Kiva Reviews 707

We welcome the opportunity to contribute in a small way...AND to witness how many such small additions CAN multiply into genuine assistance. The scope of your organization continues to make us aware of being but a small cog in the world's machinations.

Kiva lends money to local entrepreneurs and small business owners - some run really small businesses, such as a person with a pushcart. I feel I am directly helping someone to succeed in life, no matter if that person is nearby or in another part of the world. I can choose the type of businesses I want to support, the country where I want my contributions to go, etc.

I read that the CEO of Kiva is making more money than a lot of other good charitable non-profits and that Google is an investor that's making millions. They are not giving away loans, they are giving loans with an interest rate those poor people have to pay. I previously donated money to them, but until I know more, I won't be donating to them again.

Granted people are getting loans who may otherwise not be able to get a loan, although I've read that they used to give more information about the people receiving loans than they do now. There are a lot of partner organizations, apparently in most countries, but some of them we have no information.

Kiva provides 'hands on from a distance' lending - you choose exactly who you would like to support and why AND you lend knowing 100% of the money is passed on.

It was easy to navigate the site and pick out the people that I wanted to lend money to. The site is very easy to use and explains every step of the process.

They do a great job at qualifying their borrowers. They make it very easy for lenders to find borrowers that match their priorities.

KIVA is great opportunity to directly help a small business in impoverished areas expand for the benefit of the owner, their family and the community.
All of my loans have been repaid and reloaned.

Provided me with an opportunity to provide feedback and seek answers to my ONE QUESTION re what has happened to Kiva.org and its relationship with NEPAL??

My family and I wish to support Female Nepali entrepreneurs. For many months or perhaps years there have been NO OPPORTUNITIES to do so due to lack of Nepali loans. Has Nepal been abandoned by Kiva ? If so please notify me so that I may seek other more current charitable/microlending opportunities to benefit Nepali women. Needless too say WE ARE DISAPPOINTED.

Just a way to help those less fortunate and hopefully their life and family better

Kiva has a very unique feature which sets it apart from other microlending organizations I've looked at: The fact that your loan, once repaid, can be loaned out again in perpetuity. In other words, each loan I make can help countless people, as I get to choose who the next recipient is after the previous one repays the loan. Another thing I like is that I get to select the borrower based on their need(s) and their geographic location. It's a very personal experience. The only thing I wish I could do was make personal contact with the borrower to see how they're doing. But, I can understand why that wouldn't be a good idea. It's just too risky, for the borrower as well as the lender.

I have been loaning money through Kiva for many years and have always found them to be straightforward and honest. It's nice to be able to help others around the world and see them prosper.

A loan through Kiva has the same satisfying feeling as a simple donation to a worthy cause, with the added very large bonus that the same money comes back and lets you give it over and over again. The web interface is simple and straightforward. You can filter loans by region or gender. You are given a reasonably clear idea of what the money will do for the person borrowing it, and how and when they are likely to pay it back.
It is an excellent giving experience.

I have been loaning for more than a decade. The impact is remarkable.

Kiva will not deny this happens. Please see my previous comment. They said: "Please note that it is in not in the best interest of Kiva in any way for a loan to become delinquent and default, as you have suggested. Loans that eventually default because of extended delinquency do not return to Kiva." Delinquent loans that don't default but your portion has been paid back will go to Kiva if you closed your account. So, they have an incentive to keep delinquent loans open for a very long time. Five years for me. I ran out of patience and closed my account. If they respond to this, please tell the readers how long you keep delinquent loans open.

I put out six small loans to various sectors and countries and am now rating after the terms have all ended. The result was.

Two repayments in full
Two repayments in full with a currency loss
Two defaults with about 50 and 60% paid back

About a 20% loss in money overall. I have no problem with the concept, just that it is positioned as an investment. I think that going forward, I will invest in my brokerage accounts and donate through gofundme.

I've always been a big believer in the charitable philosophy of a "hand up" rather than a "hand out." I've also been impressed with the concept of microcredit--small loans to individuals so that they can become self-sufficient through their own business endeavors. Kiva encapsulates both these concepts in its platform. Plus Kiva in my mind maximizes the efficiency of charitable lending. The most bang for the lent dollar. Kiva allows the lender to customize their loan portfolio to match their interests: country, gender, type of business, environmental concerns, etc. It is by far my favorite cause!

Love being able to pay it forward, to have money reinvested as it is reimbursed.

The site is pretty easy to use. I am a senior and not
at all tech savvy.
I like helping women.

I like that these small loans give people a chance to make their financial situation better. It allows my money to go further for more people.

If your inclined to help other people around the world with no interest loans KIVA’s network of financial partners are easy and quick to contact and they track and record all the loans by country.