In September I posted an entry on Kiva.org, a website that allows you to combine with others to make micro-loans to small businesses in an impoverished part of the world.  So far, every loan I have made has been paid back in full.  Once paid back, I'll loan the money to another business.  Occasionally I'll receive email updates like the one below.  I still believe that Kiva is one of the most innovative uses of the Internet in a long time!

Yolanda Saus Mancilla started her business selling cosmetics through a catalog to supplement her family’s income.  Her first clients were family and friends and now through word of mouth she has a growing clientele that requests an increasing amount of cosmetic products.  Yolanda needs a small business loan to increase her inventory to accommodate her growing business.

Osman Omar Ordoñez Carcamo sells jewelry from his home and door to door.  Osman is able to support his family and send his kids to school on the money he makes from his small business.  Like Yolanda, Osman needs a small business load to increase his inventory and capacity to grow his business.

Yolanda is from Mexico and Osman from Honduras.  This week-end I gave them both a small business loan to help them continue economic independence and growth in an impoverished part of the world.  You can too…and it’s very easy thanks to the power of the Internet to connect people and causes from around the world. 
Kiva.org connects individuals with small businesses in the developing world that need loans.  According their website, Kiva.org is…

How does it work?  Visit Kiva.org and review a list of small businesses seeking loans.  You can filter by gender, location, and business type if you like.  Select an entrepreneur and make a small business loan to them.  Kiva will transfer the funds abroad to a microfinance partner that will administer the loan.  You’ll get email updates on how the small business is growing.  Within months the entrepreneur will pay back your loan and you can withdraw your funds or lend again!  In case you’re wondering, the default rate on getting paid back is less than 1%...much better than the default rate on loans in the U.S.

This category on our website will be used to highlight companies and organizations that are using the Internet in innovative ways to make a difference…for their company, their employees, their customers, or their global community.  Kiva.org is a great first example!  Check it out and make a small loan that makes a big difference!