The IMF was established in 1946, with 39 members. In 2010, membership stood at 186 countries, which included all the major countries of the world. One of the newest members is Kosovo, which joined in 2009. Each member contributes to a pool of funds which are made available, under certain conditions, to countries that need temporary help. The United States, with the world's largest economy, contributes most to the IMF, providing about 17 percent of total quotas. Financial assistance is usually accompanied by requirements designed to get the recipients' economy onto a more secure footing. The goal of the IMF is to keep currencies stable so that financial weak spots do not unbalance the world economy or allow individual nations to go bankrupt.