What to know about this Lending Partner
Kiva conducts regular, ongoing monitoring of all Lending Partners, but only posts status updates here in response to relevant, major changes at the partner.
Status update — October 9, 2023
Kiva and Jerusalem Interest-Free Microfinance Fund have agreed to end their partnership after ten years and $215,450 in loans raised. This partner has repaid its outstanding balance to Kiva in full, and these funds have been distributed to lenders. We thank JIMF for the years of collaboration and wish them success in their future endeavors.
Status update — March 23, 2023
Kiva has moved this Lending Partner to inactive status which means Jerusalem Interest-Free Microfinance Fund (JIMF) is no longer fundraising loans on Kiva, though Kiva fully expects the partner to continue to send repayments owed to Kiva lenders as long as the partner has an outstanding balance. JIMF hasn't posted a loan in one year and has only raised $215,400 since our partnership began ten years ago. If and when this partner requests to fundraise again on Kiva, Kiva will first conduct any additional monitoring and due diligence tasks we believe necessary. We thank JIMF for the years of collaboration and wish them success in their future endeavors.
Status update — September 13, 2019
Kiva recently assessed the level of risk associated with loans from this Lending Partner. During this process, our analysts gathered updated operational and financial information about the institution and analyzed the Lending Partner’s loan products. As a result, JIMF's risk rating is now listed as 1.0 stars.
Partner Description:
Jerusalem Interest - Free Microfinance Fund (JIMF) is a charitable organization that provides loans and business development training to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Jerusalem.
Founded in 2008 by Jewish and Muslim Londoners, the organization aims to relieve financial hardship in poor communities in Jerusalem by helping people establish and to grow their own businesses. In the process, it seeks to mitigate inter-communal tensions in Jerusalem.
The overall poverty rate in the city is close to 40%, and two of its communities are particularly disadvantaged -- the ultra-orthodox Jewish (Charedi) community and the Arab community. Together they comprise about two-thirds of Jerusalem’s population and have the highest levels of poverty. Additionally, there is little or no access to microfinance for these groups, often making it very difficult for would-be entrepreneurs to obtain start-up financing.
Before providing a loan, JIMF generally requires clients to undergo 60 hours of training in business development and “soft” skills like negotiation and networking. Through microfinance and technical assistance, JIMF helps people in poor communities in Jerusalem become successful business owners.
Kiva loans will enable marginalized low-income clients in Jerusalem to take advantage of JIMF’s training support and to start or to grow their own businesses. In addition, these loans help to foster cross-cultural understanding and peaceful interactions between diverse groups.
A unique lending approach:
To comply with Sharia and Halacha laws, JIMF does not charge interest on its loans and earns no income from them. Almost all JIMF’s staff works for the organization on volunteer basis. Currently, the JIMF is 100% financed from charitable donations.
For each loan, JIMF provides comprehensive technical assistance through its partnership with training organisations. For example, a group of 15 women may receive 56 hours of group training workshops, 5 hours of one-on-one pre-loan mentoring, direct support for writing a business plan, interest free loans for qualifying participants, and 10 hours of one-on-one post-loan consultations.
JIMF is able to keep defaults low through business training, rigorous screening of business proposals, and through constructive relationships with clients. It is also the only microfinance organization (as far as it knows) that works with people in Jerusalem who lack Israeli citizenship.
JIMF has made loans to groups of women each year for the past three years. So far, this financing has been used to support a diverse range of businesses including a falafel store, a sewing business, a wedding dress shop, a jewelry shop, an advertising agency, a fitness center and more.
Jerusalem Interest - free Microfinance Fund joined Kiva through our Experimental Partnership Program, and has therefore received a lighter level of due diligence. Accordingly, loans associated with this partner carry a higher level of risk than typical Kiva loans.