The Bentley Microfinance Group will host speakers from around the world at  the Global Microfinance Summit held at Bentley University on Sunday, March 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. , The day-long event will feature representatives from organizations such as Women’s World Bank, ACCION USA, MIT, the American India Foundation, and the William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India, who will share their knowledge of microfinance and discuss the virtues of giving back to the community. The event is free and open to the public and registration is required (http://bmg.eventbrite.com).

This year’s theme, “Investing in India’s Underprivileged,” will focus on the micro lending that is thriving in this developing nation. Michael Page, vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of business at Bentley University, will open the program, followed by Roy (Chip) Wiggins, Edward F. Gibbons Research Professor of Finance and director of the Bentley Microfinance Initiative.

The morning panel, “Perspectives from the Field: A Glimpse into Individual Experiences of Service in India,” will include alumni from the William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India. The panel moderator is Venkat Srinivasa, CEO, Rage Frameworks.

Following a luncheon buffet, Cynthia Kinnan, doctoral candidate in Economics at MIT, will present “The Miracle of Microfinance.”

The afternoon panel, “Organizational Perspectives,” will be moderated by Bentley management professor Diane Kellogg, program director of The Mmofra Trom Project, and faculty associate, Center for Leading Organizations.  Panelists include Venkatesh (Venky) Raghavendra, chief philanthropic officer, American India Foundation; Saiful Islam, manager for Asia, Women's World Banking; and Ana Hammock, program director, New England and Internet, ACCION USA. The group will discuss the challenges of delivering microfinance products and services in India, mechanisms in place to help  address these challenges, and suggestions for students interested in microfinance.

The program will close with remarks from sophomores and Bentley Microfinance Group members Shweta Katyal and Michaela Baca.

The Bentley Microfinance Group (BMG) is an innovative student-run micro lending organization that is fueling economic and community development by providing loans of $1,500 to $6,000 to local small business owners who may not be able to borrow money from traditional institutions. Funds are drawn from donations by Bentley alumni and parents, with an initial equity line of $125,000 that is expected to grow to a total loan portfolio of $300,000. The BMG works with clients to develop a reasonable and attainable loan schedule, and also build their business in other fundamental ways. To that end, students also offer free consulting services, advising clients on issues such as business plans, marketing, strategic development and training.

The BMG was established by students in the honors course Seminar in Microlending, which debuted in spring 2008. Taught by Professor of Finance Roy (Chip) Wiggins, the course introduces students to microfinance and provides an opportunity to apply its concepts.