Our Mission
Whole Planet Foundation® is a private, nonprofit organization established by Whole Foods Market® and dedicated to poverty alleviation. We aim to empower the world’s poorest people with microcredit in places where Whole Foods Market sources products.

WHO WE SUPPORT
WHERE WE WORK
Our History
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OCTOBER 2005
Whole Foods Market® stores hold a nationwide 5% day to seed Whole Planet Foundation.
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APRIL 2006
First Whole Planet Foundation-funded loan disbursed.
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AUGUST 2008
First microloan disbursed in the United States.
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JUNE 2010
The foundation hires full-time field staff to expand microlending projects to new countries.
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MARCH 2018
To date, the foundation has disbursed $63 million through microlending partners worldwide, funding 2.6 million microloans and 13.5 million opportunities for microentrepreneurs and their family members.
MORE IMPACT NUMBERS
Whole Planet Foundation Team
Most of our team is based in Austin, Texas, the birthplace of Whole Foods Market. Some of our programs team members live in Vietnam, Kenya, and the United Kingdom, traveling to visit our microfinance partners annually. Check out their discoveries and observations on our Dispatch from the Field.
Our Board of Directors (USA)

John Mackey
Founder, Whole Planet FoundationJohn Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, has led the natural and organic grocer as it has grown from a single store in Austin, Texas, founded in 1978, to an $11 billion Fortune 300 company, and a top U.S. supermarket.
Mackey founded Whole Planet Foundation to alleviate poverty in developing nations where the company sources products. He has also been the visionary for many successful programs at the core of Whole Foods Market, such as the Local Producer Loan Program to help local farmers and food producers expand their businesses; the Global Animal Partnership to set standards for farm animal treatment; and the company’s Health Starts Here initiative.
Our Board of Directors (UK)
Philip Sansone
(Chairman of the Board)
Brian Doe
Vera Hale
Joy Stoddard
Lee Valkenaar
Tricia Yost
Daniel Zoltani
Our Board of Directors (CAN)
Philip Sansone
(Chairman of the Board)
Cristina DosSantos
Joy Stoddard
Lee Valkenaar
Tricia Yost
Daniel Zoltani
Advisory Committee
Bobby Covington
Benjamin B. Orphan Eksouzian
Danna Fleishman
Denyse Forbes
Emily Krapausky
Jaimee Rondeau
Kar Davis
Magatte Wade
Marci Frumkin
Vidar Jorgensen
Dispatch from the Field
Real-time photos and tales from the Whole Planet Foundation team living and traveling all over the world.