Fonkoze Timeline
1994
Fr. Joseph Philippe and 32 grassroots leaders draw up the official papers to launch Fonkoze.
1995
Fonkoze (Fondasyon Kole Zepòl / “Shoulder-to-Shoulder Foundation”) is officially recognized as a foundation under Haitian law.
1996
Fonkoze convenes a conference in Miami to bring together micro-credit practitioners, Haitian-Americans, and Haiti advocates to shape the launch—and to figure out sustainable financing.
Fall 1996
From those early discussions, Fonkoze USA is conceived to support the mission through fundraising, awareness, and technical assistance.
January 1997
Fonkoze USA holds its founding board meeting.
1998
Fonkoze opens its first 15 branches and begins pairing micro-lending with development programs like literacy and business skills training.
1998–2000
Fueled by donated and invested funds, Fonkoze (in Haiti) and Fonkoze USA experience major growth—expanding reach and capacity nationwide.
End of 2000
Fonkoze is empowering tens of thousands of people across Haiti.
2000–2003
Fonkoze becomes widely known in Haiti’s microfinance sector and earns an international reputation for rural microfinance services.
December 2003
Fonkoze is selected as one of five institutions to receive CGAP’s Pro-Poor Innovation Award (from a pool of 300 applicants).
Mid-2000s
The “Fonkoze movement” evolves into three organizations—Fonkoze Foundation, Fonkoze Financial Services (SFF), and Fonkoze USA—working together under one mission to eliminate poverty in Haiti.
2007 (date added for clarity)
Fonkoze Foundation launches Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM / Pathway to a Better Life) to support families in ultra-poverty using the Graduation approach.
Today
Fonkoze reaches 200,000+ participants across its Staircase Out of Poverty programs—and its health program Boutik Sante has benefited 1,000,000+ households in rural Haiti.
Who We Are
Fonkoze (The Foundation) was created 28 years ago to bring financial inclusion and development services to Haiti’s poor – providing them a viable way to lift themselves out of poverty. Today, we are a family of 3 organizations – Fonkoze Financial Services (SFF), Fonkoze Foundation and Fonkoze USA – that work together to empower Haitians, primarily women, to lift their families out of poverty. For more about who we are, click here.
What We Do
Fonkoze knows that poverty’s many challenges are interconnected, and the solutions are as well. Our financial services and accompanying development programs are built to address the various levels and complexities of poverty in order to help our clients break the inter-generational cycle of poverty. For more about our what we do, click here.
Our Impact
Everything we do – from our financial services, business skills training and literacy classes to our ultra-poverty program (CLM) and innovative health program (Boutik Sante) – is driven by one core purpose: to provide the poor in Haiti ACCESS to the tools, resources and support needed to lift themselves out of poverty. Fonkoze’s programs and services have been proven effective in their approach to alleviating poverty – long term – and are all designed to meet individuals wherever they are in their journey out of poverty. See our impact by the numbers here.
Fonkoze knows that poverty’s many challenges are interconnected, and the solutions are as well. Our financial services and accompanying development programs are built to address the various levels and complexities of poverty in order to help our clients break the inter-generational cycle of poverty.
For more about our what we do, click here.
Everything we do – from our financial services, business skills training and literacy classes to our ultra-poverty program (CLM) and innovative health program (Boutik Sante) – is driven by one core purpose: to provide the poor in Haiti ACCESS to the tools, resources and support needed to lift themselves out of poverty.
Fonkoze’s programs and services have been proven effective in their approach to alleviating poverty – long term – and are all designed to meet individuals wherever they are in their journey out of poverty. See our impact by the numbers here.
What We Do
We provide financial and development services to empower Haitians – primarily women – to lift their families out of poverty. Learn More
Why Fonkoze?
For 28 years, our comprehensive approaches to allieviating poverty in Haiti have been proven effective year after year. Our programs and services are designed to meet individuals wherever they are on their journey out of poverty. Learn More
Your Impact
Your support by way of donations, spreading the word and more, allows us to continue providing Haiti’s most vulnerable the opportunities and support needed to rise out of poverty. Take Action