Root Capital is a nonprofit organization that grows rural prosperity in poor, environmentally vulnerable places in Africa and Latin America by providing capital, delivering financial training, and strengthening market connections for small and growing agricultural businesses. Root Capital clients are associations and private businesses that help create sustainable livelihoods by aggregating the products of hundreds, or, in many cases, thousands of farmers. As of the end of 2012, Root Capital had disbursed more than $480 million in credit to 419 businesses. These loans have helped Root Capital clients improve incomes for more than 450,000 rural households in Africa and Latin America.