FUNDER

What FUNDER does

FUNDER (Fundación para el Desarrollo Empresarial Rural) is a private, non-profit Honduran foundation established in 1997 (legal constitution via Resolución 051-97, February 26, 1997) that operates an integrated rural development platform combining community-based financial intermediation, agricultural business development, and environmental/climate-smart programming. The foundation is organized around four service centers: Cajas Rurales (rural savings and credit boxes, CRAC), Agronegocios (agricultural value chain development), CSF-FUNDER Centro de Servicios Financieros (financial services), and Gestión Agroforestal y Energía (forestry and renewable energy).

FUNDER operates as a two-tier rural financial system: as a second-floor entity channeling donor and concessional funds through approximately 857 community-owned Rural Savings and Credit Boxes (CRAC), and as a direct lender to consolidatable producers. The technical platform includes CRAC digitalization for administrative and financial operations, the SARAS environmental and social risk management system, climate-smart financing products (Financiamiento Climáticamente Inteligente) with 5 specialized credit lines, ecological coffee pulpers reducing water consumption by 90%, solar photovoltaic irrigation systems (up to 10,000 gallons/day storage), and a multimedia financial education platform (Sala Multimedia CSF). Supporting platforms include the Escuela de Negocios Rurales (Rural Business School), Agromercados Honduras (market linkage), FINRURAL (national society of rural boxes), De Mi Tierra (commercialization), Acelerador de PYMES (SME accelerator), and Factoring Agrícola. Environmental projects include Paraíso Verde (EU/Irish Aid funded reforestation) and Mi Biosfera (Río Plátano Biosphere restoration).

FUNDER's revenue is generated through international development grants and concessional co-financing (from EU, Irish Aid, USAID, KfW, GAC, BID, World Bank, Swiss Cooperation, FIDA, Whole Planet Foundation, Walmart Foundation, CARGILL), interest on intermediated loans to producers, administrative fees on second-floor fund management, and one-time real estate sales of rural properties. The organization reaches approximately 48,000 direct beneficiaries grouped in ~24,000 rural families (plus ~120,000 indirect beneficiaries), with 27,500 jobs generated, 38,500 manzanas cultivated across 79 agricultural products, market access in 21 countries, and 20,645 hectares under sustainable forest management (all 2025 figures). Beneficiary demographics include 44% women, 28% youth, and 25% indigenous populations. Operations span 16 departments and 138 municipalities in Honduras, supported by 11 regional offices and a Junta de Gobernadores chaired by representatives from civil society, the private sector, and SAG. Executive Director Miguel Ángel Bonilla Reyes leads an organization that has operated continuously for approximately 28 years.

Name

FUNDER

Legal name

Fundación para el Desarrollo Empresarial Rural

Website

https://funder.org.hn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FUNDER is a Honduran non-profit foundation (founded 1997) that operates a dual rural financial system — channeling concessional funds through 857 community-owned savings boxes and direct lending to smallholder producers — delivering financial inclusion, agricultural technical assistance, and climate-smart financing to ~48,000 direct beneficiaries across 16 departments of Honduras.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Microfinance

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation (52229)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural & Rural Microfinance (FSAKAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM)

Keywords

• Rural microfinance
• Agricultural development
• Community savings
• Climate-smart financing
• Rural enterprise

Headquarters

HQ city

San José De Los Arroyos

HQ country

Paraguay

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Rural Financial Intermediation: CSF-FUNDER channels financial resources to Rural Savings and Credit Boxes (CRAC) as a second-floor intermediary, and provides direct financing to producers in consolidation phase. Revenue is generated through interest on loans and administrative fees on intermediated funds.
2. International Development Grants and Co-financing: FUNDER receives funding from international donors (EU, Irish Aid, USAID, KfW, GAC, BID, World Bank, Swiss Cooperation) for project implementation. These are non-repayable grants and concessional financing deployed through program execution.
3. Real Estate Sales (Inmuebles): FUNDER sells real estate properties (rural land, processing facilities) owned by the organization, with prices negotiated directly with buyers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

FUNDER operates a two-tier rural financial system that channels concessional financing through approximately 857 community-owned Rural Savings and Credit Boxes (CRAC) as a second-floor intermediary, while also providing direct lending, technical assistance, and business development services to consolidatable smallholder producers. Beyond credit and savings, it delivers climate-smart agriculture financing, agricultural value-chain development, microinsurance, financial education, market access platforms, and environmental/refurbishment programs funded by international donors. The integrated offering combines financing, training, technical assistance, organizational strengthening, and market linkage into a single rural development delivery system serving unbanked families across Honduras.

Product overview

FUNDER operates as a multi-platform rural development organization with a core portfolio of financial services, agricultural business support, and environmental management programs. The foundation offers four integrated Centers of Service: Cajas Rurales (community savings and credit boxes), Agronegocios (agricultural business development), Servicios Financieros CSF (financial services center providing second-floor and direct financing), and Gestión Agroforestal y Energía (forestry and energy management). Supporting these core operations are platform services including the Escuela de Negocios Rurales (business school), Agromercados Honduras (market access), De Mi Tierra (commercialization trust), Acelerador de PYMES (SME acceleration), Factoring Agrícola (agricultural factoring), and Financiamiento Climáticamente Inteligente (climate-smart financing). Environmental initiatives include Paraiso Verde and Mi Biosfera for reforestation and biosphere protection. Digital education resources include the Sala Multimedia CSF with video and capsule content. The organization serves over 48,000 direct beneficiaries through 857 rural cajas, 557 agricultural businesses, and 711 financed enterprises across 16 departments in Honduras.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSF-FUNDER: Centro de Servicios Financieros - financial services division providing specialized financial services to the rural population of Honduras, including second-floor entity services through Cajas Rurales de Ahorro y Crédito (CRAC) and direct financing to producers.
• Escuela de Negocios Rurales
• Agromercados Honduras
• FINRURAL
• De Mi Tierra
• Acelerador de PYMES
• Factoring Agrícola
• Paraiso Verde
• Mi Biosfera
• Fondo de Fomento para Cadenas Agrícolas
• Financiamiento Climáticamente Inteligente
• Tu brazo con los Agroexportadores

Products and services

• Cajas Rurales y Emprendimientos (Rural Savings and Credit Boxes - CRAC) Community-based rural savings and credit boxes (CRAC) that provide financial services to unbanked rural populations, combining savings, credit, and financial education for organized family groups across 857 community boxes.
• CSF-FUNDER (Centro de Servicios Financieros) Financial services center offering second-floor intermediation through rural cajas and direct financing to consolidatable producers, with digital administration tools for CRACs and a portfolio of green, climate-smart, and factoring products.
• Agronegocios y Cadenas de Valor (Agricultural Business and Value Chains) Agricultural business development services linking small producers to markets, providing technical assistance, and strengthening value chains for coffee, cocoa, basic grains, horticulture, dairy, livestock, shrimp, and salt.
• Gestión Forestal y Energía (Forestry and Renewable Energy) Forestry management and renewable energy services promoting sustainable practices, reforestation, ecological coffee pulpers, and solar photovoltaic irrigation systems for rural producers.
• Financiamiento Climáticamente Inteligente (Climate-Smart Financing) Climate-smart financing program providing credit and technical assistance for technologies and practices that increase climate resilience, including 5 specialized credit products for coffee, cocoa, and other value chains.
• Educación Financiera (Financial Education) Financial education services including trainings and multimedia resources covering savings, credit management, budgeting, insurance, and financial planning for rural families.
• Acelerador de PYMES (SME Accelerator) SME accelerator program supporting small and medium enterprises with legal compliance, business development, and access to financing.
• Factoring Agrícola (Agricultural Factoring) Agricultural factoring service enabling rural producers to access immediate liquidity by selling receivables.
• Inmuebles (Real Estate Services) Sale of rural properties owned by FUNDER, including farmland and processing facilities (e.g., El Pajonal, Comayagua; Lejamaní farm; Beneficio de Granos Básicos in Manto, Olancho), with prices negotiated directly with buyers.
• Agromercados Honduras Agricultural market platform connecting small producers with formal market channels and buyers, facilitating commercialization of rural products.
• De Mi Tierra Market platform and trust mechanism connecting agricultural producers with institutional buyers and consumers for local agricultural products.
• Escuela de Negocios Rurales (Rural Business School) Rural business school providing training and capacity building for rural entrepreneurs, producers, and caja administrators in business management and financial literacy.
• Sala Multimedia CSF (Multimedia Education Platform) Multimedia educational platform with videos, capsules, and images covering financial topics such as savings, loans, budgets, and life insurance for rural populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 48,000+ direct beneficiaries and ~120,000 indirect beneficiaries in 2025 alone
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026UICN and FUNDER co-execute conservation and biodiversity projects. UICN leads the Programme 'Enlazando la Biodiversidad del Paisaje Centroamericano' with FUNDER as implementing partner in Honduras, focusing on restoration of Omoa, Cusuco, and Cuyamel protected areas. Also partners on the marine-coastal biodiversity project funded by Global Affairs Canada.
• ONU Mujeres HondurascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN Women and FUNDER signed an agreement in May 2024 to research the state of rural savings boxes and design a program for gender-inclusive financial services. In June 2025, they began implementing the 'Cajas Rurales de Ahorro y Crédito como modelo de inclusión y empoderamiento económico de las mujeres' project under the Ecosistema Financiero Inclusivo (EFI) program, funded by Luxembourg.
• FAS (Fundación Alemana de Servicios)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Services Foundation organized an international technical visit to Germany (Berlin and Potsdam) for FUNDER and other Latin American rural finance institutions to exchange experiences with the Sparkassen and Raiffeisen cooperative banking models.
• ICF (Instituto de Conservación Forestal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonduran Forest Conservation Institute partners with FUNDER on sustainable forest management, reforestation, and watershed protection initiatives, particularly in protected areas.
• SAG (Secretaría de Agricultura y Ganadería)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonduran Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock partners with FUNDER on multiple programs including the 'Modelo de Desarrollo de la Pequeña Agricultura Empresarial Rural' (2022–2026, benefiting ~22,000 families), the COMRURAL initiative, and the agricultural rescue plan for southern Honduras.
• SENPRENDE (Servicio Nacional de Emprendimiento y Pequeños Negocios)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonduran national entrepreneurship service partnered with FUNDER to disburse L 30 million+ in financing to rural producers, supporting shrimp, salt, and agricultural producers. FUNDER serves as administrator of financial resources through its Financial Services Center.
• AgriterraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch agricultural organization headquartered in Lima, Peru, co-executes the agriDigitalización project with FUNDER in Honduras, funded by FIDA, enabling e-commerce capabilities for rural producer organizations.
• Red Katalysis / RED Microfinanciera de CentroaméricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral American microfinance network partnered with FUNDER to organize the 'I Encuentro de Ahorro Rural y las Oportunidades de Crecimiento' (Savings Week), with virtual webinars and an in-person closing event in Siguatepeque, Comayagua.
• FINRURAL (Sociedad Nacional de Cajas Rurales)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational Society of Rural Savings Boxes aggregates ~250+ rural boxes and serves as a key channel for FUNDER's financial intermediation, with its own heritage of over $240k. FUNDER provides institutional strengthening and financing channeled through this structure.
• SwisscontactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss development organization partners with FUNDER on financing programs including SENPRENDE cooperation agreements for financial inclusion of producers in the social economy sector.
• El ZamoranominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-American agricultural school partners with FUNDER on sustainable technology transfer and climate-smart agriculture initiatives in Honduras.
• Municipal Governments (AMDC and others)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal governments partner with FUNDER on local development projects, such as the agricultural project benefiting 400 families in 20 communities of the Distrito Central, and local agreements for rural box strengthening.
• UNACIFOR (Universidad Nacional de Ciencias Forestales)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonduran university administers the Lancetilla Botanical Garden where the FPMD committee held its first meeting. Partners in environmental conservation and training activities.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• REDPAMIF: Central American microfinance network representing 40+ microfinance institutions across the region. Comparable as a peer network entity — like FINRURAL for FUNDER — that aggregates and represents rural microfinance providers in Central America.
• Financiera de Desarrollo Territorial (FINDETER) or FONDILSE Honduras: Development finance institutions channeling concessional funding to local/territorial development projects. FINDETER (Colombia) and Honduran peer FONDILSE represent regional analogs to FUNDER's role as a second-floor financier for rural and territorial development.

Emerging players

• Mifos Initiative: Open-source platform provider enabling microfinance institutions to digitize operations. Comparable as a technology-adjacent peer for FUNDER's CRAC digitalization strategy and the broader digitization of community-based rural finance.

Broad incumbents

• Rabobank Foundation: Foundation of Rabobank supporting smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and rural microfinance institutions globally. Comparable to FUNDER in combining cooperative-banking heritage with development-finance intermediation and agricultural value-chain focus.
• Triodos Bank: European sustainable bank financing organic agriculture, renewable energy, and social enterprises, including in Latin America. Comparable to FUNDER's climate-smart financing and sustainable-agriculture focus from a commercial-banking platform.
• Compartamos (Gentera): Mexican-origin microfinance institution (now Gentera) operating across Latin America providing microcredit and financial services to low-income populations. Comparable to FUNDER in microfinance DNA serving Latin American unbanked populations.
• Oikocredit: Global cooperative and impact investor financing rural microfinance institutions, agricultural SMEs, and renewable energy in Latin America and globally. Highly comparable to FUNDER as a second-floor capital provider with development-finance DNA and agricultural focus.

Direct peers

• Pro Mujer: Latin American microfinance and development organization providing financial services, healthcare, and training to low-income women across Mexico, Central America, and South America. Comparable to FUNDER in microfinance-plus-technical-assistance model targeting rural/unbanked populations.
• Banrural (Guatemala): Guatemalan rural development bank providing credit, savings, and financial services to smallholder farmers and rural micro-entrepreneurs. Closely comparable to FUNDER's CRAC rural-box model and Central American geographic footprint.
• Root Capital: Non-profit agricultural impact investor lending to small and growing agricultural businesses in Latin America and Africa. Closely comparable to FUNDER in combining agricultural lending with technical assistance and value-chain strengthening for smallholders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FunderHonduras
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@empresarialruraltv
• Facebookfacebook.com/Funderhonduras
• LinkedInhn.linkedin.com/in/funderhonduras
• Instagraminstagram.com/funder_honduras
• TikToktiktok.com/@funderhonduras

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FUNDER