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Kiva U.S.
How do I get a loan?
Kiva is not a bank or a microfinance institution, which means that we do not receive or review applications for loans. We do know that looking for the right loan can be a challenging process so here are a few options that you might consider:
Entrepreneurs in the U.S. --
Kiva supports entrepreneurs in the U.S. with interest-free loans for their businesses. These loans are crowdfunded by lenders all over the world and are paid back over the course of a couple of months to a few years. Kiva U.S. loans can be as large as $10,000.
Rather than assessing credit history and financial statements, Kiva U.S. relies on your trust networks as a measure of creditworthiness. For that reason, applicants are required to secure a trustee or their initial lenders from within their own network prior to fundraising on the Kiva website. To learn more and consider applying for a loan, please visit: borrow.kiva.org
If you have further questions about applying for a loan through the Kiva U.S. program, please email: borrowers@kiva.org
Borrowers in countries around the globe --
Kiva partners with Field Partners in many countries around the world, who may be able to make a loan to you. Loans from these partners vary in interest rates, loan amounts and requirements. If you are located outside of the U.S. and would like to apply for a loan through a Kiva Field Partner please contact the Field Partner working in your local area directly. A list of Kiva's Field Partners and their contact information can be found on their partner pages: kiva.org/about/where-kiva-works
If you cannot find a Field Partner near you, please try the Mix Market, which is a great website that collects data on microfinance institutions around the world. Please refer to their website: mixmarket.org
Please note: Mix Market is an information service and does not provide funding. Also note that Kiva does not participate or have a say in which businesses are selected by our Field Partners. Contact each Field Partner directly for more information on loan requirements and underwriting guidelines.
How do I lend the credit in my account?
To lend your Kiva credit, please follow these steps:
1. Go to kiva.org/login and sign into your Kiva account.
2. Click "Lend" and find a borrower you'd like to support. When you do, click "Lend $25" to add that loan to your basket.
3. Add additional loans to your basket or click "Basket" to begin the checkout process.
4. On the basket page you'll see your loans, and will also be asked to make an optional donation to Kiva's operating expenses. You can edit this suggested donation by clicking the "Edit" link next to the donation amount and selecting the amount you wish to donate ($0.00 is an option).
5. If your basket looks good, click "Continue" and you'll be taken to the "Review & Pay" page where you'll see your available Kiva credit automatically deducted from your total. Review your transaction and click "Complete order."
If your total exceeds the amount of credit in your account, the amount of your credit will be deducted from your total, and you will be directed to PayPal to pay for the remainder of your purchase with funds from a credit card or a PayPal account.
Upon completion of your purchase you will be directed to a "Thank You" page on Kiva's website. You will also receive a receipt confirming your successful loan purchase.
How do I use a Kiva Card?
To use your Kiva Card, start by going to kiva.org/redeem
On this page you'll see a box where you can enter in the Kiva Card gift code and click "Apply."
Once you've entered in your gift code, click the blue "Get Started, Find a Loan" button to be directed to all the loans that are currently fundraising. Find a loan that interests you and when you do, add that loan to your basket by clicking the blue "Lend $25" button.
When you've added all your loans to your basket, click "Basket" at the top of the screen. This will direct you through the checkout process, where you review your order and make sure that everything looks okay. You'll also be given the opportunity to make a donation to Kiva's operating expenses if you want. If your basket looks correct, click "Continue" to proceed through the checkout process.
You will then be prompted to sign into your Kiva account or register if you don't have one. Once you sign in, you'll be taken to the last step of the checkout process (the "Review & Pay" screen). On this page you can review your order one more time and then click "Complete order" or "Pay Now" to complete your purchase.
Please note, if your total exceeds the amount of your Kiva Card, the amount of your gift will be deducted from your total, and you will be directed to PayPal to pay for the remainder of your purchase with funds from a credit card or a PayPal account.
Upon completion of your purchase you will be directed to a "Thank You" page on Kiva's website. You will also receive a receipt confirming your successful loan purchase using your Kiva Card.
Do I have to donate to Kiva's operating expenses?
Donations to Kiva's operating expenses are always completely optional, however they are vital to the work that we do at Kiva.
100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes directly toward funding loans. Kiva doesn't take a cut of the loans made on our website, but instead support our operations through optional donations from our lender community. That is why when you check out on Kiva, we'll automatically ask for a 15% donation. However, this donation is always completely optional and you can change your donation amount on the "Basket" page by clicking the "Edit" link below the donation amount. You'll see a window where you can edit your donation amount ($0.00 is an option). Click "Update my Donation" to save the changes.
How do I view my transaction history?
You can see a record of all your transactions on Kiva by signing into your Kiva account and going to: kiva.org/portfolio/transactions
This page will list your entire transaction history so that you can check on any of your past deposits, purchases, repayments and withdrawals.
How do I change the email address registered with my account?
Once you're signed into your Kiva account, you can change the email address associated with your account by going to: kiva.org/settings/account. On this page, enter in your new email address and your Kiva password in the fields provided and click "Update email".
How do I withdraw funds from my Kiva account back into my PayPal account?
To withdraw your funds from Kiva, go to: kiva.org/withdraw
You can also access this page by signing into your Kiva account and clicking "Withdraw" under your available credit balance in your portfolio.
On this page, enter the amount you wish to withdraw and the email address registered with your PayPal account (you will need to type this email twice), then follow the prompts.
Kiva and PayPal will process your withdrawal request, your funds should be deposited into your PayPal account in 1 to 2 week's time.
Currently all withdrawals must be completed to PayPal accounts, and Kiva cannot deposit funds directly into your personal bank account. If you do not have a PayPal account, please create one at: paypal.com
Why are there no Field Partners or borrowers in country X?
Kiva works with Field Partners in over 80 countries, and this number is increasing as our partnerships team is able to locate and onboard new partners across the globe. For a list of all our Field Partners and the countries where they work, please visit our partner pages: kiva.org/about/where-kiva-works
Eventually we hope to work in every country around the world, but also must grow at a pace that's healthy for both our current partners and for Kiva.
If we don't work in a country you're interested in supporting, you can check out the Mix Market, which is a great website that collects data on microfinance institutions around the world. You may be able to find a microfinance institution in your area of interest on this site. Please refer to their website at: mixmarket.org
Also, if you know of an organization that would be a great Field Partner that's working in a country where Kiva doesn't yet work, please encourage them to apply on our website. For more information about what criteria Kiva looks for in new Field Partners, please visit: kiva.org/about/where-kiva-works/partner
How do I make a loan on Kiva?
To make a loan on Kiva, try following these step-by-step instructions:
1. Go to kiva.org/login and sign into your Kiva account or create a Kiva account.
2. Click the "Lend" at the top of the page, which will take you to a list of borrowers that you can support.
3. Select a borrower to whom you'd like to support and click "Lend $25." Add additional loans to your basket or click to proceed to checkout.
4. In your basket you'll see your loans plus a suggested optional donation to Kiva's operating expenses. You can edit this donation by clicking the "Edit" link under the donation amount and selecting the amount you wish to donate ($0.00 is an option).
5. Click "Continue" and continue through the checkout process where you'll be directed to PayPal's website to complete payment for your loan.
Upon completion of your purchase you will be directed to a "Thank You"
page on Kiva's website and will receive an emailed receipt confirming your loan purchase.
How do I print the Kiva Cards I purchased?
Your Kiva Cards are available for printing anytime before the gift has been redeemed.
To check the status of your Kiva Cards or to print a copy, please sign into your Kiva account and go to: kiva.org/portfolio/kiva-cards
Next to each Kiva Card you'll see a link where you can print that Kiva Card. When the Kiva Card has been redeemed, the name of the redeemer will appear beside the code.
Why isn't PayPal accepting my credit card?
PayPal provides Kiva with free payment processing on all financial transactions, which means that regardless of whether you pay using your credit card or PayPal account, PayPal will process your payment and send you a receipt. Because of this, if you run into trouble using your credit card to make a payment on Kiva, we unfortunately can't do anything directly to figure out why your payment isn't going through.
To help troubleshoot the issue, you may want to try using a different browser or clearing your current browser's cache and cookies, or using a different credit card.
If you continue having trouble using your credit card, please give PayPal's customer service team a call at 888-445-5032 (Toll Free US) or 402-952-8811 (International), or reach out and explain your issue to Kiva's PayPal representative, Tricia Wallace, at twallace@paypal.com
How do I purchase a Kiva Card?
You can purchase a Kiva Card by going to: kiva.org/gifts/kiva-cards
On this page you will be given options to select the delivery method, value and quantity of the Kiva Cards you wish to buy. Once you've done that and also agreed to our Kiva Card terms and conditions, you can add the Kiva Card to your basket by clicking "Add to Basket" or "Add to Basket and Checkout".
To pay for your Kiva Cards, proceed to the basket where you can begin the checkout process. Once you've gone through the checkout process and completed your purchase, you'll be directed to a "Thank you" page on Kiva's website and will also receive an email from Kiva confirming your purchase.
Please note, you can view and/or print the Kiva Cards you've purchased at any time by signing into your Kiva account and going to: kiva.org/portfolio/kiva-cards
How can my organization become a Field Partner?
Thanks for your interest in becoming a Field Partner. The best place to learn about our criteria for Field Partners is on our website here: kiva.org/partners/info
This page also contains the application, so if your organization fits the requirements, please apply online.
In order to apply for partnership, an organization must at minimum:
--Display a strong commitment to serving the needs of poor, vulnerable, and/or excluded populations.
--Operate an existing lending program with portfolio quality that is in line with market context and industry standards, or be prepared and legally able to set up a lending program.
--Provide a specific proposal for using Kiva’s capital to fund loans with a) high social or environmental impact, and b) pricing that is in line with market context and industry standards.
--Be able to post at least $50,000 USD in loans in the first 12 months on the Kiva website, with capacity to grow in subsequent years.
--Have assets or operating revenues of at least $100,000 USD.
--Be able to legally accept and repay US Dollar debt capital and manage currency risk.
--Be legally registered in its country of operation.
I forgot my password. How do I change it?
You can reset your Kiva account password by going to kiva.org/login
Click the "Forget your password?" link. Enter your email address and we'll send you instructions on how to reset your password.
For security reasons, the password reset instructions will expire if they are not used within a few hours of being sent, so please make sure you change your password soon after receiving these instructions.
Can I make a loan by paying with a check rather than a credit card?
You're welcome to add credit to your account by mailing us a check.
To add funds by check, you'll need to first register for a Kiva account if you don't already have one.
Write your check payable to "Kiva Microfunds" and on the back of the check write the email address associated with your Kiva account.
Please also note the amount you'd like to be credited to your Kiva account for lending and the amount that should be donated to Kiva's operating expenses, should you wish to donate (we recommend 5-10% to help cover the administrative costs associated with check processing).
Mail the check to:
Kiva
Attn: Maria Zaldivar
875 Howard Street, Suite 340
San Francisco, CA 94103
When your check payment has been processed, which can take a few weeks, we will credit your account and notify you by email. You can then make a loan through the website using the Kiva credit available in your account as payment.
How can I get a tax receipt for my donations?
To print a tax receipt for any donations made to Kiva's operating expenses, all you need to do is sign into your account. Once signed in, go to: kiva.org/portfolio/donations
This page will display a list of all donations you've made and will also give you the option to print a donation receipt.
I know someone who needs a loan. How do they apply?
Kiva is not a bank or a microfinance institution, which means that we do not receive or review applications for loans. We do, however, know that looking for the right loan can be a challenging process so here are a few options that your friend can consider in their search for a loan:
Entrepreneurs in the U.S. --
Kiva U.S. supports entrepreneurs in the U.S. with interest-free loans for their businesses. These loans are crowdfunded by lenders all over the world and are paid back over the course of a couple of months to a few years. Kiva U.S. loans can be as large as $10,000. Rather than assessing credit history and financial statements, Kiva U.S. relies on your trust networks as a measure of creditworthiness. For that reason, applicants are required to secure a trustee or their initial lenders from within their own network prior to fundraising on the Kiva website.
To learn more and consider applying for a loan, please visit: borrow.kiva.org
If you have further questions about applying for a loan through Kiva U.S., please email borrowers@kiva.org
Borrowers in other countries around the globe --
Kiva also partners with Field Partners in many countries around the world. Loans from these partners vary in interest rates, loan amounts and requirements. To apply for a loan through a Kiva Field Partner please have your friend contact the organization directly. A list of Kiva's Field Partners and their contact information can be found on the Field Partners page: kiva.org/partners
If your friend cannot find a Field Partner working in their local area and lives outside of the United States, please have them try the Mix Market, which is a great website that collects data on microfinance institutions around the world. Please refer to their website: mixmarket.org
Please note that Mix Market is an information service and does not provide funding. Also note that Kiva does not participate or have a say in which businesses are selected by our Field Partners. Contact each Field Partner directly for more information on loan requirements and underwriting guidelines.
Can Kiva relend my Kiva credit for me?
While we can't make specific loans on your behalf, Kiva has a feature called auto lending which will automatically relend your Kiva credit according to preferences you set.
To turn on auto lending, sign into your Kiva account and go to: kiva.org/settings/credit
Once you’ve selected your auto lending preferences, click the “Save auto lending settings” button at the bottom of the page to turn on auto lending.
Can I combine or merge Kiva accounts?
At the moment we do not have a feature that would allow us to move loan shares from one account or combine two existing Kiva accounts.
If you'd like to move funds from one account to another, the best thing to do is to purchase a Kiva Card or withdraw the funds and then deposit them into the other account.
Why are your Field Partners' interest rates so high?
We often get questions about the interest and fees charged by our Field Partners, as the rates on Kiva's website often seem higher to lenders than what they're accustomed to seeing. The average interest rate and fees charged is noted using the “Average Cost to Borrower” field, and this helps cover the high operational costs of facilitating microloans and providing services to borrowers. At Kiva we believe that sustainability is critical to reaching more families and communities around the world, and charging interest to borrowers enables our Field Partners to cover their costs of providing a service, while working to achieve self-sustainability.
Because our Field Partners don’t have to pay interest to Kiva for funds provided by Kiva lenders, Kiva loans provide Field Partners with the flexibility to reach more communities and more rural or underserved populations. Most Kiva Field Partners do charge borrowers interest in some form, however Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Field Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, Kiva partners only with organizations and microfinance institutions that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked and underserved.
A couple of things to consider when thinking about interest rates:
1. As many of our partners serve communities in rural areas, the labor of distributing and collecting loan payments can add to the organization’s operational costs.
2. Comparisons of interest rates charged by commercial banks in underdeveloped countries and interest rates charged in developed countries can be misleading. A developed banking system can provide funds at lower rates, and when a bank facilitates larger loans, a lower proportion of costs are needed to cover transactional expenses. Microfinance is an expensive business, which is essentially the reason small loans are not provided by large banks.
3. Developing countries also typically have high inflation rates which need to be factored into the interest rates charged. For example, an interest rate of 20% per year in a country where inflation was 22% per year would not cover costs. The interest rate charged by the institution would need to be greater than 22% in order to simply cover the cost of inflation, let alone other operational costs.
In addition to the average cost to borrower, we list our Field Partners' return on assets (ROA) on their partner pages (kiva.org/partners) so that lenders can see how much money the Field Partner is making based on the loans they’re disbursing. ROA is a measure of profitability, and currently, our partner average a negative ROA.
For additional information about interest rates in the microfinance industry, check out: mftransparency.org/
Can I change the recipient information or delivery method of a Kiva Card after it's been purchased?
Unfortunately it isn't possible to change the email address, delivery method or any other details associated with a Kiva Card after it's been purchased.
However, all one needs to redeem a Kiva Card is the gift code. You can find the gift code for any Kiva Card you've purchased by signing into your Kiva account and going to: kiva.org/portfolio/kiva-cards
Alternatively, we can cancel the incorrect Kiva Card, returning the funds to your account in the form of Kiva credit. You can then use the credit to purchase another Kiva Card with the correct information or delivery method.
Will I receive interest on my loan?
Kiva doesn't pay interest to lenders. Lending on Kiva involves risk of principal loss, and loans should not be considered an investment.
Do I have to use PayPal when I checkout?
When you make a purchase on Kiva's website, you should have the option to pay with funds from a credit card or a PayPal account.
Regardless of which option you choose, PayPal will process your payment and send you a receipt. Kiva uses PayPal to process all of our financial transactions, as they provide us with free payment processing. This support saves us approximately one million dollars annually and helps us to keep our operating expenses low.
Please note that you will, however, need a PayPal account if you withdraw funds from Kiva.
What is auto lending?
Auto lending is a feature that helps ensure that you never have unused Kiva credit sitting idle in your Kiva account when it could be lent out to a Kiva borrower. When you turn on auto lending, our system automatically makes loans for you using the Kiva credit already in your account. The loans it makes are only triggered by another Kiva lender making a loan to a borrower that matches the criteria you select. This puts your idle credit to work, but ensures that people are still the driving force behind the loans made.
To turn on auto lending, just sign into your Kiva account and go to: kiva.org/settings/credit. Use the options to select your auto lending settings, and once you do, click the “Save auto lending settings” button to enable auto lending.
I'm having trouble using Kiva's website. Can you help me troubleshoot?
If you're experiencing difficulties using Kiva's website, here are a few steps you can try to help resolve the issue:
-Use a private browser or go into "incognito mode"
-Clear your browser cache and delete your browser cookies-Enable cookies
-Change the security settings on your browser to allow Kiva as a trusted site
-Try using an alternate browser or upgrading your browser to the most current version
If the problem continues, please let us know and we'd be happy to help troubleshoot the issue further.
Thanks for your patience and your support.
How do I unsubscribe from Kiva's email lists?
You can edit your email preferences with Kiva, by signing into your account and going to: kiva.org/settings/email
Please note, so long as have a Kiva account, you will receive some emails from Kiva. We are legally required to send you some information about your account status and activity. Otherwise, you can pick and choose what emails you receive.
How is PayPal involved in the checkout process?
At Kiva we actually do not handle lender financial information. Instead, PayPal provides us with free payment processing on all financial transactions. This means that regardless of whether you use funds from a credit card or a PayPal account to make loans on Kiva, PayPal will process your payment and send you a receipt. This partnership saves us approximately one million dollars annually and helps us to keep our operating expenses low.
For questions about using PayPal, please visit their website at paypal.com, or contact their customer service team at 888-445-5032 (Toll Free US) or 402-952-8811 (International), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.
How do I donate my credit to Kiva?
You can donate your Kiva credit to Kiva's operating expenses by signing into your Kiva account and going to: kiva.org/portfolio
Under your Available Kiva credit balance you should see a “Donate” link. Click this and your balance will be added to your basket as a donation. If you want to change your donation amount, you can do so here. When you're ready to proceed, click "Continue." Review your order and click "Complete order" to make your donation.
You'll receive an email notification letting you know that your donation to Kiva was completed successfully. Please keep this email for your tax records. Thanks for your support of Kiva!
I live in the U.S., how do I get a loan?
If you're a small business owner in the United States, you may be interested in learning more about our direct lending program, Kiva U.S.
Kiva U.S. supports entrepreneurs in the U.S. with interest-free loans for their businesses. These loans are crowdfunded by lenders all over the world and are paid back over the course of a couple of months to a few years. Kiva U.S. loans can be as large as $10,000.
Rather than assessing credit history and financial statements, Kiva U.S. relies on your trust networks as a measure of creditworthiness. For that reason, applicants are required to secure a trustee or their initial lenders from within their own network prior to fundraising on the Kiva website. To learn more and consider applying for a loan, please visit: borrow.kiva.org
If you have further questions about applying for a loan through Kiva U.S., please email: borrowers@kiva.org
What's the difference between a Kiva loan and a donation?
Lending and donating on Kiva are 2 distinctly different actions that are often confused.
When you lend to a borrower, your loans are not tax-deductible. Our hope is that all Kiva loans will be repaid so that you can use your funds to lend again.
When you donate to Kiva, you are helping to fund Kiva's operating expenses and cover the cost of running Kiva. Donations to Kiva are tax deductible. When you lend, you have an opportunity to make a donation to Kiva in addition to your loan. You can also donate to Kiva at any time here: kiva.org/about/supportus
How do I add Kiva credit to my account?
You can add credit to your Kiva account by signing in and going to: kiva.org/portfolio
Click the "Add Credit" link under your Available Kiva credit balance (or go directly to: kiva.org/portfolio/credit/deposit). Enter the amount of credit you want to add and click "Checkout with PayPal" to proceed through the payment process. Once you’ve completed payment you'll be directed back to Kiva's website and your Kiva credit will appear in your account.
Please note, Kiva also has the option to set up a monthly deposit into your Kiva account. For more information, please visit: kiva.org/settings/credit
I want to use my credit card but am directed to PayPal's site to pay. What do I do?
When you're directed to PayPal to complete payment of your purchase, if you wish to use a credit card as payment, look for the option to checkout as a PayPal guest and use your debit or credit card (this option is usually below the "Pay with my PayPal account" option, so it can be easy to miss). When you click on "Pay by debit or credit card," it should give you the option to enter in your credit card information.
Please note, even if you pay as a guest using your credit card, PayPal will process your payment and send you a receipt. PayPal provides Kiva with free payment processing on all financial transactions.
If you have any trouble using your credit card to make a payment on Kiva, or aren't given the option to checkout as a PayPal guest, please contact PayPal's customer service team at 888-445-5032 (Toll Free US) or 402-952-8811 (International), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST or email them through their website at paypal.com/help
How can I view the loans in my portfolio?
You can sign into your Kiva account at any time to view the loans in your Kiva portfolio. When signed in, go to: kiva.org/portfolio/loans
Why does it take so long for my withdrawal to complete?
Completing withdrawals via PayPal is a manual process, and as such, takes longer than accepting funds. Kiva needs to manually compile all withdrawal requests, review them and send them to PayPal for processing.
Depending on our capacity, we try to process withdrawals once a week, and you will most likely see the funds in your PayPal account this coming Friday. However, from time to time, withdrawal processing can be delayed.
Once Kiva sends withdrawal funds to PayPal, you should be able to access them immediately.
Does Kiva have any volunteer or internship positions?
Absolutely. Kiva volunteers are vital to the work we do!
We post information about all available volunteer and internship positions on our website here: kiva.org/volunteer
Can I contact the borrower?
Kiva and its Field Partners are unable to facilitate direct communication between lenders and borrowers at this time. However, if there is an update on a loan, you can post a comment in response. The Field Partner may see this comment, and possibly even share your words of encouragement with the borrower.
In addition, if being able to communicate with borrowers you support is something that interests you, you may be interested in checking out Kiva's direct lending program in the United States. One of the features of direct loans is that it allows borrowers and lenders to communicate more directly with one another through lender comments.
Can I forgive a loan or request that a borrower not have to repay?
While offers to forgive loans are very kind and generous, Kiva's lending process is designed to accommodate loans and not donations. This means that all funding requests posted to Kiva are considered loans, and there isn't a way to request that a borrower not be required to repay your portion of the loan he or she received.
Our hope is that once you've been repaid, you'll use those funds again to make even more loans on Kiva -- helping to reach even more borrowers around the world.
How do I create a Kiva account?
Registering for Kiva is free and and easy. To get started go to kiva.org/register
In order to register for a Kiva account you'll need to supply your first and last name and email address, then create a password to keep your account secure. You can also choose to upload a picture or choose to create a public lender page. Read through the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and check the box confirming that you've read them. Click "Register" to get started.
You can also use the option to sign up using Facebook Connect, which will allow you to create a Kiva account using your Facebook login information.
Do you have brochures or promotional materials?
We have a printable flyer available here: brandfolder.com/s/o9k5d4-6unmo-bhr0xk
Thanks for spreading the word about Kiva!
Can I lend less than $25?
At Kiva, we divide loans into shares of $25. For this reason, the minimum amount that you can contribute to a loan on Kiva is $25. However, you can still make a loan if you have less than $25 of Kiva credit in your account. When you select a loan to support and proceed through the check out process, we'll automatically deduct the Kiva credit in your account from the amount of your purchase. You can then pay for the remainder of your loan with funds from a credit card or PayPal account.
How do I know if the recipient has used the Kiva Card?
You can check on the status of your Kiva Cards by signing into your Kiva account and going to: kiva.org/portfolio/kiva-cards
This page will display all the Kiva Cards you've purchased, as well as the status of each Kiva Card.
Can I count old loans to my lending team?
You can add or change the team association for up to 14 days after the loan is made. After 14 days it is not possible to count a loan toward the impact of a lending team. To count a loan toward a lending team or change the team association, just sign into your Kiva account and go to: kiva.org/portfolio/loans. Use the pulldown box next to each loan to select the correct team association.
How can I request a Kiva speaker for an event?
We really appreciate invitations to speak at events, but we are only able to accept a small number of requests because we are so busy working on growing Kiva. To request a speaker for your event, please fill out this form: kiva.org/about/speaker-request (be sure to scroll the bottom of the page to access the speaker request application)
Please note that Kiva is headquartered in San Francisco. As we do not have a travel budget for speaking events, all travel costs will need to be reimbursed for events outside of the Bay Area.
Why does the repayment email not match my available Kiva credit?
By default, repayment emails from Kiva list all repayments made to your account over the span of a month (ex 16th of December to 15th of January), even if you've already spent some of the credit on other loans, Kiva Cards or withdrawals. Because this email is intended to be both a summary of your repayments and a notice of your current balance, it is common to see a discrepancy between the total amount repaid over a month, and how much you currently have in your Kiva account.
We're working to make this email clearer, however, if you are interested in receiving more timely notifications when new funds are available in your account, you may wish to update your email settings so that you'll receive repayment emails as often as once a day (if repayments have been made).
You can update your email settings by going to: kiva.org/settings/email
Finally, to get the most accurate record of repayments made into your account to date, simply sign into your account and view your transaction history at: kiva.org/portfolio/transactions
How does loan expiration affect the borrower?
In many cases, when a loan expires on the Kiva website without being fully funded, the borrower is not directly affected.
For partner loans, it's common for Field Partners to use existing capital reserves to fund a borrower before posting a loan on Kiva and backfill this amount with the loan funds raised on the Kiva website. In these cases, while expiration may not directly impact the borrower, it can ultimately negatively impact the Field Partner, especially in cases where they experience many expirations on their loans. The potential impact of expirations is less reserves for the Field Partners, which may reduce their ability to lend to more people in their communities.
Direct loans are dependent on lender funding, which means if the loan does not fully fundraise on Kiva and the loan expires, the borrower will not receive the loan from Kiva.
What does it mean that my loan is delinquent?
Loans can become delinquent if either the borrower or the Field Partner falls behind on making repayments according to the repayment schedule that was set when the loan was posted to Kiva.
If you click on the "Repayment Schedule" link on a loan profile, you can see the repayment schedule for the loan, which lists both expected and actual payments. The advanced view will give more details as to why the loan is delinquent.
If a loan is marked as delinquent, this means that Kiva still expects repayments to be made on the loan. In the case of a borrower's delinquency, you can assume that the Field Partner is working with the borrower to reschedule the loan term, if necessary, to try to recover eventual repayment of the loan. If the delinquency is due to a Field Partner being late in repaying Kiva lenders, you can assume that a member of the Kiva team is following up with the partner to work on recovering the amount owed to lenders.
A loan will be marked as defaulted at the time in which Kiva or the Field Partner determines the collection of funds is doubtful and/or the cumulative amount repaid is less than the amount expected as of 180 days prior. If this should happen, you'll be notified by email and provided with an explanation from Kiva or the Field Partner.
What happens if a loan doesn't fully fund on Kiva?
Usually, loans on Kiva have 30 days to successfully fundraise. If a loan is not fully funded within that period, the loan expires and all contributing lenders will be refunded their contribution and notified by email.
In the case of most partner loans, the borrower isn't often directly affected by loan expirations, as the Field Partner would then use its own reserves to pay for the loan. There are a few situations, however, where borrowers are directly affected and won’t receive their loan if it doesn’t fund on Kiva. This happens with direct loans and partner loans that are not pre-disbursed and where the Field Partner doesn't have other capital resources to disburse the loan.
We know it can be hard to see some loans miss their funding goals, which is why we keep working hard to reach new lenders who can help create more positive impact.
Does Kiva charge interest?
Kiva never collects interest on loans and individual Kiva lenders do not receive interest from loans they support on Kiva.
However, many of our Field Partners do charge interest to borrowers. Self-sustainability is critical to creating long-term solutions to poverty, and charging interest is often necessary for our partners to work to achieve this. While our Field Partners are free to charge interest, Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges exorbitant interest rates and we also require Field Partners to fully disclose their interest rates. You can find more information about the interest rates that Kiva's Field Partners charge on their Field Partner pages (kiva.org/partners) as well as on each loan profile.
Microfinance is an expensive business, which is essentially the reason small loans are not provided by large banks. Charging interest to borrowers enables our Field Partners to bear these costs and achieve self-sustainability.
How do I recognize spam and phishing emails?
Kiva has been alerted that from time to time spammers send out emails impersonating Kiva, with the goal of gathering information. We want to clarify a few things to help people avoid falling victim to these messages and to quickly react if they do.
What Kiva will NEVER ask in a message:
--Kiva will never ask for your password
--Kiva will never ask you to send financial information
What shows that a message is from Kiva:
--(Please note that emails from Kiva will always come from an @kiva.org address, but phishers and scammers may also imitate an @kiva.org address. If you receive a questionable email from an @kiva.org address, please alert contactus@kiva.org)
Who/what to consult if you’re not sure if a message is from Kiva:
--Send an email to contactus@kiva.org
--Forward the original message with the complete email headers
Steps to take if you fall victim to spam:
--Change the password associated with your Kiva account immediately
--Change any other passwords associated with other accounts (email, online banking, PayPal, etc.)
--Email Kiva at contactus@kiva.org
For more information, check out this blog post: blog.kiva.org/kivablog/2013/10/01/a-note-about-kiva-and-phishing-for-national-cyber-security-awareness-month
Can I recommend a Field Partner?
Kiva is always looking for new Field Partners, so if you know of an organization that fits Kiva's criteria for becoming a Field Partner we ask that you please contact the organization directly and ask them to review our minimum criteria to ensure they are a good fit. If the organization fits our minimum requirements and is interested in applying to work with Kiva, they can submit an application online here: kiva.org/partners/info
Applications are reviewed and approved on an ongoing basis. However, given our small staff team and the number of partnership applicants for we receive, it may take some time for the team to respond and approve new partnerships.
How do I create a lending team?
Any Kiva lender can create a lending team by going to: kiva.org/teams
Click the orange “Start a New Team” button and you’ll be taken a page where you can enter in information about your team. Once your team has been created, you'll be given the chance to recruit team members, or you can continue without inviting others. Once you’re finished, you’ll be taken to your lending team page.
As the creator of the lending team, you will automatically be made the captain, which gives you administrative privileges.
Once you've created your lending team, you should check out the Lending Team Playbook, which provides lenders with lots of tips for establishing and growing their team: kiva.org/do-more/playbook
Can you provide me with information for my original academic research project?
Unfortunately, Kiva is unable to fulfill any specific research requests, however, here are a few sites that may provide useful information for your microfinance research:
kiva.org/about
kiva.org/labs
cgap.org
mftransparency.org
mixmarket.org
Many researchers have also found our API to be a valuable resource. You can learn more about what information is available via our API at: build.kiva.org
Lastly, many students and educators have also found the Kiva U resources and materials helpful as they look to incorporate Kiva into their academic programs and studies. For more information, check out: KivaU.org
Thank you for your interest in including Kiva in your study, and it would be great to hear what results you eventually find through your research. Please feel free to send us a link to your published article.
How do I turn on auto lending?
To turn on auto lending, sign into your Kiva account and go to: kiva.org/settings/credit
Use the options under the "Auto lending settings" section (it's at the bottom of the page) to select your settings and then click the “Save auto lending settings” button to turn on auto lending.
How can my company partner with Kiva?
Kiva has a number of institutional supporters, and we appreciate your company's interest in working with us to help expand our work around the globe. If you'd like to support Kiva, whether it be through a small business partnership, a revenue sharing program, or simply making loans on behalf of your company, a great resource is this page of our website: kiva.org/about/supportus/smallbusiness
If you'd instead like to apply to become a Kiva Field Partner or Trustee and help endorse borrowers or facilitate loans on the ground, you can learn more about the application process for both of these ways to work with Kiva on our website here: kiva.org/partners/info and borrow.kiva.org/trustees
If you have any questions about these ways to get involved, please let us know.
How do I make a donation to Kiva?
You can make a donation to Kiva's operating expenses through the following link: kiva.org/about/supportus
Kiva is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so contributions to Kiva's operating expenses from donors in the United States are eligible for a tax deduction. Kiva's EIN number is: 71-0992446.
Do Kiva Cards expire?
Kiva Cards do not expire, but are converted into a donation to Kiva's operating expenses if they haven't been redeemed 12 months from the date of purchase. Before a Kiva Card reaches this date, the purchaser will be notified by email that it hasn't been redeemed, and they will have the opportunity to remind the recipient of their gift, or to use the Kiva Card themselves.
If a Kiva Card is not redeemed and is converted into a donation, the purchaser will receive a donation receipt via email.
To learn more, go to: kiva.org/gifts/kiva-cards/terms
How do I attribute loans to my lending team?
Whenever you make a loan on Kiva, you have the opportunity to count that loan toward one of your lending teams. You will need to be signed into your account to do so.
Once signed into your account, you will see a pulldown box on the "Basket" page next to the title "Team." It will default to your preferred team, but you can always change your team association on this page.
Please note, if you forget to count a loan toward a lending team during the checkout process, you have 14 days after the loan has been made to count it toward a team. To do so, go to: kiva.org/portfolio/loans and use the pulldown box next to the loan to select the correct team association. After 14 days there is no way to count a loan toward the impact of a lending team.
Why do loans expire on the Kiva website?
Kiva allows lenders to make choices about who they support with their loan funds. Every loan on Kiva has 30 days to fundraise, and many loans are funded within a matter of days. However, if a loan is not fully funded within 30 days, the loan automatically expires and it can be assumed that the characteristics of that loan were lacking in support from lenders.
When a loan expires, funds are sent back to contributing lenders in the form of Kiva credit, which they can use to support another loan.
What is currency exchange loss and how could it affect my Kiva loans?
When lending funds across national boundaries, the local currency in the Field Partner's country of operation may lose some of its value relative to the USD, thus requiring the Field Partner to use more of its local currency to reimburse Kiva in USD. Kiva offers Field Partners the option to protect themselves against severe currency fluctuations (a US dollar appreciation of over 10% relative to the local currency) by sharing any losses greater than 10% with Kiva lenders. By bearing these losses, lenders are able to protect the Field Partner and its borrowers from catastrophic currency devaluations.
The Field Partner-specified currency exchange loss to lenders can be one of three values: Covered, Possible, or N/A.
Covered: The Field Partner has opted to cover any losses on the loan that are due to currency fluctuation. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation.