Two billion people live on two dollars a day or less. Working with local partners overseas, Trickle Up first delivers basic business training and microloans for the ultra poor.

Every anti-poverty leader grouses about conference fatigue. In theory, meetings are necessary to collect new ideas, establish collegial working relationships and sweet talk funders. In reality, most conferences are talkfests or trade fairs.

Poverty is the story of hard working, but poor, women. Women perform 66% of the world's work, produce 50% of the food, earn just 10% of the income and own only 1% of the property.

The Calvert Foundation's mission is to maximize the flow of capital to disadvantaged communities in order to create a more equitable and sustainable society. It is the anti-Wall Street bank.

In truth, nonprofits, NGOs, charitable donors, foundations and governmental funding have, in large measure, built the platforms, distribution channels, infrastructure and research upon which for-profit social entrepreneurs depend.