BOSTON, Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Accion®, a pioneer and leader in global microfinance, has been named one of 11 high-impact nonprofits working in the field of international microfinance by Philanthropedia, a nonprofit organization working to help donors make smarter gifts by connecting them with effective nonprofits.

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Philanthropedia is a division of GuideStar, an industry leader in nonprofit data with information on more than 1.8 million nonprofits. Over the course of two months, Philanthropedia surveyed 72 experts working in the field of international microfinance to identify those organizations that were making the biggest positive impact in international microfinance. The 2012 ranking places Accion third out of 119 total nonprofits making an impact at the global level.

"Accion has a team of high caliber, experienced practitioners and thought leaders to push the envelope for the industry in areas such as consumer protection, commercialization, savings, and non-credit products," reads one expert review. "They have been working with best-in-class microfinance institutions around the world promoting innovative products."

Experts, including funders, researchers, nonprofit senior staff, consultants and specialists, were asked to recommend up to four high-impact nonprofits and up to two promising start-up nonprofits doing excellent work in the field of microfinance. These nonprofits ranged from direct service providers and research organizations to peer-to-peer platforms, monitoring and evaluation organizations, formal financial institutions and informal financial service providers. For-profit microfinance programs were specifically excluded from this research.

"Accion is honored to be recognized by Philanthropedia as one of the most effective nonprofits in the microfinance industry," said Donella Rapier, Accion Chief Development and Administrative Officer. "The award is a signal that our peers appreciate the work we have accomplished in our 50- year history, as well as that yet to be done as we strive to build a more financially inclusive world."

About Philanthropedia at GuideStar
Philanthropedia's mission is to improve nonprofit effectiveness by directing money to and facilitating discussion about expert-recommended high-impact nonprofits. GuideStar, www.guidestar.org, connects people and organizations with information on the programs and finances of more than 1.8 million IRS-recognized nonprofits. GuideStar serves a wide audience inside and outside the nonprofit sector, including individual donors, nonprofit leaders, grant-makers, government officials, academic researchers and the media.

About Accion
Accion is a global nonprofit dedicated to building a financially inclusive world, with access to economic opportunity for all, by giving people the financial tools they need to improve their lives.  A world pioneer in microfinance, Accion has helped build 62 microfinance institutions in 31 countries reaching millions of clients on four continents over the last 50 years.  The Accion U.S. Network is the largest microfinance network in the country and, since inception, has served hundreds of thousands of clients with loans and support.  For further information, visit www.accion.org.

®Accion is a registered trademark of Accion International.

SOURCE Accion