50 Years - One Mission
 Since our beginning – 50 years ago in 1961 – ACCION has worked to empower the poor with the knowledge and tools to improve their lives. Starting in 1973, ACCION has focused its efforts on offering the poor the same financial tools and knowledge that the rest of the world enjoys – a practice known as microfinance. As a pioneer in microfinance we are happy to report that microfinance now reaches an estimated 150 million people worldwide. This is a remarkable accomplishment, and ACCION is proud to have played a role in that progress over the last five decades. As a catalyst for change, our work to promote commercial and innovative microfinance solutions has served to empower millions of the world's entrepreneurial poor with basic financial tools and choices. And over time, we have helped build 62 microfinance institutions in 31 countries on four continents – enabling the seamstress, the grain seller, the wagon puller to access the financial services they need to grow their tiny businesses and create brighter futures for their families.
ACCION is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the founding of its U.S. program, which began in 1991 in response to growing income inequality and unemployment. Today ACCION is the largest provider of microfinance in the United States.
Still, with over 2 billion of the world’s poor lacking access to financial services, ACCION is more committed than ever to using its 50 years of experience in order to help build a more financially inclusive world. To this end, we will continue to focus sharply on the reduction of vulnerability and on increasing opportunity for poor households by helping to deliver full financial inclusion – credit, savings, insurance, payments, remittances, financial education and more – provided at affordable prices, in a convenient manner and with dignity for clients.
The commitment of our supporters and collaborators to both microfinance and our relationship continues to be a source of great pride and inspiration. As we embark on our 50th anniversary year, we invite you to learn ways that you can get involved in our work and contribute to the advancement of our mission. Join us.
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