Ten Thousand Villages is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to transform underresourced artisan communities globally since 1946.
How Your Support Strengthens Artisan Communities
1. Artisan Business Development
Strong, long-term partnerships foster healthy artisan enterprise growth. Our services include one-on-one consultations with artisan enterprises to help improve their products, processes and designs. It is essential to combine their craft expertise with our market insights to develop the best chance for products to be successful in the North American market. Your donation helps us provide ongoing mentorship to ensure artisans meet international standards that improve their ability to increase income through global trade.
“The most valuable lesson I gained was understanding the worth of my work. Before, I sold my products without knowing their true value. Now, I know how to calculate the price based on the time and effort I put in. Our artisan group often discusses fair pricing together. I feel respected and empowered.”
-Goury Mondal in Bangladesh
2. Interest Free, Upfront Financing
Paying a 50% advance to artisan enterprises provides stability in their operations. Unlike conventional retail, we pay 50% of the purchase price before production begins as a way to lower the barrier to entry for artisan enterprises. This enables raw material purchases and timely payment to makers so that orders can be fulfilled without the use of exploitative loans. When the product is ready to ship, we pay the final balance before export so artisans do not carry the burden of tariffs or potential loss or damage. Your donation ensures this upfront investment is available to provide artisan entrepreneurs the stable environment to weather market changes and plan their future.
“We all help each other ... some supply materials and we generate employment. It's a circular economy.”
- Marisol Lazo in Chile
3. Environmental Sustainability
Support accelerates the transition to eco-friendly production practices and materials. We help artisan partners overcome cost and infrastructure barriers by connecting them to sustainable solutions and resources that work for small enterprises. We collaborate to design products that reduce environmental impact and waste. This has led to many artisan partners using recycled, upcycled and sustainable natural materials. Many have effluent water treatment systems to eliminate polluted waste runoff. It’s working. Let’s do more. Your donation means we can accelerate the transition of more artisan partners to climate conscious solutions that contribute to a healthier ecosystem.
“By working with recycled glass, we help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in local landfills. Every bottle we recover is transformed into a new product, giving a second life to a material that would otherwise be discarded.”
- Karla Hernandez in Guatemala
We're grateful to our generous supporters
"We are pleased to support the Artisan Pathways project and we extend our wishes for God's blessings to Ten Thousand Villages."
“Each November we host an International Gift Festival at which we sell fair trade items, many from Ten Thousand Villages ... part of the proceeds of this all-volunteer operation are distributed to Ten Thousand Villages because we believe your use of these donations seeks to respond to global poverty in meaningful ways.”
What Fair Trade Can Do
