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What is Whole Planet Foundation?
Our Mission
Whole Planet Foundation’s mission is poverty alleviation through microcredit in communities worldwide that
supply Whole Foods Market stores with products. Whole Foods Market covers all of Whole Planet Foundation’s
operating costs so 100% of every contribution goes directly toward helping people lift themselves out of poverty.
How We Started
In 2005, Whole Planet Foundation was born out of Whole Foods Market’s desire to give something back to those who
have helped us succeed while focusing on the persistent problem of world poverty and hunger. The Foundation was
formed with the entrepreneurial spirit of Whole Foods Market in partnership with Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus
and The Grameen Bank.
Microcredit, in the simplest terms, is a small loan. These microloans are usually less than $300 in the developing
world and require no contract or collateral and are offered to the poorest of the poor to create or expand a homebased business. The average first loan size supported by Whole Planet Foundation in the developing world is
currently $177, and this small amount of money allows entrepreneurs to buy product in bulk, rent a storefront or
purchase equipment – all methods to reduce costs, increase productivity and ultimately profit to lift themselves out
of poverty. At Whole Planet Foundation, we don’t believe in giving people handouts, but rather a hand up.
Who We Support
We work with the very poor in communities around the world where Whole Foods Market sources products. Whole
Foods Market sources from about 100 different countries, many of them where people are living in abject poverty.
So if Whole Foods Market sources bananas from Costa Rica, Whole Planet Foundation is able to fund microfinance
institutions in Costa Rica. These microloans aren’t going to the farmers who sell bananas to Whole Foods Market –
they are given to mostly women who use the money to expand their small, home-based business. Typical incomegenerating businesses include weaving, growing crops, raising chickens, owning a small restaurant or operating a
food cart. Microcredit clients utilize their strengths and the resources available to them to start their businesses so
typical businesses can vary greatly.
Microfinance Partners
Whole Planet Foundation partners with several different microfinance institutions (MFIs) around the world. The
Whole Planet Foundation Programs Team spends a great deal of time and effort researching potential MFI partners.
We support pro-poor (rather than pro-profit) MFIs that closely follow the Grameen method of microcredit banking.
Once a microfinance institution has been thoroughly evaluated and approved, Whole Planet Foundation can start
providing the MFI with a grant to be used specifically for microcredit client’s loans rather than the MFIs
administrative costs. This way, we know that 100% of every contribution is going directly to a microcredit client to
grow or expand his or her business.
So you might be thinking “if the process to find these suitable microfinance institutions is so time consuming, why
doesn’t Whole Planet Foundation just give the loans out themselves”. Well, the easiest answer is that each of our
projects is very unique. We encounter so many different cultures, customs, languages, currencies, laws and much
Whole Planet Foundation 2013-2014 Student Outreach Toolkit
more that we could never begin to fully understand what it is like to be an impoverished woman in each country.
This understanding of the community is extremely important in microcredit banking because there is a great deal of
trust involved in every transaction. Many microcredit clients have never actually touched money until they receive
their first loan and since the banking is done in the client’s home rather than a traditional bank, a sense of trust is
essential.
The Whole Planet Foundation team includes Field Managers* who live and work in the field to visit and assess each
project to ensure that the microfinance institutions are operating with continuing to operate with a like-minded
mission.
*to learn more about the life of a Whole Planet Foundation Field Manager, check out their blog:
www.dispatchfromthefield.tumblr.com
Small Change for Big Change
3.8 billion people live on less than $2 a day. Access to microcredit offers a chance for families to lift themselves out
of poverty because we believe in a hand up, not a hand out. The current average first-loan size in the developing
world is $177 and $1500 in the United States. Did you know that in some countries, the first-loan can be as small as
$26? With microcredit, loans are repaid and reloaned over and over again; in this system, the money stays in the
community and helps another entrepreneur grow their own business to eventually break the cycle of poverty.
The best example of Small Change for Big Change is Team Member Giving. So far, Whole Foods Market Team
Members have donated over $5 million through their paychecks, which is equivalent to 29,800 microloans
empowering more than 176,000 individuals to lift themselves out of poverty! Currently, about 32% of Whole Foods
Market Team Members donate to Whole Planet Foundation through their paychecks and this small contribution
really adds up to an incredible impact!
As of November 2013, Whole Planet Foundation supports 330,272 microcredit clients in 59 countries in Latin
America, Africa, Asia and the United States. Whole Planet Foundation is supporting entrepreneurs in the US through
Grameen America in New York, NY, Indianapolis, IN, Omaha, NE, Charlotte, NC, Los Angeles, CA, Oakland, CA, Austin,
TX, Boston, MA and Puerto Rico.
Whole Planet Foundation focuses primarily on women entrepreneurs because women tend to be the poorest of the
poor in these communities and typically put the money they earn back into the family in the form of nutrition,
education, welfare, etc. Over 88% of microcredit clients are women which in turn, help break the cycle of poverty for
their families, an estimated 1,951,000 people total.
Where We Work
Whole Planet Foundation works in 58 countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the United States.
Latin America
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Africa
Burkina Faso
Whole Planet Foundation 2013-2014 Student Outreach Toolkit
Burundi
Ethiopia
Ghana
Ivory Coast (Cote
D’Ivoire)
Kenya
Madagascar
Malawi
Morocco
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Tanzania
The Democratic
Republic of the Congo
Tunisia
Uganda
Asia
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Cambodia
China
East Timor
Fiji
India
Indonesia
Israel
Laos
Mongolia
Nepal
Pakistan
Palestinian Authority
Philippines
Samoa
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Tonga
Turkey
Vietnam
United States
Bay Area-Oakland,
California
Brooklyn, New York
Charlotte, North
Carolina
Indianapolis, Indiana
Los Angeles, California
Omaha, Nebraska
Queens, New York
*to learn more about the specific regions where Whole Planet Foundation is working within each country, you can
visit www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/where-we-work
The Annual Prosperity Campaign
Each year throughout February and March, Whole Planet Foundation celebrates the annual Prosperity Campaign in
Whole Foods Market stores. The Campaign aims to raise money for poverty alleviation efforts while educating and
engaging customers in the store and the community. Last year, $6.2 million was raised by Whole Foods Market Team
Members, customers, suppliers and individual donors. Whole Foods Market customers contributed over $5 million at
the registers in 2013!
For the 2014 Prosperity Campaign, Whole Planet Foundation has set a goal of raising $6.5 million between February
19th and March 31st. You have the ability to create a personalized online fundraising page any time during the year
through Whole Planet Foundation’s Raise a Loan to Change Lives initiative. Browse through others’ donation pages
or start your own here: http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/get-involved/create-a-campaign/
Whole Planet Foundation Initiatives
Poverty is Unnecessary Day
On October 25th, 2005, Whole Planet Foundation was seeded with $550,000 raised during a global 5% Community
Giving Day in Whole Foods Market. We celebrate this day in several Whole Foods Market stores as Poverty is
Unnecessary Day (and Whole Planet Foundation’s birthday) and recognize our supplier partners who donate $25,000
to support Whole Planet Foundation and the communities where we work.
Annual Calendar Program
Each year, Whole Planet Foundation releases a calendar to sell in Whole Foods Market stores around the country.
Thanks to supplier sponsors, 100% of calendar proceeds are donated to Whole Planet Foundation for poverty
alleviation in communities worldwide where Whole Foods sources products. The 2014 Calendar retails for $4,
includes over $40 in coupon savings from suppliers and features inspiring entrepreneurs from around the globe.
Calendar funds empower entrepreneurs with a microcredit loan and the opportunity to create or expand a homebased business and lift themselves and their families out of poverty.
Whole Planet Foundation 2013-2014 Student Outreach Toolkit
This year, we hope to raise $250,000, reaching over 8,100 people and giving them the opportunity to better their
own lives.
Raise your GPA: Global Poverty Awareness
GPA was created in 2012 to complement Whole Planet Foundation’s mission of lending a hand up to over a million
impoverished people. This initiative encourages students to be agents for change to facilitate global poverty
alleviation. Students are a passionate, hard working and enthusiastic group ideal for collaborative education and
awareness efforts. We believe that in your lifetime, you will see the end of poverty. That is our mission, and
engaging students like you is an integral piece of the puzzle.
This GPA campaign is not about fundraising but rather about student engagement, education, awareness and
fostering globally conscious individuals who will go on to do amazing things and make pro-poor decisions throughout
their life.
Quarterly E-Newsletter
Sign up and receive the latest Whole Planet Foundation news about poverty alleviation worldwide in communities
where Whole Foods Market sources products. You can witness microcredit client success stories, see where we work,
watch videos from the field and learn about our partners in microcredit. You can also read through the newsletter
archives here: www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/newsroom/newsletters/
Musicians for Microcredit
Musicians for Microcredit™ is an initiative started by Whole Planet Foundation in 2011 as a way to engage the music
community and its fans to raise awareness and funds. From digital album and track downloads to in-store
performances and benefit concerts, we seek to partner with like-minded musicians and organizations to empower
women around the world to change their own lives.
Supplier Partners
Whole Planet Foundation is proud to have partnered with more than 400 suppliers to empower impoverished
families in communities that supply Whole Foods Market stores with products. Whole Foods Market supplier
supporters have contributed more than $5.1 million to date to support microlending projects through Whole Planet
Foundation.
Supplier Alliance for Microcredit
The Supplier Alliance for Microcredit (SAM) is an alliance of like-minded companies planting seeds of prosperity
around the globe. Each supplier’s annual $50,000 donation provides funding for microcredit projects worldwide.
Whole Planet Foundation is proud to recognize the following 2014 Supplier Alliance members for their generous
contribution to our mission of poverty alleviation around the globe:
 Alaffia
 Hint
 Sambazon
 Allegro Coffee Company
 IZZE
 Seventh Generation
 BlueAvocado
 PACT
 Tea’s Tea/Ito En
 Frontier Co-op
 Rescue Remedy
 Traditional Medicinals
(Nelson’s)
 Garden of Life
 Whole Foods Market
 Rishi Tea
 Hain Celestial
You can learn more about this year’s partners and see members from previous years here:
www.wholeplanetfoundation.com/partners/supplier/
Whole Planet Foundation 2013-2014 Student Outreach Toolkit
Poverty is Unnecessary Fund
Whole Planet Foundation's Poverty is Unnecessary Fund provides expansion funds for new microlending projects
through a $25,000 annual donation. One dollar can make a difference in the life of an impoverished entrepreneur,
and $25,000 can change the lives of nearly 150 impoverished families for generations! The 2014 Poverty is
Unnecessary Fund partners include:
 Café Spice
 Mrs. Meyer’s
 Steaz
 Genji Sushi
 Nature’s Path
 Vita Coco
 LÄRABAR
 Stacy’s Pita Chips
You can learn more about this year’s partners and see members from previous years here:
http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.com/cp/poverty-is-unnecessary
Ten Thousand Dollar Fund
Whole Planet Foundation's Ten Thousand Dollar Fund provides expansion funds for new microlending projects
through a $10,000 annual donation. The 2014 Ten Thousand Dollar Fund partners include:
 ACURE
 Cedar’s
 ONEHope Win
 Alexia Foods
 Chavez for Charity
 Saffron Road
 Be Green Packaging
 Guayaki
 The Republic of Tea
 Bob’s Red Mill
 Late July Organic Snacks
 Tom’s of Maine
 Cava Mezze Foods
 O.N.E. Coconut Water
 Weleda
You can learn more about this year’s partners and see members from previous years here:
http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.com/cp/ten-thousand-dollar
Microloan a Month Fund
The Microloan a Month Fund enables ongoing monthly donations in the amount of Whole Planet Foundation’s
average loan size, currently $177. The 2014 Microloan a Month Fund partners include:
 Bear Pond Farm
 Hail Merry
 Mamma Chia
 Better Life
 Homemade Harvey
 Spindrift
 Green Shoots
 Irwin Naturals
 Teatulia
Distribution
 Justin’s
 GreenShield Organic
 Long Tail Products
You can learn more about this year’s partners and see members from previous years here:
http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/cp/microloan-a-month
Scanback Program
Through the Scanback Program, vendors can donate a portion of product sales in Whole Foods Market stores to
Whole Planet Foundation. Whole Planet Foundation can custom tailor a program to meet the suppliers’ needs,
whether they’re a small local vendor with a limited budget or a larger national vendor with more to allocate. Since
Whole Planet Foundation's inception, more than 200 suppliers have enjoyed participation in this program.
You can check out this month’s featured scanbacks and hundreds of vendors that Whole Planet Foundation has
partnered with in this program here: http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/cp/scanback
Whole Planet Foundation 2013-2014 Student Outreach Toolkit
Watch and Learn
There are tons of resources online to learn even more about microcredit and Whole Planet Foundation! Here are a
few recommendations to get you started:
Whole Planet Foundation Overview
Learn about microcredit, entrepreneurs, poverty alleviation and how Whole Foods Market got its start:
http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/videos/?1FgVPPLsm2M
*this video is also available in Spanish here: http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/videos/?SiQGGRt9iTc
Giving Opportunity in Costa Rica
Get an inside look at the amazing women of Whole Planet Foundation’s partner Pro Mujer:
http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/videos/?Z4zEDBW59iE
Liberation Soup
Meet Fonkoze microcredit clients and learn about a cool Haitian New Years tradition:
http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/videos/?kylAdLQ4SCk
Giving Opportunity in the US through Grameen America
Check out what microlending looks like in America: http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/videos/?F6MQewJaIjc
Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteer Program
Learn about how Whole Foods Market Team Members are teaming up with Whole Planet Foundation to make a
difference in the global community: http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/videos/?t7ypKjO43-k
Whole Foods Market Team Member Giving
Did you know that Whole Foods Market Team Members have contributed over $5 million to Whole Planet
Foundation through their paychecks? Check it out: http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/videos/?i4V3BJI7Ubg
Pennies a Day
See how microcredit has helped millions of women in Bangladesh escape the cycle of poverty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veaVikY3u98
Living on One documentary
Learn about how Whole Planet Foundation’s top online donor got their start living on less than $1 a day:
http://livingonone.org/film.html
You can check out the entire Whole Planet Foundation video library here:
http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/newsroom/videos
Recommended Reading List
Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus
Take a journey with Muhammad Yunus, the father of microcredit, to dive into the origins of microlending in this
inspiring read with a story-telling flair.
Whole Planet Foundation 2013-2014 Student Outreach Toolkit
Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey and Raj Sisodia
John Mackey, Whole Foods Market’s co-founder and Co-CEO, along with Raj Sisodia, a business professor and cofounder of the Conscious Capitalism Institute, address the concepts of combining consciousness with capitalism.
View the entire Whole Planet Foundation Recommended Reading List here:
http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/root-causes-of-poverty/
Don’t know where to start? Check out tons of book reviews that Whole Planet Foundation Team Members have
written to find your next great read.
Stay Connected!
We always want to know what’s going on with you and how you’re bringing Whole Planet Foundation to your
community! Please keep in touch with the Whole Planet Foundation team through social media and online
engagement!
Website: www.wholeplanetfoundation.org
Email: graduatefrompoverty@wholefoods.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wholeplanetfoundation
Twitter: @wholeplanet
Instagram: @wholeplanet
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/wholefoods/whole-planet-foundation/
Blog: www.dispatchfromthefield.tumblr.com
If you have questions specific to this toolkit or Whole Planet Foundation’s Student Outreach Program, please contact
alyssa.manse@wholefoods.com.