Investours brings socially responsible travelers in Mexico and Tanzania to meet and interact directly with local artisans, learn about culture and life in the community, and enjoy a traditional meal. Later, Investours pools the tour fees and supports an
interest-free loan for one of the artisans we visited.
This innovative model is generating capital for microfinance, making possible interest-free loans, and creating a network of travelers committed to giving back directly to the places they visit.
We have been very successful so far: To date, we have contributed over $21,000 as interest-free loans in Mexico and Tanzania! However, we are still only running an average of 2 tours a month in each location. We don't have the resources to invest in printing
flyers, purchasing ads in local and international publications, and hiring a marketing manager to really take our project to the next level.
$2,000 Tipping Point Goal
We will use the funds to launch a major marketing campaign this fall and reach more travelers to participate in our tours. This includes: advertising in magazines, printing marketing materials on the ground, hosting community events
(featuring our artisans) to raise awareness about our work, and hosting events at universities across the U.S.
When we reach our tipping point, we will be able to print 1,000 more brochures, buy 15 ads in local and international publications, and host 2 awareness events (in Mexico and Tanzania). We are confident that with all of these efforts,
we will be running an average of 5 tours per month by next year.
Our model is self-sustaining: the interest-free loans are paid back to Investours and used to cover operational costs. Therefore, once our marketing campaign is successful and we begin running regular tours, we will no longer rely
on outside funding to fuel our programs!
After our two current programs become self-sustaining (we pass our tipping point), we can begin developing plans to expand to new locations and bring our innovative model for poverty alleviation to new developing areas. We have already
begun plans for new programs in Cancun, Mexico and Arusha, Tanzania, and once our current programs begin generating revenue can reinvest the money into these exciting expansion efforts!
