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EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Spartan Global Development Fund, a registered student organization that offers microfinance loans to entrepreneurs overseas, has made its 101st loan, now financing business owners in 37 countries.

Michael Thelen, who graduated Dec. 12 with a degree in finance, founded the organization last spring.

Spartan Global, which now has 10 members, utilizes Kiva, an organization that operates a micro-lending Web site that Thelen calls a "microfinance Ebay." The Web site allows Spartan Global to find entrepreneurs who are seeking loans for their projects and connect with fund managers around the world to monitor loans and ensure funds are used to reduce poverty.

"I know families in these countries that have been helped by these loans and I've seen how they can work," said Thelen, who studied abroad while at MSU.

This led Thelen, president of the organization, to carefully disperse the initial $3,500 he raised because he wanted other group members to fully participate in a flat and customer- focused organization.

"I wanted to work on our organizational dynamics, to build personal connection to the people and places we were supporting, so we didn't send out all the money right away," he said.

Thelen hopes to continue to build solid relationships between the entrepreneurs supported by Spartan Global. In mid-January, he will leave for a motorcycle trip through Central and South America.

"It's going to be like a six-month job interview for me," Thelen said. "This is what I want to do, and though I'll be starting out wearing my investor hat, who knows - meeting with microfinance companies down there could transition into a job."

Looking to the future, Thelen views the major obstacle for Spartan Global as finding motivated young student leaders to step up and develop the group further. With goals to eventually provide tax-deductible donations and expand the number of loans, Thelen said he plans to continue his involvement with Spartan Global, but as an ambassador.

Paulette Stenzel, professor of international business law and core faculty member of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, said she's been proud of the work the students have put into the organization.

"It's about building sustainability on an international level," Stenzel said. "As the advisor to Spartan Global, I'm really proud and totally supportive of the students, who are putting a tremendous amount of energy and time into building a successful student-run organization."

Thelen said it was his studying and experiences overseas that encouraged him to get involved in micro-financing around the world.

"Seeing the poverty and need, it shifted my world view," Thelen said. "I knew I could either shun it or I could accept the sense of duty I felt and do something."

To see more details on Spartan Global's loans and entrepeneurs, visit http://www.kiva.org/lender/SpartanGlobal. Or, to keep up with the group itself, visit http://spartanglobal.org/.

Also, watch for Thelen's blog and updates from his travels at http://michaelthelen.com.

http://www.isp.msu.edu/CLACS/

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Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem-solving.