ABSTRACT
MERCY CORPS is an organ -ization devoted to helpingothers in crisis: a worthy, though not unusual sounding, nongovernment organization (NGO), until you take a closer look. Mercy describes their mission as “helping turn crisis into opportunity for millions around the world.” And when you notice that their staff is made up of engineers, financial analysts, project managers, public health experts, and logisticians, the news that the organ - ization acquired a commercial bank (Mercy Corps acquired Andara Bank in Indonesia in 2008) starts to make sense. By blurring the lines that distin - guish a charity from a business, Mercy Corps offers us one introduction to the idea of the social entrepreneur. Improving access to microfinance in
