MFI Connect Recently sent out a newsletter that highlights some internships that are great for college students:
ACCION USA:

• Resource Development Intern (NYC)
• Microlending Intern (Portuguese Speaker) (Boston)
• Spanish Microloan Consultant Intern (Boston)
• Communications Intern (New York)

Balajee Sewa Sansthan (India):

• Interns – Multiple Positions

FINCA International (United States):

• Strategic Initiatives Intern
• New Business Development Intern – Public Sector
• Data Analyst Intern

PlaNet Finance (France):

• Intern Assistant of Director of Operations

Summary
The IT Specialist works with the IT Network & Communications Manager to ensure the availability of the company’s technical resources.​  This position provides broad IT support at the enterprise level to sustain the continuity of business across the company’s various divisions and departments.​

Responsibilities

• Provide IT help desk support to employees at all office locations.​
• Participate in planning and maintenance of the company network and infrastructure.​
• Support and maintain servers for internal IT functions and software production and testing environments.​
• Configure and maintain employee PCs.​
• Perform regular data backups.​
• Help plan and implement additional IT projects as needed.​  For example, virtualizing server environments, upgrading enterprise software packages (e.​g.​ Exchange), and implementing policies and procedures to improve data security.​

Qualifications

• 1-2 years relevant experience required
• Possesses broad technical knowledge
• Ability to manage ongoing projects and operations simultaneously while ensuring on-time deliverables
• Capable of troubleshooting software and hardware problems across various functional platforms
• Experience with the following technologies preferred: MS Exchange, Windows Server, VMWare, Cisco VPN, VoIP, Sybase and/​or MS SQL

If you are interested in applying for this position, please email Amy Reitz at areitz@​mfi-corp.​com .​

Source: SimplyHired

You don’t see films about mcirofinance and the impact that it has on communities very often.  To Catch a Dollar was a big hit last year, so I thought I’d pass along this new film project that I came across.   The Microlending Film Project is looking for donations to fund its documentary on microfinance around the globe and how it is a helpful tool for woman to help them rise out of poverty.  Here’s a little more about the project:

The Microlending Film Project (film title TBD) is an independently produced feature documentary centered on the current state of global microfinance to women as a tool for alleviating poverty, and as an alternate credit option for entrepreneurs who either can’t or choose not to borrow from traditional banks.

Interviews with experts within the field of microfinance and development thought-leaders will ground the narrative.  These include commentary from two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nick Kristof, Ela Bhatt, founder of SEWA Credit and a member of The Elders, a group of eminent world leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela, and CEO and Founder of Microfinance Transparency Initiative Chuck Waterfield.  We also seek to include commentary from experts at The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The film is being produced through donations pledged via Fiscal Sponsor Fractured Atlas, a 501c(3), allowing tax-deductible status, through grants from Duke University and others, and through the Director’s own personal savings.  It is not funded in any way by a corporation or special interest.  The film belongs to Microlending Film LLC, a corporation of which Rachel Cook is the sole member.

We are interested in focusing on microlending to women in particular because women are an often under-utilized economic component of developing countries. While it’s a given that helping poor women financially support themselves and their families is a definitive moral right, we are interested in examining how doing so through microfinance may also be an economic imperative.

Our goal is to make a high definition, story-intensive documentary that will connect with audiences through film festivals and national broadcasts. Additionally, we aim to make available a companion educational curriculum to accompany the film for classroom screenings. We want to encourage students and adults alike to learn more about microlending to women and its effects both in the developing world, and in our own backyard.

Rarely do I hear much about Microcredit in Iran, so I thought this was a neat youtube video from some people in the Bardsir and Kerman provinces in Iran who got some loans from Relief International:

Relief International’s Rural Women’s Microcredit Program in the Bardsir and Kerman provinces facilitates women’s empowerment and financial independence by providing-small scale loans. Through this holistic program, some 300 women have been able to purchase livestock, set up grocery stores and make and market traditional handicraft, providing them with steady income to support their families.

BASIC FUNCTION
The Donor Information Manager is responsible for maintaining the integrity of FINCA’s donor information as well as the integrity, consistency and accuracy of FINCA’s donor mailings. As such, he/she is responsible for all data inputs and outputs including:
Gift processing (entering and maintaining accurate gift and donor records), conducting financial reporting and reconciliation, creating all necessary queries and reports to analyze performance of various fundraising initiatives and manage vendor relationships associated with data/donation collection and processing. He/she is also responsible for generating timely lists and reporting for the direct marketing program. His/her primary responsibility is to support the acquisition and retention of FINCA’s individual donors, while ensuring the highest level of data integrity.
The manager is also responsible for the implementation and maintenance of policies and procedures for constituent database management and quality control, as well as identifying areas for business process improvement.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES

• Database management: Value 20%
• Database Reporting: Value 35%
• Fundraising: Value 30%
• Stewardship and Cultivation: Value 10%
• Strategic Planning: Value 5%

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATIONS
Knowledge and Education

• BA/BS degree, Masters preferred

Job Skills

• Organized and detail oriented
• Excellent writing/editing
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to prioritize key projects
• Ability to work proactively, take initiative and work independently
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills
• Ability to establish internal procedures and systems

Five years of direct marketing and fundraising management experience is required. Some equivalent experience in nonprofit communications, marketing, print production and editing is acceptable but not preferred.

Exposure
Two-three years experience in high-level Raiser’s Edge database administration, query-writing, data imports and exports, and report creation. Knowledge of Sphere and Net Community preferred.
Familiarity with fundraising strategies for different donor constituencies.

Apply here

Source: Chronicle of Philanthropy

Global Partnerships is hosting a PartnerTrip to Peru where travelers can meet microfinance entrepreneurs at their houses and see how their lives have been changed by microfinance loans.

An Incredible Journey to See Microfinance in Action
Global Partnerships invites you to accompany Global Partnerships on an incredible journey to Latin America to experience firsthand how microfinance changes lives.
Designed for donors who have made or who are considering making a personally significant gift to Global Partnerships, PartnerTrips provide an authentic encounter with entrepreneurs who are improving their lives with the help of microfinance.
As you visit their homes and businesses, you will have the opportunity to hear their stories, observe their crafts, and talk with them about their struggles and successes. Throughout the journey you will gain a unique understanding of the cultures, people and landscapes of these beautiful countries.

The next trip is November 12-21 to Peru.
Since 1994, Global Partnerships has been escorting travelers to Latin America and currently offers PartnerTrips to Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru.

See photos from our last Peru trip in our Facebook album.

If interested, download the application form or contact Chris Megargee at: 206.456.7813 or cmegargee@globalpartnerships.org

Our friends over at SeaMO posted this event for Lumana, so I wanted to share it on myKRO as well to spread the word:

Come join us for a night of inspiration and fun at Lumana’s Annual Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction! As an attendee, you will be supporting Lumana in creating empowered communities and meaningful opportunities for active youth leaders worldwide, while experiencing a truly exciting program with our evening’s theme: “Learning From Our Clients”. Our event will feature a silent auction, with opportunities to bid on exciting items like Seattle sports packages and tasty Washington liquors. There will also be a thrilling raffle with a chance to win a cruise with Holland America Line, a wine toss, a delicious dinner provided by Salty’s, live music by Ocheami, Omanhene’s Ghanaian chocolates, and our guest speaker Valerie Nkamgang Bemo from Cameroon, a Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The night for Lumana’s Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction drawing closer and you don’t want to miss it, so be sure to secure your seats or tables and RSVP at http://lumana.org/annualbenefit For a sneak preview of our event theme, “Learning From Our Clients” check out the new addition to the Lumana blog on our website here! Also check out this great video filmed by KCTS 9 on Lumana: Watch the video here

For those in the Seattle area and interested in Grameen’s Mobile Health Program, Grameen Foundation Technology Center is hosting two events this month:

Breakfast
Date: Wednesday, September 21
Time: Doors open at 7:30 a.m., program from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Speakers: John Tippett, Mobile Health Technology Program Manager and David Edelstein, Vice-President, Technology Programs
Place: Grameen Foundation Technology Center — 2101 4th Avenue, Suite 1550, Seattle
RSVP: Register online or call 206-325-6690 x209
Please Note: Space is limited and registration will close at 50 attendees

Happy Hour
Date: Wednesday, September 28
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m., brief program at 6:30 p.m.
Speaker: Tim Wood, Director of Mobile Health Innovation
Place: Solo Bar – 200 Roy St. Seattle, WA 98109
RSVP: Register online or on Facebook

WOW