Lower Income Developing Countries (LIDCs) in Africa, South Asia and Latin America have a wealth of arable land and young, rapidly growing populations, but lack the financing mechanisms and technical assistance needed to fully leverage these resources. Many small and growing businesses do not meet the criteria for microfinance or commercial lending, constraining their access to capital and stifling their potential for growth.

The Catholic Church operates thousands of schools, hospitals, and other social service institutions in developing countries across the globe. These institutions are often attached to agribusinesses, which, with investment and advisory, can become vital sources of employment and affordable food, catalyzing local economic growth. Church institutions also operate thousands of health and education institutions, as well as hundreds of local financial institutions, which, with investment and advisory, can expand service offerings to unbanked families and small businesses.

Missio Invest provides the patient capital, business advisory and technical assistance needed to unlock the potential of Church-owned and affiliated agribusinesses, healthcare and education enterprises, and financial institutions, fueling their capacity to create long-term economic, social and environmental impact.

Missio Invest issues loans accompanied by ongoing training, advisory and technical assistance throughout the life of the investment and beyond.

Despite ample arable land, many countries in Africa continue to rely on costly imported food, as local farming has been unable to scale up to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population. Too small for commercial loans and too big for microfinance, small- to medium-sized agribusinesses lack the capital and technical assistance needed to to expand. Similarly, Africa’s healthcare infrastructure is not able to care for its current, let alone future needs, and its education system is in need of expansion and reform to reduce youth unemployment and promote economic growth.

Catholic Church institutions own thousands of acres of farmland. Often attached to Church-operated hospitals and schools, these farms are deeply integrated into the surrounding communities and uniquely positioned to serve local needs. Church institutions operate thousands of hospitals, clinics, and schools, which, in many cases are the only providers of health and education to the community.

Missio Invest provides these Church-owned agribusinesses, health and education institutions with the investment, training, and advisory needed to expand and modernize, creating jobs, nourishing communities, increasing resilience, and strengthening their existing social service operations.

Missio Invest provides agribusinesses and health and education institutions with patient capital accompanied by strategic advisory, training, market linkages and technical assistance throughout the loan term. Term is typically 5 to 7 years, with exceptions considered on a case-by-case basis.

Missio Invest provides agribusinesses and health and education institutions with patient capital accompanied by strategic advisory, training, market linkages and technical assistance throughout the loan term. Term is typically 5 to 7 years, with exceptions considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Greenfield Financing

  Loan Size: Minimum $50,000, typically $75,000+

  Term: 7 years

  Minimum Annual Revenue: It is preferred that the borrower has some degree of experience with revenue generating enterprises

• Asset Financing

  Loan Size: Minimum $50,000, typically $75,000+

  Term: 5-7 years

  Minimum Annual Revenue: $15,000 preferred

• Farm Expansion Financing

  Loan Size: Minimum $100,000, typically $150,000+

  Term: 5-7 years

  Minimum Annual Revenue: $25,000 preferred

• Health and Education Expansion Financing

  Loan Size: Typically $200,000 or more

  Term: Typically 5-7 years

  Minimum Annual Revenue: $25,000 preferred

Despite recent growth in microfinance lending across the developing world, the poorest and most vulnerable continue to remain underserved by current financial services offerings.

The Catholic Church operates hundreds of local financial institutions (FIs) ranging from credit unions to nationally charted banks. These FIs are uniquely positioned to serve poor and vulnerable communities because of the Church’s vast network of social institutions, enabling them to reach this unserved group of potential borrowers.

Missio Invest provides these Church-affiliated financial institutions with the capital and advisory they need to expand their offerings to underserved communities.

Missio Invest provides loans and advisory to Catholic Church owned or affiliated local financial institutions ranging in size from nationally chartered banks to regional credit unions. Our investments finance the expansion of offerings to underserved customers including women, vulnerable populations, and poverty-stricken communities.

• Regional Credit Unions

  Loan Size: $100,000 to $2,500,000

  Term: 1.5 to 4 years

  Minimum Gross Loan Portfolio: $2.5 million, with some exceptions considered

• Small to Medium Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)

  Loan Size: $1,000,000 to $3,000,000

  Term: 2 to 4 years

  Minimum Gross Loan Portfolio: $7.5 million with some exceptions considered

• Large MFIs and Banks

  Loan Size: $5,000,000 to $10,000,000

  Term: 3 to 5 years

  Minimum Gross Loan Portfolio: $25 million with some exceptions considered