11 Brands Alleviating Poverty this Holiday Season through Whole Planet Foundation

Whole Planet Foundation is grateful to our donors for helping fund our mission to alleviate poverty through microcredit.

Suppliers of Whole Foods Market are alleviating poverty this holiday season! To date, suppliers have donated over $14 million to create economic opportunity for those who lack access to financial services in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products.  

From December 1 –31, 2020, select brands are donating a portion of sales in select Whole Foods Market stores to benefit microentrepreneurs, primarily women, around the globe.  Their contributions will help fund microloans, creating the opportunities for entrepreneurs to start or develop a small, often home-based business.  With the profits from their small businesses, women can invest in their families and communities.

Aspiring Artists of the Earth 

Aspiring Artists of the Earth is a long-time supporter of our work to alleviate global poverty. This year, Masked Together, TZ Glass and Live to Uplift, join Aspiring Artists of the Earth to help fund microloans for women microentrepreneurs.  

“Working to alleviate global poverty aligns with our root mission of working to live to uplift and is a natural, inspired cause for us to support. Additionally, we are blessed to be partnered and supported by Whole Foods Market, to best utilize our resources to give back is to live life to the fullest,” says Tari Z. Owner & maker. 

From December 1 – 31, 2020, $0.50 from the sale of these products will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. 

Big Dipper Wax Works

Big Dipper Wax Works is committed to giving back to the community in a way that will ensure healthy ecosystems for years to come and donates 5% of the net profits from all candle sales to organizations dedicated to promoting a more environmentally sustainable and equitable future. Through their support of Whole Planet Foundation this holiday season, they will help create economic opportunity for women microentrepreneurs and their families. 

“We are proud to support Whole Planet Foundation as part of our yearly donations,” says the team from Big Dipper Wax Works. 

From December 1 – 31, 2020, 2% of sales of Big Dipper Wax Works’ handcrafted beeswax candles will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. 

Coolhaus 

Empowering women is a part of woman-founded Coolhaus’ business model and aligns with Whole Planet Foundations mission to fund microloans for microentrepreneurs, mostly women, looking to start or develop a small business.  

“Coolhaus was built on the belief that leading by example helps inspire other women and younger generations to rethink the industries in which they want to succeed. Whether it be through speaking engagements, fundraisers, or strategic partnerships with similarly aligned companies, [Coolhaus strives] to empower women, make confident leaders out of girls, and encourage community-building.” 

“As a woman-founded and led company we strive to support and elevate other women and minority entrepreneurs. We know how incredibly hard it can be to have access to resources and financial services,” says the team from Coolhaus. 

From December 1 – 31, 2020, 1% of sales of Coolhaus Sammies and Pints will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. 

Divine Chocolate  

Women’s empowerment through economic stability has always been a central philosophy for Divine Chocolate. Divine Chocolate is the only 100% Fairtrade chocolate company that is also co-owned by cocoa farmers. Members of Kuapa Kokoo, a co-operative of over 85,000 cocoa farmers in Ghana, benefit not only from the Fairtrade premium on the sale of their beans, but also receive the largest share (44%) of Divine’s distributable profit and 2% of total sales. This, in turn, enables farmers to enjoy more economic stability and the increased influence in the cocoa industry that company ownership brings.  

This year, Divine Chocolate continues a beloved tradition with their chocolate Advent Calendar, which will help alleviate poverty through Whole Planet Foundation. 

From December 1 – 31, 2020, $0.05 from the sale of this product will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. 

Dr. Ginger’s 

Dr. Ginger has been practicing dentistry for 35 years. Her vision is what launched the Dr. Ginger’s brand! After she received questions about a coconut-based oral care solution, Dr, Ginger found that nothing existed. Today, Dr. Ginger’s is proud to support female entrepreneurs around the globe through the work of Whole Planet Foundation. 

From December 1 – 31, 2020, $1 from the sale of Dr. Ginger’s products will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. 

MAGICdATES 

Diana, the founder of MAGICdATES, wanted to share a piece of her heritage and love of food with the world through her brand. This December, MAGICdATES will support more women-owned businesses through the work of Whole Planet Foundation’s microlending programs. 

“Growing up, my mom brought us around the dinner table every night. That positive association always stuck with me. Good food is fundamentally about nourishing ingredients that serve your body and soul. But it’s also about bringing people together, whether across the table, or across cultures,” says Diana.  

From December 1 – 31, 2020, $0.15 from the sale of MAGICdATES snack bites will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. 

Miyoko’s Creamery 

Miyoko’s Creamery was founded in Miyoko’s home kitchen and pioneered a new way of making plant-based cheese and butter using traditional creamery methods. With their national success they are paying it forward through their support of Whole Planet Foundation this holiday season. Their contribution will help fund microloans for entrepreneurs around the globe to start or develop a home-based business. 

“Miyoko Schinner, Founder and CEO of Miyoko’s Creamery, is on a mission to transform the food landscape into a more sustainable and ethical system on the local, national and international level.” 

From December 1 – 31, 2020, $0.05 from the sale of Miyoko’s plant-based cheeses will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. 

nutpods  

“As a woman and certified minority-owned business, I recall all too clearly the unique challenges I had to access much needed capital in starting and growing my company.  Sadly, the reality is that only 4% of venture capital and 2% of private equity goes towards women-founded businesses, despite ample field studies that women-led companies yield superior results to their male-led counterparts.  We are thrilled to partner with Whole Planet Foundation to empower women throughout this country with microloans to help them with their endeavors.  We are proud to champion women in business and look forward to seeing their success in the near future!” says Founder and CEO of nutpods, Madeline Haydon, pictured below.  

“Since the inception of our company in 2013, we have had a commitment to paying it forward by donating our time, product, and funds to worthy causes and continually looking for new ways to reduce our environmental footprint.  We believe we can each have a positive impact on our population and planet.” 

From December 1 – 31, 2020, $0.05 from the sale of nutpods will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. 

Picnik 

As a young female entrepreneur, Naomi Seifter founded Picnik as a means to create convenient products to enhance a healthy lifestyle. This holiday season, Picnik is funding microloans through Whole Planet Foundation for other women entrepreneurs around the globe. “We are thrilled to support an organization that helps provide the necessary funding for fellow entrepreneurs around the world to bring their dreams and ideas to fruition,” says the team at Picnik. 

From December 1 – 31, 2020, $0.50 from the sale of Picnik functional creamers will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products.  

Tell It Well Greeting Cards

“I was given the incredible gift of visiting India in 2012 & 2014. Each trip included a visit to groups of women, in rural villages, who are receiving microloans from Whole Planet Foundation’s India partner CASHPOR Micro Credit. These microloans are used to purchase various items to start their own businesses, such as goats, or weaving materials, and enable each woman to create an opportunity that would otherwise not be available to her,” says Amy K Wright, creator and CEO of Tell it Well Greeting Cards. 

 “On average, most of these women are living on less than $2 a day, and this level of poverty prohibits them from gaining access to a loan from a traditional bank. To put it very simply… a microloan = hope and this hope offers a practical way to become an equal business partner with her husband; to feed and clothe her children and gain access to education – many of the basics in my life that I take for granted. I am profoundly changed by my experience of meeting these vibrant and beautiful women in India, who are being empowered to change their own lives, and that is why I am committed to supporting the Whole Planet Foundation.” 

From December 1 – 31, 2020, $0.40 from the sale of Tell It Well Greeeting Cards will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products.

Vital Farms 

“For over 15 years, Whole Planet Foundation has done incredible work around the world aimed at alleviating global poverty. Vital Farms first connected with WPF 10 years ago through our relationship with Whole Foods Market. We have since built a longstanding relationship with the WPF team, inspired by our shared commitment to community and support the budding entrepreneurial spirit, and we are honored to support the Holiday Scanback Program and contribute to the Foundation’s incredible work to create opportunities for women entrepreneurs around the world,” says the team from Vital Farms.  

From December 1 – 31, 2020, $0.10 from the sale of Vital Farms products will be donated to fund microloans to empower the world’s poorest entrepreneurs in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products.

Learn more at wholeplanetfoundation.org and thank you for your support!