The true issue here is not whether for-profits play an important role -- it should be clear that they do -- but rather how to encourage the right kind of for-profits to address the social needs of the poor.

As industry analysts note, the rush to conclude that micro-lending is inherently flawed is overwrought, wrong-headed and anti-poor.

What I see missing in the middle is that there needs to be an understanding that they can provide information to each other that can lead to the innovations which can significantly shift the trajectory of poverty.

Previous assumptions stated that borrowers already know everything they need to grow; they just need the capital in order to implement their business ideas.

In a meeting room surrounded by lush tropical landscaping, 20 women from Southeast Asia are meeting in Jakarta to develop their leadership, management and advocacy skills.

Unfortunately, 22 million people are currently unemployed in the U.S. We need to find ways to support the small business community so that they can create more jobs.

Without a dime of donations or leaving home, individuals, small family foundations and companies in the United States are at this very minute financing 112,000 small businesses.

You know I support small business in the West Bank through Kiva and CHF International, encouraged by the Israeli, Palestinian, and US governments. Wel...

Okay, normally I work with Kiva, focusing on the West Bank with CHF International, but that's no big deal compared to The Simpsons. (Mr Simpson's one...

Only the formidable Bill Clinton together with his unstoppable Foundation can marshal the forces of good to begin to make fundamental change for future generations of girls and women.

Here are three ways you can help the poorest people in the world who typically live on less than one dollar a day and are based in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.