GLS Alternative Investments – Microfinance Fund Grant
In context
This call is open to non-profits, social enterprises and startups. Coverage is read from the notice itself: Global-South, Asia and Africa and 1 other. The funder accepts early-stage applicants.
This is a microfinance investment fund designed to improve financial access for underserved populations in emerging markets. While not explicitly climate-focused, microfinance can enable climate adaptation and clean energy adoption in developing regions.
About this grant
FS Impact Finance is an impact investment firm that runs a range of financing products. The GLS Alternative Investments – Microfinance Fund, the subject of this row, is designed to improve financial access for people in emerging markets through microfinance. The page describes the fund as one of several products alongside the Frankfurt Start-up Fund, the Seed Capital Assistance Facility (renewable energy in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa) and the Restoration Seed Capital Facility (forest landscape restoration). The page describes a 2015 setup of the GLS microfinance fund with GLS Bank acting as partner, in which FS Impact Finance acts as fund manager providing investors with a high investment ratio and strong portfolio quality while ensuring positive social impact. The firm's stated problem framing is that much financial capital flows into harmful activities, and that investors can generate both impact and financial return. The microfinance fund sits within that remit of improving financial inclusion. The page does not specify fund size, target instrument types, ticket sizes, or the particular microfinance institutions the fund invests in. The page also includes testimonials from partners including Zoscales Partners, Annapurna Finance and SMART Credit, which describe debt and refinancing relationships with the firm, though these are not specific to the GLS fund's own investees.
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Eligibility
The page does not state eligibility criteria for the GLS Alternative Investments – Microfinance Fund. It describes the fund as aimed at people in emerging markets but does not specify who may apply, whether applicants must be microfinance institutions, or any geographic, stage or prior-recipient rules for the fund.
Key requirements
- ✓Microfinance investment focus in emerging markets
- ✓Demonstrated track record in financial inclusion
- ✓Alignment with FS Impact Finance's impact thesis
Funder contact
The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.
Frequently asked questions
- Who can apply for GLS Alternative Investments – Microfinance Fund?
- Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL-SOUTH, ASIA, AFRICA, LATAM; nonprofit, social-enterprise, startup. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.
Relevant sectors
About this sector
Climate fintech funding backs financial products and infrastructure that move capital to climate solutions, from green lending platforms to risk and disclosure tools. Support comes from innovation programmes, development finance and investors. Applicants are usually asked about regulatory approval, data sources and how the product reaches its users.
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