This Woman's Novel Approach to Poverty Is A Game Changer

Compass Working Capital's mission is to help struggling families build the savings and the skills they need to climb out of poverty. Compass programs combine financial education and coaching, with incentives for saving. The asset-based approach works: 60 percent of families in the flagship program have increased their incomes by an average of $11,000 a year, and 81 percent have seen their savings rise to an average of $2,500. In a country where 62 percent of people count less than $1,000 in savings, that's an impressive achievement.