Kiva.org, a micro-lending website, is a non-profit organization that allows people to lend money to individuals and groups in the developing world.  This loan is most often used to fund a small family business, such as raising farm animals or a small textiles shop.

How does it work?

The concept is actually very simple and straightforward.  Kiva has partnered with expert microfinance institutions (field-partners) throughout the developing world.  These field-parters are responsible for interviewing potential entrepreneurs and then posting their full profile on Kiva’s website.  This is where we come in.  By visiting Kiva.org, you are then able to choose where and who (the profiles) you would like to lend money to.  There are several countries to choose from including Vietnam.  After you have chosen someone, you can then lend a minimum of USD$25 to that person through PayPal.  Kiva collects the money and transfers 100% of it to the field-partners in the respective countries where they will be distributed.  The entrepreneur will then begin paying back your loan over the course of 6-12 months where you can then lend to another person at the end of the term.

Charity Link

I have added a charity link to the navigation bar on top of the website.  This link will list our Kiva.org Lender Profiles and keep track of who we lend to.  Our goal is to create a large group of lenders in the family who can collectively help an entrepreneur at the same time.  This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the world and lend a helping hand.

Start Lending Now

My brother, sister, and myself have already funded an entrepreneur in Vietnam.  Her name is Nguyen Thi Nhang from Ninh Giang, Vietnam and is in the meat business selling pork.  I love her business name, Pork!  As of this time, she only needs to raise another $100 for a total of $600 to fund her investment.  I’ll be emailing out invites today, so don’t disregard them as junk mail!  Displayed below are random entrepreneur profiles from Kiva.

UPDATE: Nguyen Thi Nhang has raised the full amount! Yay!