We give money to producer businesses…

Does it actually work?

The simple answer

…is yes.

When you give money in the right way - to businesses which are led by producers and measure their success not just by profit but by social good - you rarely fail to make a difference.

Sometimes the difference seems small

When we gave a grant to Meru Herbs in Kenya, they used it to buy glass jars. They filled the jars with amazing produce, sold them well and paid hundreds of workers and farmers fairly as a result.

They can now reinvest that profit into making more products, improving their factory and breaking into new markets - these grants have a habit of multiplying as producer businesses use them well.

Sometimes it’s seismic

Elsewhere in Kenya, we gave a grant to Nyeri Chai Farmers association and supported their campaign for fairer prices for the tea they grow and pick.

As a result, they helped push through a life-changing price increase which benefited every tea grower across Kenya - hundreds of thousands of people. It’s a perfect example of how a small group of producers can change a whole system for the better.

Producer powered

When we partner with producers around the world, we invest in their plans to create jobs and support their communities - we give them money because we know the difference it makes.

But the giving of a grant is just the start. From that point we work together - often over many years - to change unfair systems and help more people get a fair deal from trade.

Right now, the trade system is set up to benefit big businesses - our grants help level the playing field so everyone can get a fair deal from trade.

Meet the producers who make change happen