The year-long partnership demonstrates the power of growth capital for women-owned, mission-driven businesses
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Boundless Futures Foundation, in collaboration with Kiva, shared findings from a global survey of social enterprise leaders that demonstrate the powerful role access to aligned capital plays in job creation, workforce stability, and mission growth among social enterprises.
As part of its 2025 Her Village grant, Boundless Futures Foundation partnered with Kiva to both expand access to capital for women-led, mission-driven businesses and to better understand how social enterprises grow over time. A post-loan survey conducted during the partnership examined outcomes among enterprises that received funding support through Kiva’s platform and have since completed repayment. These findings offer valuable insight into how social enterprises scale, hire, and deepen impact when financial barriers are reduced.
Job creation and workforce impact among surveyed enterprises:
- 94% created at least one new job following funding support.
- 32% created more than 50 jobs, signaling substantial scaling among a subset of enterprises.
- 74% strengthened their ability to retain or hire staff, demonstrating improved workforce stability and organizational capacity.
Business growth and mission impact among surveyed enterprises:
- 83% reported that funding positively reinforced their social or environmental mission.
- 77% increased the number of beneficiaries served.
- 89% reported improvements in their products or services.
“These outcomes reflect what Boundless Futures Foundation set out to support — social enterprises, particularly those owned by women, that create jobs, strengthen communities, and deliver lasting social impact,” said Soon Hagerty, founder and president, Boundless Futures Foundation. “Through our partnership with Kiva, we were able to help unlock capital for women founders while also learning more about what happens when those founders are given the resources to grow on their own terms.”
Through the partnership, Boundless Futures Foundation established a dedicated fund on Kiva’s platform to help women-owned social enterprises across the United States access growth capital, particularly those that may not have viable alternatives through traditional financing channels.
“Social enterprises are tackling urgent social and environmental challenges, but too many are limited by a lack of access to growth capital. This survey and partnership shows that when that barrier is removed, the effects extend well beyond a single business, driving job creation, stronger teams, and deeper community impact,” said Catalina Torres Perez, senior investment manager at Kiva.”
The year-long collaboration with Kiva represents a continued evolution of Boundless Futures Foundation’s Her Village grantmaking, which focuses on deeper, more strategic nonprofit partnerships designed to generate immediate impact and long-term learning. Insights from this work will help inform future investments and partnerships aimed at advancing women’s entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth.
Since its founding in late 2023, Boundless Futures Foundation has awarded more than $1 million through its Her Village and EmpowHer grant programs, supporting women entrepreneurs and mission-aligned nonprofits working to address pressing social and environmental challenges.
For more information about Boundless Futures Foundation, visit www.boundlessfutures.org and to learn more about Kiva visit www.Kiva.org.