Empowering Women Through Microloans: Our Journey in Andhra Pradesh

In 2019, we partnered with KISES, a grassroots nonprofit in Andhra Pradesh, to pilot a microloan initiative in three underserved villages near Vijayawada, India. Our goal: to explore how small loans, delivered through community-based support networks, could spark long-term economic change.

We began by working with three self-help groups—tight-knit collectives of ten women each, united by the shared goal of improving their lives through mutual support and entrepreneurship. With funding from the Palmer Foundation, we provided each woman with a $150 microloan to launch or grow an income-generating activity.

The results have been inspiring.

What started with 30 women has now expanded tenfold. Today, our program supports 300 women across 10 self-help groups. Over six years, our dedicated local team has facilitated over 2,000 loans totaling $300,000, along with ongoing mentorship and training. These are not donations—they're investments in women who repay their loans and reinvest in their families and communities.

The impact is clear: stronger local economies, improved family nutrition, greater financial stability, and a growing sense of hope and self-determination among borrowers.

Building on this success, we’re excited to announce the formation of NEO Fund India—a dedicated legal entity focused on expanding our microlending work across the region. Our mission remains the same: to support resilient, resourceful women in creating a better future for themselves and their children.