Kiva Celebrates Six Years of Online Microlending, Honors Its One Million-Strong Community
Kiva's Extraordinary Community of Lenders Continue to Serve as Catalysts of Poverty Alleviation
(firmenpresse) - SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/19/11 -- From a small group of friends and family who liked the idea of being able to loan $25 to a farmer in Uganda, to loans made to nearly every major country in the world totaling nearly $250 million, Kiva has in six short years become the world's largest personal micro-lending website, and is celebrating its sixth anniversary by honoring the more than one million site users who have brought microfinance to a level never before possible.
"It's not an overstatement to say that we are truly in awe of our lenders, who over the course of the past six years, have demonstrated how strongly they believe in the power of using the Internet to help alleviate poverty, one loan at a time," said Matt Flannery, co-founder and CEO of Kiva. "If someone would have told me in 2005 that by 2011 more than a million people would become part of the Kiva community, and a majority of them make loans to nearly 650,000 entrepreneurs via our platform, I'm not sure I would have believed them. But it has happened -- and for this incredible success, we have our lenders to thank."
Since its public launch in October, 2005, Kiva has achieved an array of milestones, including:
Distributing more than $250 million in loans to entrepreneurs in 60 countries around the world.
Attracting more than 20,000 "lending teams" -- self-organized groups with shared philosophies and lending goals. The top 10 Kiva lending teams have each made more than $1 million in loans.
Enlisting more than 550 global volunteers, including Kiva's Fellows, translators and editors.
Attaining more than 140,000 Facebook fans and 430,000 Twitter followers.
Adding new categories of loans, including Student Loans and Green Loans.
Opening up Kiva loans to entrepreneurs in the U.S., and launching Kiva City, a first-of-its-kind program that encourages local citizens to lend to local small businesses.
Putting together a Board of Directors that includes executives across the philanthropy, social networking, software and Internet spaces. To learn more about Kiva's board, visit .
"I've observed Kiva since its nascent days, and what makes the organization so special is its unique ability to bring together this true community of lenders -- from every background, every religion, every socioeconomic position and every point of view -- who've joined for a common goal of bettering the world by helping entrepreneurs improve their lives," said Geoff Davis, former CEO of microfinance accelerator Unitus, who recently re-joined Kiva's Board of Directors. "It's a combination of talent, ingenuity, effort and enthusiasm rarely seen in the nonprofit or for-profit world."
Kiva is the world's first personal micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. Founded in 2005, Kiva's mission is to alleviate poverty by connecting people through lending. Currently more than 630,000 people have loaned more than $250 million to 642,000 entrepreneurs in 60 countries. Kiva is headquartered in San Francisco.
Beth Kuenstler
VP, Marketing & Communications
Kiva
415-358-7506 office
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Datum: 19.10.2011 - 15:18 Uhr
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News-ID 78013
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