Our Projects

We invite you to partner with us by funding the following projects:

Microfinance Loans

Loan applicants and their business proposals go through a rigorous, values-driven screening process. MATI and JIMF assess each applicant not only on the viability of their business idea but also on their level of need and the value their business would bring to the local community. We endeavor to support innovative businesses that fill genuine gaps in the local economy, rather than simply displacing existing ones.

We offer tailored financial solutions to match each entrepreneur’s stage of growth:

Standard Growth Track: Loans of c.18,000 NIS

Expansion Track: Loans of up to c. 40,000 NIS

MATI’s expert business mentors assist in drafting the application, assessing feasibility, and ensuring a responsible repayment plan. Each application is reviewed by MATI’s specialists to tailor a personal development roadmap for the borrower.

Interest-Free Loans with 98% Repayment Rate

Our loans are interest-free and free of any administrative charge, so that they are fully compliant with both letter and spirit of religious law, both halacha and sharia. Loan terms are generally around 4 years, with regular repayment commencing after a grace period of around three months. Our borrowers understand that their timely repayment enables the fund to support other women in their community, fostering a powerful sense of mutual accountability.

Unlike cold banking systems, MATI builds a lasting bond with each entrepreneur. This personal relationship allows us to be attentive—offering additional grace periods and flexible solutions during temporary hardships to ensure that their business survives difficulties where at all possible. Through our culturally sensitive approach to training and loan enforcement, JIMF and MATI have maintained loan default rates at 2%

Holistic Support for Borrowers

At the heart of the Jerusalem Interest-Free Microfinance Fund (JIMF) is a belief that access to capital alone is not enough. Sustainable economic empowerment requires skills, mentorship, and ongoing support. That's why almost every loan JIMF provides is paired with comprehensive business training, delivered through our trusted partner, MATI Jerusalem—the Jerusalem Business Development Centre.

Each loan recipient first attends pre-loan training workshops (typically 56 hours of group training) and receives 5 hours of one-to-one mentoring to help them write their business plan. If they are granted an interest-free loan, they enjoy an additional 10 hours of post-loan mentoring and ongoing supervision until their loan is repaid.

Business Training Programmes

Our training partner, MATI Jerusalem, runs training programmes to help microfinance loan recipients to upgrade both their technical business skills and their interpersonal skills. Our goal is to ensure long-term business sustainability, not just a one-time cash injection, by building their confidence and providing dedicated support through the most critical early stages of running a business.

MATI’s business management training covers a wide range of practical topics essential to running a successful enterprise, including:

Sales and customer service
Marketing and market planning
Pricing and financial management
Business rules and regulations
Dealing with suppliers, store owners, and logistics
Time management
Risk management
Digital marketing and social media marketing.

Student Loans

Every year, JIMF distributes loans of c. 10,000 NIS to needy female students from Jerusalem. Applications for these vocational student loans are assessed against the criteria of the credibility of the course, the expectation that it will support remunerative employment, the neediness of the applicants, and the worthiness of the vocation sought.

Page updated

Report abuse