for the non-profit arm, GBP, to be used for business advisory services to the fund’s portfolio companies. Together the fund and non-profit make up GBF and provide powerful financial tools and business acumen to help strengthen and grow viable businesses that create lasting impact for low income people around the world.
Each year, GBF’s agribusiness investees support over32,000 farmers & workers and generate $25m in income & cost-savings.
Each year, GBF’s artisanal investees support almost 41,000 artisans and generate $9.3m in income and cost-savings.
