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Kiva U.S.
How do I get a loan?
Kiva is not a bank or microfinance institution, which means that most of the loans fundraising on our website were not provided by Kiva directly. Because we know that finding the right loan can be a challenging process, here are a few options to consider:
If you’re an entrepreneur in the U.S. --
Kiva supports entrepreneurs in the U.S. with interest-free loans which are crowdfunded by lenders across the globe 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 trust networks as a measure of creditworthiness. For that reason, applicants are required to secure a Trustee or initial lenders from within their own network prior to fundraising on Kiva. To learn more and apply for a loan please visit: borrow.kiva.org
Questions about applying for a U.S. loan can be sent here: borrowers@kiva.org
If you live in another country around the world --
Kiva partners with Field Partners in many countries around the world who may be able to make a loan to you. These loans vary in interest rates, loan amounts and requirements. To apply for a loan through a Field Partner, please contact them directly. A list of Kiva's Field Partners and their contact information can be found at: kiva.org/about/where-kiva-works
If you can’t find a 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 doesn’t provide funding. Also note that Kiva does not have a say in which businesses are selected by our Field Partners. Contact each 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 account.
2. Click "Lend" and find a borrower 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 be asked to make an optional donation to Kiva's operating expenses. You can edit the suggested donation by clicking the "Edit" link next to the amount and selecting how much you want to donate ($0 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, your credit will be deducted from your total first and you will then be directed to PayPal to pay for the remainder of your purchase with funds from a credit card or PayPal account.
Upon completion of your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page. You’ll also receive an emailed receipt confirming your purchase.
How do I use a Kiva Card?
To use your Kiva Card, go to: kiva.org/redeem
On this page you'll see a box where you can enter the card’s gift code and click "Apply."
Once you've entered the code, click the blue "Get Started, Find a Loan" button to find a list of all loans in need of support. When you find a loan that interests you, add it to your basket by clicking the blue "Lend $25" button.
When you’re ready to checkout, click "Basket" at the top of the page. This will begin the checkout process.
In order to use a Kiva Card you will need to sign up for a Kiva account if you don’t already have one. Please also note that if your total exceeds the amount on your Kiva Card, you’ll be directed to PayPal to pay for the difference between the total due and the amount of your Kiva Card. Upon completion of your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page on Kiva's website. You will also receive an emailed receipt for your purchase.
Do I have to donate to Kiva's operating expenses?
Donations to Kiva’s operating expenses are always optional, although vital to what we do.
100% of every dollar lent on Kiva goes toward funding loans. Kiva never takes a cut of these loans -- instead, we support our operations through donations from our lending community. While a donation is automatically suggested during checkout, you can always opt out on the “Basket” page by clicking the “Edit” link below the donation amount and changing it to $0.
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 withdraw funds from my Kiva account back into my PayPal account?
To withdraw funds from Kiva, go to: kiva.org/withdraw
On this page, enter the amount you want to withdraw and email address associated with your PayPal account (you will need to enter this email twice), then follow the prompts.
Kiva will process your request and the funds should be deposited into your PayPal account in 1 to 2 weeks. Kiva is unable to deposit funds directly into a personal bank account, so if you don’t have a PayPal account please create one at: paypal.com
How do I change the email address registered with my account?
To change the email address associated with your Kiva account, sign into your Kiva account and go to: kiva.org/settings/account
Enter your new email address and Kiva password in the fields provided and click “Update email” to save.
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.
Why are there no Field Partners or borrowers in country X?
Kiva works with Field Partners in over 80 countries, and this number is growing as our partnerships team finds and approves new partners. For a list of the countries where our partners work, please visit: kiva.org/about/where-kiva-works
We hope to eventually work in every country, but must also grow at a pace that’s healthy for both our current partners and for Kiva.
If you want to support a country we don’t work in please check out the MIX Market, which is a great website that collects data on microfinance institutions around the world. Visit mixmarket.org for more information.
Also, if you know an organization that you think would make a great Field Partner in a country we don’t yet work in, please encourage them to apply to become a partner. More information can be found here: kiva.org/about/where-kiva-works/partner
How do I print the Kiva Cards I purchased?
You can print a Kiva Card anytime before the gift has been redeemed. This can be done by signing into your account and going to: kiva.org/portfolio/kiva-cards
This page will list all the Kiva Cards you’ve purchase as well as their status. Next to each unredeemed card you'll see a link to print. When the gift has been redeemed, the name of the redeemer will appear next to the code.
Why isn't PayPal accepting my credit card?
PayPal provides Kiva with free payment processing on all transactions. This means that regardless of whether you pay using a credit card or PayPal account, PayPal will process your payment and send you a receipt. This means if you’re having trouble using your credit card, Kiva unfortunately can’t do anything directly to solve the problem. You may want to try using a different browser or clearing your current browser’s cache and cookies before trying again. You can also try using a different credit card.
If you’re still having trouble, please give PayPal's customer service team a call at 888-445-5032 (Toll Free US) or 402-952-8811 (International). You can also reach out and explain your issue to Kiva's PayPal representative, Scott Riley, at sjriley@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 select the delivery method, value and quantity of the Kiva Cards you want to buy. Once you've done that and agreed to the terms and conditions, add the card to your basket by clicking "Add to Basket" or "Add to Basket and Checkout.”
To pay for your Kiva Cards, begin the checkout process by clicking “Basket” at the top of the page. Upon completion your purchase, you'll be directed to an order confirmation page, and also receive an emailed receipt confirmation.
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 password by going to kiva.org/login and clicking the "Forget your password?" link. Enter your email address and we'll send you instructions for how to reset your password.
Please note, for security reasons these instructions will expire within a few hours of being sent, so please be sure to change your password as soon as possible.
Can I make a loan by paying with a check rather than a credit card?
If you are unable to use PayPal, you’re welcome to add credit to your Kiva account via check. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Register for a Kiva account if you don’t already have one.
2. Write your check payable to “Kiva Microfunds.”
3. On the back, write the email address associated with your Kiva account. Also note how much you’d like to be credited to your account for lending, as well as how much should be donated to Kiva’s operating expenses. We typically request a donation of 5-10% to help cover the administrative costs associated with check processing.
4. Mail the check to:
Kiva
Attn: Maria Zaldivar
875 Howard Street, Suite 340
San Francisco, CA 94103
Once your check has been processed (which can take a few weeks) we’ll credit your account and notify you by email. You can then sign into your Kiva account and use the credit in your account for lending.
Can I combine or merge Kiva accounts?
At the moment we’re unable to move loans from one Kiva account to another, or combine 2 accounts. The best ways to combine accounts is to either purchase a Kiva Card or withdraw your funds and deposit the balance into the other account.
How can I get a tax receipt for my donations?
To print a tax receipt for your donations to Kiva, sign into your account and go to: kiva.org/portfolio/donations
This page displays a list of all donations you've made to Kiva’s operating expenses, and also gives 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 microfinance institution, which means that most of the loans fundraising on our website were not provided by Kiva directly. Because we know that finding the right loan can be a challenging process, here are a few options for your friend to consider:
If they're an entrepreneur in the U.S. --
Kiva supports entrepreneurs in the U.S. with interest-free loans which are crowdfunded by lenders across the globe 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 trust networks as a measure of creditworthiness. For that reason, applicants are required to secure a Trustee or initial lenders from within their own network prior to fundraising on Kiva. To learn more, please have your friend visit and apply at: borrow.kiva.org
Questions about applying for a U.S. loan can be sent here: borrowers@kiva.org
If they live in another country around the world --
Outside of the U.S. Kiva partners with Field Partners in many countries around the world who may be able to make a loan to your friend. These loans vary in interest rates, loan amounts and requirements. To apply for a loan through a Field Partner, please contact them directly. A list of Kiva's Field Partners and their contact information can be found at: kiva.org/about/where-kiva-works
If your friend can’t find a partner near them 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, MIX Market is an information service and doesn’t provide funding. Also note that Kiva does not have a say in which businesses are selected by our Field Partners. Contact each partner directly for more information on loan requirements and underwriting guidelines.