2.6 billion people around the world have no access to financial services. No bank accounts. No savings. They live day to day, often depending on informal moneylenders who charge sky-high interest rates to get by. All it takes is one illness, one injury, one natural disaster, and they could lose everything. But it doesn't have to be this way. In the last 40 years, microfinance has grown into a global movement, giving people access to small loans to grow their businesses and achieve economic stability. But there's still so much work to be done.
Founded in 2005, Kiva is the first and largest microlending platform on the web, enabling anyone with an internet connection to make small loans to entrepreneurs in over 65 countries. By harnessing the power of crowdfunding, Kiva has helped 950,000 lenders make a difference for over a million borrowers around the world. The results are incredible. Families who were barely able to put food on the table now have the ability to send their children to school. Young people living in countries with high unemployment rates can get the capital to start their own businesses. People have been able to get loans to replace dirty kerosene lanterns with solar lights, bring clean water to their communities, pay for college -- and most importantly, life themselves out of poverty.
To make this possible, Kiva partners with close to 200 organizations working on the ground to not only administer loans, but also provide many other beneficial services -- from health insurance, to childcare, to financial literacy, to business training, to savings accounts, and so much more. At Kiva, we work hard every day to find the world's best partners who prioritize borrowers' health, happiness and success. Through lending, you can become part of this life-changing ecosystem.
When you make a loan, you're not giving anyone a hand out. You're giving them the tools to help themselves. And when the borrowers you support repay, you get that money back to keep or to invest in even more people to help their dreams come true.
You can make a difference for as little as $25. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1) Choose a borrower.
2) Make a loan.
3) Get repaid, and do it again!
Commit on the top right of this page to make a loan on Kiva and change a life.
Join Kiva today and make a loan for as little as $25 to support a borrower of your choice. Even a small loan can make a big difference.