Free Press Investment Notes

Media Development Loan Fund's Free Press Investment Notes® (FPIN) are an investment product that let social investors loan money to independent news businesses in emerging democracies while still earning interest on their investment.

Download the prospectus and investment form.

Why should I invest in press freedom?
What is MDLF?
How do Free Press Investment Notes® work?
Rates and terms
Who can buy Free Press Investment Notes®?
How do I invest?
Is my investment safe?
Who administers Free Press Investment Notes®?
How are Free Press Investment Notes® different from a charitable contribution?
Does investing in Free Press Investment Notes® qualify for tax benefits?

Why should I invest in press freedom?
More than 80% of people live in countries without a free press ("Freedom of the Press 2006: A Global Survey of Media Independence", Freedom House). That means more than 5 billion people can't trust what they read in the newspaper, hear on the radio or see on TV. Learning only what their government and its friends want them to know, most people have no meaningful chance to engage in the civic life of their country or have a say in its future.

FPIN offer you an opportunity to start putting that right. By partnering with some of the leading independent journalists in the developing world, your investments will help exceptional individuals committed to truth and objectivity build their news outlets into strong and lasting businesses. Your investments will enable courageous news men and women to buy the printing presses they need to bypass government censors, to purchase stronger radio transmitters to broadcast to more people and to invest in TV equipment to produce news programs that tell the real story.

Backed up by management training and ongoing support, MDLF financing is often the only way an independent media company can access the capital it needs to strengthen and expand while staying free from state control or vested interests. FPIN allow you to support news outlets that hold governments to account, expose corruption and give a voice to the unheard.

What is MDLF?
Media Development Loan Fund is a not-for-profit organization that provides low-cost financing to independent news outlets in countries with a history of media oppression. It also provides the management training and support borrowers need to make the most of their loans. At work in Africa, Asia, the Balkans, Latin America, Russia and the former Soviet states, MDLF seeks to secure a strong and independent press in countries struggling towards democracy.

In the past 10 years, MDLF has helped almost 50 independent media companies in nearly 20 countries finance scores of projects. It has provided more than $45 million in low-cost financing, already collecting back more than $15 million in principal repayments to be lent out again to other news companies. MDLF has written off as losses 3.25% of the total loaned.*

How do Free Press Investment Notes® work?
Your money is pooled together with that of other investors in a revolving loan fund that goes to work over and over, supporting a free press all around the world.

Rates and terms
You can invest as much as you like, or as little as $1,000. You choose the interest rate (up to 3%) and the term of your investment (from 1 to 10 years). But remember, the lower the interest rate and the longer the term you choose, the more it helps MDLF provide the support that news outlets need to make the most of their loans.

Who can buy Free Press Investment Notes®?
If you live in the U.S.: FPIN may not be available in all states. To confirm availability in your state, call us at (212) 807 1304 or send us an email. Anyone can make a donation now.

If you live outside the U.S.: FPIN are only available to U.S. residents. However, you may be able to invest in Voncert responsAbility Media Development, a financial product MDLF launched with Swiss private bank Vontobel that combines a fixed-interest investment with an investment in independent news media through MDLF. Find out more here.

You can also make a donation now.

How do I invest?
To invest, check that you are eligible to buy FPIN (see Who can buy Free Press Investment Notes®?), take a look at the prospectus and complete an investment form. You can read the prospectus and download an investment form here. If you would like to receive an investment kit by mail, call us at (212) 807 1304 or send us an email.

Mail the completed investment form with a check to:

Media Development Loan Fund

37 West 20th Street, Suite 801,

New York, NY 10011.

Is my investment safe?
Although FPIN are not federally insured, they benefit from credit enhancements including portfolio diversification, rigorous due diligence, portfolio monitoring and MDLF's 15 years of experience. And MDLF backs its entire portfolio with a generous loan loss provision and net assets of more than $15 million.

Who administers Free Press Investment Notes®?
FPIN are administered by MDLF.

How are Free Press Investment Notes® different from a charitable contribution?
With FPIN, you essentially partner with leading journalist-entrepreneurs who use the investment capital to become stronger, more effective providers of news and information. For about the same cost, your investment in FPIN has many times more impact compared to a charitable donation. When you make a $20 donation, only $20 goes to work helping people. When you invest $1,000 at 2% interest*, you might sacrifice $20 in interest but your entire $1,000 is pooled with the money of others like you to help news media strengthen and develop.
* compared to a T-bill investment of 4%.

Does investing in Free Press Investment Notes® qualify for tax benefits?
No. There are no tax benefits for FPIN holders. Tax deduction is available where capital is donated to MDLF and enters a permanent revolving loan pool. Contact MDLF for further information.

® -- Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

* -- These numbers were accurate as of March 2006 when FPIN were first registered and remain in promotional material for legal reasons. For current figures, see Track Record in the upper right hand column of this page.