About Us

Mission Statement:

The University of Chicago Microfinance Initiative (UCMI) is a student-run and advisor-led not-for-profit group that seeks to educate the community on social finance and have a positive impact on organizations that aim to promote community development and economic progress both domestic and abroad.

Means of Accomplishing Our Mission:

Consulting UCMI provides research, consulting, and advisory to non-profits, NGOs, development organizations, microfinance institutions, foundations and firms seeking to have a positive impact on society. Select topics have included clean technology, foreign policy, microfinance, and urban renewal.

Investment UCMI promotes socially responsible investing by providing data-driven research and market due-diligence to microfinance institutions and social finance investors. Our long-term goal is to establish a self-sustainable microfinance investment fund that is supported through recycled returns on investments and external support.

Professional Development UCMI equips its members with a diverse array of professional skills that are necessary to be a leader after graduation. Our associates receive experiential training across finance, consulting, marketing, policy initiatives, and non-profit management from faculty, graduate students, working professionals, and guest speakers. Furthermore, our members are exposed to a larger network through partnerships with microfinance institutions, investment banks, and non-profit organizations.