Loans That Change Lives

One of my favorite sites is Kiva.org.  If you haven't heard about it, it's a site that brings together needy borrowers with generous individuals.  The borrowers don't have access to traditional lending institutions, so they partner with Kiva (through microfinance institutions) to obtain funds from people willing to support their pursuits.  The loans usually end up coming from many different individuals, and you can make a loan for as little as $25.  You'll notice I keep using the word "loan" - that's right!  It's not a charitable donation, it's actually a loan that the borrower will pay you back over time.  So, you're giving someone a great opportunity to expand their small business, with the expectation of getting your money back.  Now, there are some loans that don't get paid back because of default, but I can tell you that I've personally made 6 loans since I joined the site, and every single one has been paid back in full.  You can research the person you're donating to, read about their business, see their loan history, and see the delinquency rate for the field partner they're going through.  You can search for a borrower to support by country, by gender, and/or by business sector.  I encourage you to jump on the site and see what they're about!  For a short period of time, you can click on the link below and take advantage of a free trial to make your first loan for free!

http://kiva.org/ladieshomejournal

What are you waiting for??