Since its first investment in 2019, the NESsT Lirio Fund has been investing in small and medium-sized enterprises that improve livelihoods and promote sustainable land management in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Today, NESsT is proud to announce that the Lirio Fund has surpassed $20 million USD in disbursements through 37 loans, which have contributed to over 1.5 million hectares of land preserved and 16,000 lives positively impacted.
The current NESsT Lirio Fund portfolio includes 21 companies, with a number of these companies receiving additional loans from NESsT following their growth and success in the portfolio. This is a result of not only NESsT’s in-depth due diligence process that all companies in the portfolio go through before receiving investment, but the confidence NESsT has in these enterprises’ models and impact.
Photo: Laguna de los Cóndores
READ MORE: The NESsT Lirio Fund Renews Support for Three Enterprises Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods in the Peruvian Amazon
In the first half of 2025, Kulkao, Lagunas de los Condores, and Pebani received repeat loans from NESsT, reflecting our continued confidence in the enterprises’ business models and impact.
Looking beyond monetary investment, this milestone also represents the people supported by the companies within the Lirio Fund. With a diverse portfolio made up of biodiverse products from the Amazon, organic and Fair Trade produce and crops, natural health and wellness products, superfoods, coffee, and cocoa, the NESsT Lirio Fund has also invested in the lives of over 16,000 people – including smallholder farmers, Indigenous communities, and victims of conflict areas, among other underrepresented communities – through technical assistance and mentoring. Of these 16,000 people reached, 32% are women.
A growing pipeline for the Lirio Fund comes from the acceleration programs also supported by NESsT. In 2024, coffee cooperative Federación Campesina del Cauca (FCC) was selected to join the NESsT Acceleration Program in South America to scale its business and support for over 350 small coffee farmers. When our comprehensive due diligence processes revealed a need for increased working capital to pay coffee producers, the NESsT acceleration and Lirio Fund teams assessed financing options, ultimately facilitating a revolving capital loan – the NESsT Lirio Fund’s third investment in Colombia.
READ MORE: The NESsT Lirio Fund Invests in Federación Campesina del Cauca, a Long-Standing Coffee Cooperative in Colombia
For over 50 years, FCC has worked to improve the livelihoods of small farmers in an area of Colombia greatly affected by armed violence. The NESsT Lirio Fund extends a revolving working capital line to this long-standing federation of coffee growers, complementing the strategic support from the NESsT Acceleration Portfolio.
This $20 million disbursed would not have been possible without the backing of NESsT Lirio Fund investors. NESsT is very grateful for the support of organizations like SK2 Fund, Kiva, the Inter-American Development Bank, Ceniarth, Capshift, DF Impact Capital, and many others, through which the Lirio Fund has been able to deepen its impact in Peru and Colombia, while also expanding to new regions. In 2024, the Lirio Fund expanded into Brazil to further its efforts to improve livelihoods. With a strong existing presence in the country thanks to its acceleration programs, NESsT is able to further diversify its portfolio and present investment opportunities to funders interested in generating tangible social and environmental impact in Brazil and the Amazon.
Photo: ASSOAB © Bruno Kelly
READ MORE: NESsT Lirio Fund Expands into Brazil to Further its Efforts to Enhance Livelihoods and Sustainable Development in Latin America
Addressing the pressing challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Latin America, the NESsT Lirio Fund expands its reach to invest in small and medium-sized enterprises creating dignified income opportunities and improving local livelihoods in Brazil.
The investments by the Lirio Fund are also not possible without the entrepreneurs seeking financial and technical support through NESsT. It is because of these companies’ impact in their communities and strong commitment to measuring and reporting that impact that the NESsT Lirio Fund has been named Environmental Fund of the Year (2023 winner, 2025 finalist) and included on the IA 50 Emerging Impact Manager list for three consecutive years.
As NESsT looks to the next $20 million, we continue to invite organizations that share our mission and values – whether faith-based organizations, family foundations, or impact first investors – to reach out and learn about opportunities to get involved in the NESsT Lirio Fund.
CONTACT:
Chad Sachs
NESsT Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer
Laya Hess-Skinner
NESsT Development Director
