I’ve always wondered how a libertarian CEO like John Mackey - running a company popular with liberals - deals with the touchy subject of charity. It’s a fact, Whole Foods ‘donates’ a lot of money to charity. But after having my cereal this morning I discovered something really interesting printed on the side of the box.

They’re not actually “giving” money away, in the traditional way you think of charity. Instead, they’re providing microloans, which bridge the gap nicely between the ideology of their CEO and the pro-charity ideology of their customer base.

“Alleviating Poverty Worldwide. The mission of Whole Planet Foundation, a Whole Foods Market foundation, is to fund poverty alleviation worldwide by empowering the very poor living in communities that supply whole foods market stores with products. Through grants to microfinance partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America, Whole Planet Foundation provides microloans. Microloans are small loans, usually $200 or less, requiring no collateral or contract. With a microcredit loan, an impoverished woman entrepreneur can create or expand a home-based business and have the opportunity to lift herself and her family out of poverty. Providing the poor in these communities access to credit enables them with an opportunity to escape the vicious cycle of poverty THROUGH THEIR OWN ENERGY AND CREATIVITY.” (emphasis mine)

So considering 95.5% of their micro-loans are paid back in full, Whole Foods isn’t really “giving” anything except free credit. This is awesome, a win-win for both sides of the ideological table. An inspiration for business owners, CEOs, and others faced with social pressures to give their money away in the name of charity.