The Working World is a brand that is on a mission to build cooperative businesses in low-income communities. Their unique approach combines non-extractive finance with tailor-made business support. They believe that finance should be accessible to working people without requiring collateral or burdening them with debt.

Instead, they promote a more inclusive form of ownership, where businesses are collectively run and owned by their workers and community. By tying loan returns to project success, they minimize risk for both their fund and the enterprises they support. The Working World focuses on stability and growth, specifically in businesses based in and built to serve low-income neighborhoods.

They never take a single dime from the people they work with that doesn't come from income they've helped generate. Their projects have had a significant impact in various locations, including post-crisis Argentina, the Nicaraguan countryside, shuttered factories in Chicago, and New York neighborhoods affected by Hurricane Sandy. With their lending model, The Working World empowers people and communities to take control of their working lives.

They offer comprehensive support, including designing loan projects and providing a tailored business curriculum. Their holistic model has achieved impressive results, with a 98% repayment rate solely from income they've helped generate, over 1,000 investments in worker and community-owned companies, and 210+ companies democratically owned by workers. Since 2004, The Working World has supported over 800 projects, lending more than four million dollars and creating hundreds of jobs.

Through their innovative approach, they are making a lasting impact on economic development and building more resilient communities