How our model works
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.
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.
3. Environmental Sustainablity
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.
Message from our CEO
DEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS,
As pioneers of the global fair trade movement, Ten Thousand Villages collaborates with artisans in under-resourced communities to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term partnerships. We are in a period of profound transformation and renewal as an organization, carefully examining every aspect of our work: what we need to continue, what we need to phase out and what we need to reimagine entirely. It is equal parts exciting and challenging.
I joined Ten Thousand Villages as CEO after 10 years as a volunteer to revitalize this mission and champion our community who care deeply about people and planet. I am incredibly proud of all this organization has accomplished since it started 78 years ago, but there is so much more we can do to change the way the world buys and sells. We believe in honoring the artisan and helping them develop better products for you.
What Fair trade can do
