Kiva

Kiva.org is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to an entrepreneur in the developing world. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva.org is creating a global community of people connected through lending.

Kiva.org's mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Kiva.org was born of the following beliefs:

• People are by nature generous, and will help others if given the opportunity to do so in a transparent, accountable way.
  
• The poor are highly motivated and can be very successful when given an opportunity.
  
• By connecting people we can create relationships which exceed beyond financial transactions, and build a global community expressing support and encouragement of one another.
  
  

Kiva.org promotes:

• Dignity: Person-to person lending encourages partnership relationships as opposed to benefactor relationships. Partnership relationships are characterized by mutual dignity and respect.
  
• Accountability: Loans encourage more accountability than donations where repayment is not expected.
  
• Transparency: The Kiva.org website is an open platform where communication can flow freely between the developing and developed worlds.
  
  

Kiva.org democratizes philanthropy, allowing the average individual to feel like a mini-Bill Gates by building a portfolio of investments in developing world businesses.

Kiva.org will have facilitated loans totaling $100 million by 2010.

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