This is a throwback blog post.
“Back in December 2014, I received one of the best gifts I could ever have imagined from my team: a gift card to KIVA. If you are not familiar with Kiva, it is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Kiva achieves this by leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of micro-finance institutions, enabling individuals to lend as little as $25 to help create opportunities around the world.
Since Kiva was founded in 2005, here are some statistics that illustrate their scale in 2014 and today (2023):
In essence, Kiva envisions a world where all people—even in the most remote areas of the globe—hold the power to create opportunities for themselves and others. They achieve this by providing safe, affordable access to capital to those in need, thereby helping people create better lives for themselves and their families.
This is an excellent example of how giving has multiple benefits, creating sustainability and growth for individuals, economies, and societies.
This evening, I selected four different loan programs to allocate the resources I received. Each of these individuals and groups demonstrates remarkable courage in their endeavors. While there are many strategies and approaches, I focused my loans on:
Growing a business, as that creates long-term sustainability
Organizations that provide entrepreneurial support to the borrowers, as this is key to business growth
Vulnerable groups in vulnerable areas, the definition of underserved by any measure
Field Partner organizations that help educate borrowers on finances and savings.
I am eagerly anticipating the progress of the individual efforts and the program overall. This was by far one of the most thoughtful, beautiful, and best gifts I could ever have received. Helping others in a way that empowers and encourages so many skills is gratifying. While I loaned a gift this evening to four groups of individuals, I received something far greater in return.
The more I gave this evening, the more fulfilled and excited I became. My team and I are helping others fulfill their dreams for their families, their communities, and themselves. With a 98.79% repayment rate, the cycle will start all over again. How wonderful is that?
So, to my team, thank you for your generosity and creativity in finding such a fantastic program. I pray these individuals receive all of life's blessings—good health, good fortune, and the ability to create the world they imagine, full of endless possibilities.”
In the past couple of years, I closed my Kiva account by donating the loans so that Kiva could leverage the funds once they were returned. I loved making the loans and seeing the funds repaid and reloaned over and over again to other eligible women business owners. It was a prime example of the impact of leverage and the compounding effects when you have a good business and a solid system to loan out financial resources.
So, why did I recently donate my funds and close the account? Size and attention. The amounts were very small, yet I spent a lot of time selecting the women to fund.
When allocating capital, the size of the investment matters.
Again, this was a wonderful gift that still fills my heart and taught me several valuable lessons. If you have a young son or daughter, this is an excellent way to get them started so they learn a powerful message—the more you give, the more you get.
My cup runneth over from this amazing gift.