Capital Sisters International, a nonprofit connecting impoverished women in developing countries who need tiny business loans with investors willing to provide them, won the Impact Pitch event at the International Women’s Forum Conference held in Denver, September 23 - 25, 2021.
IWF Colorado hosted the conference in Denver for members of the global International Women’s Forum comprised of approximately 7,000 women leaders from 33 countries, to discuss innovation, new ideas, and breakthroughs in health, water, energy, technology and funding.
“We were pleased and honored to bring IWF members into Colorado from around the U.S. and world, and we are grateful to the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) for its support in facilitating attendee appreciation of our state and its compelling sites. As leaders in their respective industries, the attendees were grateful for the opportunity to gain important knowledge for their leadership into the future, and to be able to do so in-person,” shared Becky Takeda-Tinker, President of IWF Colorado.
The closing event, an Interactive Impact Pitch session, sponsored by the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) and hosted by CTEK, provided the opportunity for nonprofits organizations that empower women and/or girls to present their project or idea. Conference attendees voted on their favorite pitch which received a $10,000 cash award to implement their project or idea.
Capital Sisters International headquartered in Golden, CO, finances $100 business loans for women in developing countries. They created the first woman’s bond in the world so that the general public can finance micro businesses and then get their money back. According to Patricia Foley Hinnen, the Founding CEO, the $10,000 grant will be leveraged to raise $40,000 in investment capital, oversee the 400 micro loans financed by the bonds, and subsidize training for the borrowers through their nonprofit field partners around the world. To date, they have financed 100,000 micro loans in 25 developing countries. In addition to its Investment Program, Capital Sisters also has an Advocacy Program that raises awareness about the need for more enabling public policy on financial inclusion for women.
“It was an honor to be able to support this event and we are thrilled that Capital Sisters International is the award recipient,” said Jill Corbin, Deputy Director of Destination Stewardship for the CTO. “The event supported both our tourism and hotel industries and supports women in developing countries, something we can all agree is important. We look forward to seeing where Capital Sisters International goes from here.”