Supporters:

Friends of Mann Deshi

Friends of Mann Deshi ("FMD") was started by a group of Mann Deshi Mahila Bank interns and supporters who were eager to promote the "Mann Deshi Model" internationally and build a network of intellectual and financial supporters for Mann Deshi and other organizations like it. The Mann Deshi Model combines sustainable microfinance services, as well as a holistic basket of accompanying services, including training in health, education, micro-enterprise, financial literacy, market access, and technology. Thus, while Mann Deshi Mahila Bank’s operates in Maharashtra, FMD seeks to encourage other institutions around the world to make use of the “Mann Deshi Model” in their own local setting.

Ashoka Innovators for Social Entrepreneurship

As an Ashoka fellow, Chetna Sinha has received support from Ashoka Innovators in many ways: they have helped connect Mann Deshi Mahila with different social networks, they have spread information about Mann Deshi’s work and they have given advice on how to improve the marketing of Mann Deshi’s products.

Dasra

Dasra brings two vital, catalyzing elements to the NGO sector in India: management expertise, in the form of capacity building support; and funding, specifically focused on supporting the costs that will enable organizations to grow. Dasra maximizes charitable contributions for philanthropists and enables organizations to scale.

Yale School of Management, Global Social Entrepreneurship Program (GSE), Fall 2009

In 2008 the Yale School of Management inaugurated a course linking teams of Yale students with social enterprises (SEs) based in India. The course, called the GSE program, was designed to introduce Yale students (from the Schools of Management, Forestry & Environmental Studies, International Development & Economics, and Public Health) to practical issues faced by mission-driven social entrepreneurs, focusing on a specific management challenge that the student/SE teams work together to address during the semester, culminating with a business plan (operational, financial or otherwise) to meet the identified challenge.

This fall, the GSE program has partnered with Mann Deshi, five students from the Yale School of Management are working with the Business School to analyze the sustainability of its existing cost-revenue structure. This analysis will provide a framework to understand the financial and programmatic implications of expanding their course offerings and geographic reach. The students will additionally make recommendations for best practices based on research of peer organizations with similar financial-services-plus-education models.

SAIS UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON

Mann Deshi partners with the International Development (IDEV) Program of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies to offer summer internships to IDEV students. The IDEV Program provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of developing countries, with the aim of preparing students for careers in development. The IDEV Summer Internship Program is an integral part of the learning experience for students. The partnership thrives from a mutually beneficial relationship in which students gain field experience participating in Mann Deshi’s banking operations or nonprofit organization capacity building while Mann Deshi benefits from the expertise of SAIS MA students serving as junior professionals. Since started Manndeshi has received ten students from SAIS.

Global Giving is an online marketplace that connects Mann Deshi to the causes and countries that Mann Deshi cares. Mann Deshi gets the supports from global giving for its projects. Global Giving connects donors with community-based projects that need support.

Microfinance opportunities

Manndeshi is currently partnering with U.S. organization Microfinance Opportunities for Global Financial Education Program. Through this partnership, Manndeshi clients are instrumental in testing the effectiveness of this material and Manndeshi gains the support to bring this necessary form of financial literacy to local rural communities