Great Giving – “Susan On Money” for Week of April 15th, 2015

On the final flip through of the returns, I lingered on the page listing all of the charitable donations. Feeling proud of what I did do and sorry it wasn’t more. I lost track of time and it cost me as well as countless others.

The list included Kiva, a charity I’ve contributed to for years now. I would like to tell you about them.

“Unlike traditional charities, Kiva (kiva.org) uses a crowdfunded microfinance model to empower small-business owners and craftspeople around the world to pull themselves out of poverty.

 The interest-free loans, which average just over $400, might enable a farmer in Kyrgystan to buy fertilizer and seeds, a woman in Kenya to start a market stall selling craft wares, or a fisherman in El Salvador to purchase a new engine for his boat.

Lenders can provide as little as $25 at a time, 100 percent of which is dedicated to funding loans, and can choose the borrower they wish to assist. Since 2005, Kiva has loaned nearly $692 million to 1.6 million people in 86 countries. The organization boasts at 98.73% return rate on its loans; lenders can reinvest the returns in other borrowers, or cash out at any time.” The Week, April 17, 2015

Charity Navigator rates charities and I’m proud to report that as of today, my beloved Kiva has earned four stars.