Partnering with Kiva

Kiva partners with a range of organizations, including microfinance institutions (MFIs), social enterprises and nonprofits. Our partner organizations are united by a strong commitment to serving the needs of poor, vulnerable and/or excluded populations, either through financial services or by using credit to expand access to beneficial products and services. In order to cover our costs, Kiva charges the majority of our partners affordable fees based on our assessment of risk, impact and the operating environment.

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Criteria for partnership

  • Display a strong commitment to serving Kiva’s focus populations.
  • Operate an existing lending program with portfolio quality that is in line with market context and industry standards. 
  • Provide a specific proposal for using Kiva’s capital to fund loan products that are affordable for clients  and have a high social impact.
  • Be able to post at least $300,000 USD in loans in the first 12 months on the Kiva website, with the capacity to grow in subsequent years.
  • Have assets or operating revenues of at least $1M USD.
  • Be able to legally accept and repay debt denominated in US Dollars.
  • Be legally registered, licensed, and in good standing.
  • Committed to following the Cerise + SPTF universal client protection standards.

Please note that Kiva is currently unable to accept applications from organizations solely registered in the following countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cuba, EU member countries, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Somalia (inc. Somaliland), South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Yemen. This list may change on an ongoing basis.

Credit tiers

Kiva has a system of credit tiers that enables us to work with a diverse set of Lending Partners with varying credit needs.

  • A Lending Partner’s credit line can range from $100,000 to $5 million USD, depending on the credit tier assigned by Kiva.
  • The level of due diligence that Kiva conducts on a Lending Partner depends on the credit tier assigned, with additional documentation and onsite visits required for higher tiers.
  • A Lending Partner is eligible to graduate to a higher tier as they utilize their credit line and establish a successful track record with Kiva.
  • Kiva limits our exposure to 30% of a partner's loan portfolio, or of a partner's total assets for partners whose primary business is not credit.

If you meet the aforementioned criteria, and are interested in partnering with Kiva, please complete the Partnership Inquiry Form, linked below. This will give Kiva’s analysts insight into whether or not your institution is a strategic fit for Kiva. The application process is as follows:

  • Complete the Partnership Inquiry Form.
  • A Kiva analyst will review your inquiry.
  • Should there be a potential fit, a member of Kiva’s team will contact you and request a formal application.