Friendship Bridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise with a mission to create opportunities that empower Guatemalan women to build a better life. Established in 1990 and headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, Friendship Bridge operates 12 branch offices in Guatemala and provides a suite of products and services including microcredit, Non-Formal Education, and access to culturally appropriate healthcare. Clients are 100% women, primarily indigenous Maya, and live in rural communities with some of the highest poverty levels worldwide. Friendship Bridge clients form Trust Banks – groups of 7-25 women who co-guarantee each other’s loans, elect their own leadership team, and serve as a network of support for each other. Annually, Friendship Bridge supports nearly 35,000 women and through their programming, are changing how clients see, respond to, and overcome the protracted issues of poverty for themselves, their families, and their communities. In 2023, Friendship Bridge maintained an impressive repayment rate of 98.9%. Under its strong leadership, the organization continues to expand its positive social and economic impact in a sustainable manner.