The IDEAS mission is to contribute to the sustainable economic development of poor and moderate income persons by providing training, technical assistance, consulting, mentoring, and information on innovations of financial and non-financial services to institutions and professionals.

IDEAS believes in building local institutional capacity in the developing world to support community economic development, entrepreneurship, and mutually-reliant livelihoods for the poor. The following values guide us in realizing this vision:

• Mutual Respect: Through our practice of involving practitioners and learners, IDEAS sets a high standard of mutual respect, understanding and caring so that we serve as a model.
• Gender Equity : We particularly focus on the empowerment of women to promote the concept that women receive equal and equitable opportunities in the distribution of resources and returns on investments.
• Diversity and Inclusion : We work for an appreciation of diversity, policies of inclusion, and an end to all discrimination.
• Socioeconomic and Institutional Change : We work for positive institutional change to increase socioeconomic impact.
• Practitioner focus : We invest in building the capacity of practitioners to help them develop responsive and sustainable solutions to the development challenges of their clientele.
• Participatory: Our work is done through the use of practitioners, trainees and volunteers from the organizations and countries that are benefiting. Whenever possible, we use participatory evaluation techniques.
• Innovation : We develop new tools, services, and curriculum.
• Social Responsibility : We promote the socially responsible use of all resources and investments.
• Accountability : We are committed to being accountable to our clients, donors, goals and mission.