Great Organization. Had To Share.

We normally don't use the blog to promote anything other than ourselves. =) But, Dara and I really believe this organization is doing good in the world and wanted to pass on the info.

The organization is called Kiva. http://www.kiva.org/

Basically you search through Kiva's database of farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, teachers and many others, for people you want to give a loan to. Once you find someone you want to loan to, you set up an account and loan them money. The repayment rate is 99.01%. You don't even have to use your own money for the first loan. If you use either of the links below, a wealthy Kiva sponsor will give you $25 to make your first loan. This isn't charity, these are loans that are paid back from the people you choose to help.

http://www.kiva.org/invitedby/patrick8796

http://www.kiva.org/invitedby/dara4683

I loaned money to a guy in the Ukraine to build another greenhouse on his property. My second loan went to a guy who wants to buy a new tractor in Kosovo. Dara lent money to a woman in the Philippines who needs manure fertilizer for her coconut farm.

Give it a try, its free and makes you feel good! Plus, if you make a free loan you can send a link to others to make free loans and you will get another $25 to donate. This is win win, you feel good and someone who needs help making a living gets a helping hand.

This is from Kiva's "about us" page:

We are a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. Learn more about how it works.

Since Kiva was founded in 2005:

• 917,796 Kiva lenders
• 
  
• $420,234,775in loans
• 
  
• 99.01% Repayment rate

We work with:

• 192 Field Partners
• 
  
• 450 volunteers around the world
• 
  
• 67 different countries
•