Five Decades of Financially Empowering Struggling Communities around the World.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1970s: IDEAS worked in empowerment of community leaders to make socio-economic changes
A group of development specialists and socially conscious educators were invited by leaders of underserved and disinvested communities. Operating under the original name of Southern Neighborhood Networks that would become IDEAS, they organized neighborhoods, created health and community centers, assisted small businesses, and created institutions in Atlanta, Georgia. They tested new approaches in education, socio-economic development and enterprise, working with partners. IDEAS began working regionally with rural and urban organizations in eight states in southeastern US. It quickly became known for its innovative work so were invited to be leaders in national organizations.
1980s: Building Innovative US Organizations and starting work in Latin America
- Expanded Education & Training: Delivering leadership development, regional financial literacy, and practical business workshops.
- Promoted Economic Development in the region: Providing innovative training and technical assistance to local and regional organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises development.
- Regional Networking: Developing and managing the Tennessee Network for Community Economic Development. Collaborated with others to lay groundwork for many initiatives.
- Began international work: Starting in 1986 in Nicaragua, it trained local enterprises, women’s groups and cooperative development. It began training team members who later worked with IDEAS in other countries.
1990s: Developing Financial Institutions and Our Outreach
- Created the first microfinance institution in Latin America fully funded by social investments: IDEAS created a financial institution that lent from $100 to $500,000. Leveraged funds to help found a bank. Provided significant funding to coffee cooperatives, other financial institutions, and innovative social enterprises.
- Founded a fund to channel investments from social investors to provide impact capital to microfinance institutions: The WCCN fund continues to lend to microfinance institutions in six Latin American countries during 35 years.
- IDEAS extended its technical assistance services in Latin America and the US. The Nicaraguan and El Salvadoran offices continued to grow their geographical areas.
2000s: Broadened Our Work on 4 Continents
- Global Collaborations: Formed new partnerships across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, sharing better practices in microfinance and enterprise development. It worked in 13 Latin American countries.
- Helped create additional financial institutions: Provided advice.
- Widely disseminated and created tools and methods: Became a world expert in teaching tools to measure impact to microfinance institutions to learn about clients’ needs. Disseminated tools for market research, evaluation, etc.
- Tailored Programs: Adapted our successful training and loan models to different cultural and economic contexts, ensuring relevance for local entrepreneurs.
2010s: Growing Global Consulting and Educational Services
- Serving as Consultants for Major International Networks and Organizations: Recognized as an international expert in many fields, so were sought to carry out major consulting contracts. As a consulting firm, IDEAS worked through Associate Consultants on 4 continents.
- Growing Expert Network: Tapped into a diverse pool of specialists—consultants, educators, and advisors—expanding our impact. This global expansion helped IDEAS hone its ability to scale programs and refine its approach to meeting the distinct needs of underserved communities worldwide.
- Created and operated the first microfranchise in Nicaragua: TecAp provided solar energy through a network of 14o women and 73 youth microfranchisees. Buyers and participants said it was life changing.
- Worked with investors, intermediaries and investees to direct socially responsible capital to many countries and communities.
2020s: Operating the Program for Migrant Microentrepreneurs in Mexico
- IDEAS created its program to support Latin American migrant microentrepreneurs in Mexico. This is a precedent setting organization providing practical enterprise services to this population. Drawing on international experience, the organization tailored training programs specifically for immigrant entrepreneurs who often lack access to loans, savings, and financial training.
- Encouraged Mexican financial institutions to service migrant entrepreneurs: Combined with culturally relevant coaching to navigate local business landscapes. Created infographics on how to access services from institutions willing to lend.
- Included binational families receiving remittances from a member in another country: Also, provided training services to Mexicans returning to their country after years away.
- Women are the majority of participants in all programs.
- Community Practical Workshops: Addressing legal compliance, market insights, and skills for maturing entrepreneurs. By 2024, IDEAS had trained participants from all of the 32 states of Mexico.
- Engagement: Partnering with municipalities and local organizations to identify critical needs and reach more migrant populations.
Present Day
Today, IDEAS remains as a multi-faceted international organization, committed to economic empowerment for underserved people and communities. Our future plans include:
- Deepening Impact: Strengthening established programs to reach more regions in Mexico.
- Scaling Online Resources: Creating digital hubs for real-time training and mentorship, accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
- Business Training Publications: Providing step-by-step guides on budgeting, marketing, and planning for microentrepreneurs.
- Cultivating Broader Partnerships: Teaming up with local, state and national organizations, and international agencies to maximize reach.
Join Our Mission
From 1975 to the present day, IDEAS has thrived on collaboration, visionary leadership and diverse participants. Whether you’re an expert or interested in supporting our work you are invited to:
- Volunteer: Mentor, organize events, or help expand our impact.
- Consult: Share specialized knowledge in finance, marketing, technology, fundraising, social media or program design.
- Donate: Fuel our growth, sponsor our initiatives, and enable us to reach even more aspiring entrepreneurs across the globe.
Get involved today and help IDEAS continue empowering individuals, families, and communities to break economic barriers and become self-sustaining.