Partners

Working closely with public and private sector organizations is a cornerstone of our approach to development. We are proud to work with pioneering foundations, organizations, and individuals. These supporters make our work possible.

 Ashoka

Ashoka is the global association for the world's leading social entrepreneurs—men and women with system changing solutions for the world's most urgent social problems. Agora's founder, Ben Powell, was elected to be an Ashoka Fellow in January 2010.

Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneur (ANDE)

ANDE is a coalition of development organizations commited to supporting small and growing businesses around the world. Agora Partnerships is a founding member of ANDE and hosted the first ever ANDE regional conference in Granada, Nicaragua in the Spring of 2010.

The AVINA Foundation promotes environmentally and socially sustainable development by facilitating the creation of constructive and inclusive communities. Agora Partnerships is proud to partner with AVINA Foundation to leverage its global, strategic resources to strengthen Agora Accelerator.

B Lab

Citi Foundation

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance LLP is one of the world's leading law firms, with offices in 20 countries. The firm has been a key partner of Agora Partnerships since 2007, providing pro bono legal advice and  other support. The firm acted as Agora's New York legal advisor in setting up the Agora Venture Fund, and continues to provide support and advice for new initiatives. Clifford Chance won the 2008 British Legal Awards CSR project of the year award for its pro bono work with organizations such as Agora and microfinance institutions aimed at improving access to capital for the world's poor.

Former President Bill Clinton started the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) "to turn good intentions into real actions and results." In 2008 Agora Partnerships made a commitment to unleash the potential of entrepreneurs in Central America and Mexico to fight poverty and create wealth through partnering with sustainable small businesses by providing them with the strategy, networks, and capital they need to grow. 

The DOEN Foundation supports initiatives with the ambition of building a liveable world by promoting sustainable, cultural, and social innovators. DOEN supports Agora Partnerships' efforts to fill the gap in Nicaragua's financial sector and expand into other countries in Central America.

Draper Richards provides social entrepreneurs with support in the early stages of their development to help outstanding people create social change. Ben Powell was elected to be a Draper Richard's Fellow in 2008.  The Draper Richard Foundation provides access to resources and a great deal of support to Agora.  Draper Richard's Portfolio Director, Anne Marie Burgoyne sits on Agora's Board. 

FUSADES

FUSADES is one of the most respected and influential economic development think tanks in Latin America with extensive experience working with small business entrepreneurs. FUSADES is a key partner in Agora's expansion into El Salvador.

 MercyCorps

MercyCorps' mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Agora is partnering with MercyCorps on a new MicroMentor initiative. This new and innovative approach provides business mentoring to small and growing businesses in developing economies worldwide. By doing so, MercyCorps dramatically increases entrepreneurs' access to the critical business management know-how and industry-specific expertise needed to start and grow successful enterprises.

Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation funds a portfolio of initiatives that spread progress and generate sustainable impact on individuals, institutions, and communities. It supports Agora as part of its Impact Investing initiative, which seeks to develop investments in improving social or environmental conditions.

Arthur B. Schultz Foundation

ABSF is dedicated to improving standards of living through support of social microenterprise, women's empowerment, and disabled mobility solutions. Agora is piloting the Schultz Foundation's signature program, the Social Microenterprise Initative, in Central America.  This initative targets small and growing businesses with investment in machinery.  Agora will pilot the program in the fall of 2010.

Vital Voices

Vital Voices identifies, invests, and brings visibility to extraordinary women around the world. Agora is working with Vital Voices in Nicaragua to launch their "Living in Democracy" curriculum for women entrepreneurs.  This program will identify, mentor, and educate female entrepreneurs.  Agora is supporting Vital Voices in the development of educational and marketing content.

Agora works with exceptional student consultants from top graduate programs to give entrepreneurs access to strategy consulting. The large amount of time needed to provide professional grade consulting is a key barrier to helping small business entepreneurs compete, and consultants from these schools provide

Please call Liz Sessler at 202-580-8776 if you are interested in working with us.