Thanksgiving Day is now behind us — Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday, too. Temperatures are dropping quickly, as is rain and even … snow … in some places. Sunset is taking place earlier and earlier. And on the Church calendar, in the lead-up to Christmas, it is now Advent.
One definition of advent is, “The coming or arrival of any person or thing considered significant.” While significance may be like beauty — understood best in the eye of the beholder — most people will agree that Lending to Savings Groups, or FAST (Finance Accelerating Savings group Transformation) loans, have become significant.
We can now report that there are more people living in extreme poverty getting FAST loans than people who live in Honolulu, Cleveland, or Wichita (i.e. 400,000 people). We can also report that the quality of FAST loans, in terms of repayment, keeps getting better.
We have also been telling the world about FAST, sharing the good news with NGOs, banks, governments, and others working to end extreme poverty.
FAST — glad tidings of great joy that is impacting many people!
Merry Christmas, and happy holidays!
FAST loans in fiscal year 2025 (FY25)
In the 12 months through September 30, 2025, Lending to Savings Groups (FAST loans) grew dramatically on all fronts.
FAST loans are a critical part of the THRIVE program. However, World Vision’s FAST loans are also offered in countries where THRIVE is not yet working. In 12 months, World Vision’s global total of people in savings groups getting FAST loans grew from 252,000 to just over 393,000, a growth rate of over 55%.
FAST loans are provided through World Vision’s microfinance subsidiary, VisionFund International. Globally, 43% of VisionFund’s total client base are FAST clients. In Africa, where 73% of all people living in extreme poverty live, 66% of VisionFund’s client base are FAST clients.
The total portfolio of FAST loans more than doubled in FY25, to a total of over $13 million. The average loan to a savings group grew 14% to $923 as more groups became repeat customers, saved more money, and borrowed larger amounts. The quality of the loan portfolio improved, with loans over 30 days late declining to less than 1%. Women make up 77% of the benefiting clients.
Within THRIVE, FAST loans are solidly growing, and the total number of savings groups and members are both ahead of the plan. The number of people in each group was slightly larger than we had expected. We exceeded our target number of savings groups, serving over 5,300 groups. Our target for FY25 was just over 126,000 members and we reached over 158,000 served, 125% of our target.
It is worth restating some fundamentals about THRIVE.
The people we serve live in extreme poverty because their incomes are too low.
THRIVE participants are growing their small farms and businesses to increase family incomes, and by doing so lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
To grow a small farm or business, one needs financial capital.
FAST loans get financial capital to the people World Vision serves.
In FY25, FAST loans did an excellent job of keeping pace with our ambitious strategic goal
— ending extreme poverty for children in our lifetime, to the glory of God.
FAST loan global summit in Uganda
FAST is a world-changing breakthrough, and not only for World Vision. Being so important to the mission to end extreme poverty, World Vision is literally telling the world about FAST loans. VisionFund International reported the following from its September conference in Uganda:
Over 150 delegates from 24 countries gathered in Uganda for the conference “Building Pathways: Formal Financial Inclusion for Savings Group Members”, from September 10-12, 2025.
Jointly hosted by World Vision, VisionFund International (VFI), and members of the Savings Group Linkage Working Group including: CARE, Opportunity International, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, HOPE International, CGAP, Plan International, Chalmers Center, and WomenSave — with support from the World Bank Group, this three-day event brought together leaders and practitioners from NGOs, financial institutions, fintechs, policymakers, investors, funders, and mobile operators to focus on advancing sustainable and formal financial inclusion for savings groups and their members.
"It’s been heartwarming to see over 150 people from 24 countries rallying together for the financial inclusion of savings groups," Martina Crailsheim, VisionFund’s Global Director for Savings Group Linkage said.
"Personally, it was great to see that VisionFund has a leading product in the industry. I have been amazed about the partnership opportunities for FAST and the potential growth and expansion to reach more vulnerable communities," Crailsheim added.
“The Savings Group model continues to prove that true financial inclusion begins at the community level — where trust, resilience, and shared purpose thrive," Mercy Sande Ainomugisha, Chief Executive Officer of VisionFund Uganda said. "This conference reaffirmed that empowering smallholder families, women, and youth through savings-led finance is not just an economic solution, but a catalyst for lasting transformation."
VisionFund’s FAST and insurance products were featured alongside other promising innovations as participants discussed successful products and business models for serving savings groups.
Recording of FAST update call
On November 13, we had an update call highlighting the progress of FAST, what the conference in Uganda was like, and a special sharing from partner, Sherrie Woodring. If you were unable to join us, we have linked the recording here.
New $5 million match opportunity for THRIVE gifts
Some of our longtime partners have again agreed to offer World Vision donors a “MATCH” for their gifts to THRIVE. Up to a value of $5 million, from December 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026, all gifts to THRIVE will be “matched”. That is, if you provide $1.00, the agreement is that $1.00 will be added to become $2.00.
Have you ever wondered, “Why does anyone do that?” There are many reasons but let me explain a few of them.
First, they love to see and hear about people lifting themselves out of extreme poverty through improved farms and businesses.
Second, they love the data that THRIVE has on impact, from incomes 10X higher than when we started in our first program in THRIVE Tanzania, to total return on investment being $6.67 in economic benefit to the participating THRIVE families for every $1.00 invested.
Third, they love the fact that THRIVE always begins with the Biblical Empowered Worldview training, and that helping people understand how God made them and loves them is actually the foundation for economic transformation.
This motivation is summarized well by the writer of Hebrews, but let’s add some of the many ways a few key words are translated into English:
And let us consider how to stir (encourage, stimulate, spur, stir up) one another to love and good works (deeds, things, righteous deeds). Hebrews 10:24
We are hereby stirred, encouraged, stimulated, spurred on, and stirred up!
Partner with us
Give to the Economic Empowerment Global Fund: THRIVE 2030 to help us reach 10 million people in 11 countries with the tools they need to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. Tools include Biblical Empowered Worldview, Savings Groups, Market Knowledge and Access, and FAST (Lending to Savings Groups).
Viet Nam has experienced an unprecedented number of typhoons (hurricanes) and severe storms that have brought devastating winds and flooding to the country, including to the parts of the country where THRIVE works.
This from our program team: In 2025, Viet Nam faced one of its most severe and prolonged typhoon seasons in decades. Eleven typhoons and tropical depressions struck or influenced the country between May and early October, bringing relentless rain, floods, and landslides across northern and central provinces. The compounding impact of these consecutive events, particularly Typhoon No. 10 (Bualoi) and Typhoon No. 11 (Matmo), triggered extensive humanitarian needs and widespread damage to housing, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
Pray for World Vision’s emergency response in Viet Nam, and wisdom for the THRIVE team, following 6 months of devastating storms.
Thank you for uniting with us in prayer and for your faithful partnership!
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