To commemorate GBF's first year of operations, below is a list of the organization's TOP TEN Highlights for the year: 

1. Committed $2.7 million: GBF committed a total of $2,756,208 in equity, quasi-equity, debt, grant financing, and technical assistance, across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. With these investments, GBF touched the lives of over 349,510 beneficiaries. >>click here to learn more about GBF’s projects

2. Built a strong pipeline of deals: The current pipeline concentrates on hard-to-reach, low-income countries and includes an additional $9 million of investments in the Agricultural, Access-to-Finance, Artisanal, and BoP Technology/Services sectors.

3. Developed field presence: GBF has developed field presence in India and East Africa and intends to explore scaling up its partnerships and portfolio to develop activities in West Africa and Southeast Asia in particular. >>click here to see where GBF works

4. Designed and implemented iPAL, a monitoring and evaluation framework: The iPAL framework was developed from leading metrics practices in the field and GBF’s previous monitoring and evaluation framework. iPAL approaches metrics using a practical application that not only helps GBF track its projects but also allows its investees to better manage their organizations. >>click here to learn more about iPAL

5. Held its first workshop, "Metrics from the Ground Up": GBF initiated and held “Metrics from the Ground Up” in May 2009—a two-day workshop, co-sponsored with the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE). The conference brought together donors, investors, practitioners, academics, and entrepreneurs to explore the different approaches to monitoring and evaluating the impact of social enterprises. >>click here to learn more

6. Conducted first two Progress out of Poverty(POP)/Client Feedback surveys(CF): POP and Client Feedback surveys were conducted for two investees (SELFINA and LabourNet). The surveys will measure to what degree our clients' products and services have helped their clients progress out of poverty and highlight areas in which our clients' business models can be improved to increase both economic sustainability and social impact.  >>click here to learn more about the process

7. Revamped its website content: The GBF website, www.gbfund.org, now has picture slideshows, videos and background stories of entrepreneurs and beneficiaries. You can also find fact sheets on all of GBF’s investments, information on the organization’s supporters and partnerships, and new articles and websites added to the Resource Library.

8. Completed its first audit: At the end of August 2009, GBF underwent its first complete financial and management audit.  Highlights of the financial report can be found in the 2009 Annual Report. >>click here to download

9. Hired New Staff: GBF now has a staff of 20 professionals (including five in the field and two outside consultants) with a combined total of 62 years of investment experience, 56 years of business consulting and TA experience, and with global experience in the Americas, Asia, and Africa.>>click here to meet the team

10.  Coordinated its first staff retreat: In September, the team took a trip down to Delaware Seashore State Park to discuss and begin improvement plans for the organization’s investment process, messaging, and goals for its second year of operations and beyond.  

The Grassroots Business Fund works with several leading universities throughout the year to offer students the opportunity to obtain field experience in the social enterprise sector. In March 2009, GBF organized a four-student team from the Huntsman Program at the University of Pennsylvania to create and implement a progress out of poverty and client feedback survey for Sero Lease and Finance Limited (SELFINA), a microleasing company that provides training and economic opportunities to women in Tanzania.  

The Huntsman students spent their spring break in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, administering a sample survey to determine and monitor SELFINA's clients' household, financial, and business conditions. Click below to read one of the student's experience: