Kiva Reviews

Make a loan, change a life | Kiva

kiva.org
3.84
101 reviews
Great Rating
Based on 101 user experiences

Rated 3.84 out of 5 by 101 Happy Customers

58.4%
12.9%
3%
5.9%
19.8%
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W

I hope you re better than what you used to be

When I worked with Kiva I was speaking to three different people and told three different things My experience was not positive and extremely negative No one at Kiva was ever on the same page No one ever took notes No one ever left notes for the other Kiva employees I specifically asked when starting the process if a credit report needed to be ran and I was told no I gave my reasoning of why I did not want the credit check to be ran and it was due to I did not want my personal credit to be mixed in with my business credit A credit check was done by Kiva without my consent and again I specifically said I did not want to go that route At one point I even heard the phrase from one coworker about another coworker don t listen to them they re confused about the process Like I said just a bad experience all around
G

I received an update from Kiva because

I received an update from Kiva because of COVID 19 and late repayment I asked them to forgive the loan I gave They said they can t because it s a loan Really So disgusted I feel this is simply a money making scheme for those running the operation Greediness at its lowest
K

This is a great platform if u want to

This is a great platform if u want to borrow but u end up giving instead their ridiculous release clause for my 10000 deposit was deposit more if u want a refund what the hell is wrong with these policy makers Its fine if dont want to lend but atleast dnt take from those who want to borrow instead Hard earned money lasts with blissfulnessCheat money well i hope they last
D

Great mission garbage site

Their mission is great but the site doesn t work for a lot of the back-end functionality I had setup an auto deposit Later I wanted to change the card - so it says it sent me a verification code but there was no such email to that inbox No help from their support team Same issue trying to withdraw funds I thought I would park some cash with them take a bit of a loss and help some people Now I really regret doing so
M

HORRIBLE ORGANIZATION

HORRIBLE ORGANIZATION Horrible customer service Avoid like the plague I don t think any money actually makes it to the people in need and you will never see your money again that s a guarantee
N

Beautiful website hides unethical company

I have a delinquent loan that s going on five years now I would close my account but Kiva would keep whatever they collect very unethical I had to drill down through multiple emails to get this information I had more conversations with Kiva support They wouldn t tell me how long they keep a delinquent loan open if there is some maximum number of years I started the conversation after they sent me a request to make monthly loans Ha I m not making any more loans When I get whatever they collect in trust for me and I then take the loss I ll close my account It s in Kiva s interest to keep delinquent loans open and wait for lenders to close their accounts so they can pocket whatever has been collected
B

Company autolent out money in my

Company autolent out money in my account and took an admin fee on top of that I have been using them for years and have lent out 4k over time A big part of what makes this rewarding is choosing who you want to loan money to and having them autolend out money in my account to people I would never lend interest free money to is infuriating including a middle aged white guy from the US with a finance degree starting some financial literacy scam business This is a class action lawsuit waiting to happen as this is not something that should be treated as opt out They also default to packaging and selling your personal information- you have to opt out of that as well They have no respect for the people who loan money via their platform and I wouldn t bet that they treat lenders any better I feel sorry for the Kiva company representatives who have to answer for this abhorrent behavior by their bosses
R

time wasters not giving loans when I had selected a recipient

I received a Kiva gift card followed the instructions signed up and redeemed my card Chose a kenyan farmer to lend to - first problem I was only allowed to lend her 25 or 50 not the full amount of the card which was 30 so the 5 went to Kiva as it was too small to loan to anyone But worse the kenyan farmer never got her 25 as Kiva emailed me a month later and said why had I not spent my Kiva gift card I took a lot of time and trouble to chose the kenyan farmer and these time-wasters have somehow bungled it and want me to go through the whole process again Plus I contacted them by email and they just brushed me off Basically they are stealing money that was supposed to be in my power to give to a poor lady in kenya and they have not done what was asked even though they originally offered to send the money to her
A

Trying to help a friend in Rwanda get a

Update these jerks answered and didn t address my question They are frauds They don t fund anyone outside of the US Trying to help a friend in Rwanda get a loan and have to date gotten five form letters none of which address my concerns or questions The field partners don t help unless they have collateral I wonder who all the pics and stories from Rwanda are and why my friend can t get a loan when they can He has a solid business plan Worst thing there s no phone number to reach kiva and get answers
M

Bought a gift card for 150 and the

Bought a gift card for 150 and the recipient could not access it properly Spent 2 months with customer service and they were not helpful Instead they placed the money in my account which I did not want I asked for a refund of the money and they refused and placed the money in my account instead Avoid service at all costs - they are greedy money hungry and don t value the customer long-term for future deposits

About Kiva

Kiva is the world's first online lending platform. For as little as $25 you can lend to an entrepreneur around the world. Learn more here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Kiva is a non-profit organization that operates an online lending platform to expand financial access for underserved communities globally. Founded in 2005, its mission is to connect individual lenders with entrepreneurs worldwide through crowdfunded microloans, fostering economic development and alleviating poverty by empowering people to create opportunity for themselves and their families.

The process involves several steps. First, lenders browse borrower profiles on Kiva's website, which detail the entrepreneur's story, business plan, and loan needs. Lenders can contribute as little as $25 toward a chosen loan. Once the loan request is fully funded by multiple lenders, the funds are sent to Kiva's local Field Partners (microfinance institutions), who disburse the capital to the borrower. As the borrower repays the loan, lenders receive their money back, which they can then relend, donate to Kiva, or withdraw.

Field Partners are local microfinance institutions or organizations that work directly with borrowers in their communities. They are responsible for vetting borrowers, disbursing loan funds, collecting repayments, and providing support services. Kiva partners with these organizations to ensure loans reach entrepreneurs effectively and to manage the lending process on the ground, leveraging their local expertise and networks.

When a borrower repays their loan, the principal amount of your contribution is returned to your Kiva account. You then have three options: you can relend the funds to support another entrepreneur, donate the amount to Kiva to support operational costs, or withdraw the money to your personal account. This revolving fund model promotes sustainable impact by allowing capital to be reused multiple times.

Kiva offers a wide range of loan categories, enabling lenders to support causes aligned with their interests. Key categories include Agriculture (for seeds, equipment, livestock), Education (for school fees and supplies), Green Initiatives (for solar power, clean water, sustainable agriculture), Small Business (for vendors, shop owners, artisans), and Women's Empowerment. The platform allows filtering by sector, region, and other traits to find specific opportunities.

About Kiva

Kiva: Empowering Global Entrepreneurs Through Microfinance

Kiva is a pioneering non-profit organization that operates an innovative online lending platform, connecting individuals around the world with entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Founded in 2005, Kiva's mission is to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive. By facilitating small, crowdfunded loans, Kiva empowers people to create opportunity for themselves and their families, fostering economic development and alleviating poverty on a global scale.

How the Kiva Platform Works

The Kiva model is built on a simple yet powerful concept: crowdfunded microloans. Visitors to the website can browse profiles of borrowers from over 90 countries. These profiles detail the individual's story, their business plan, the loan amount needed, and how the funds will be used. Lenders can contribute as little as $25 toward a loan of their choice. Once the loan request is fully funded by a group of individual lenders, the funds are disbursed to Kiva's local Field Partners—microfinance institutions and other organizations on the ground—who then deliver the capital to the borrower.

As borrowers repay their loans, lenders receive their money back. This revolving fund model allows individuals to relend their funds to another entrepreneur, donate the amount to Kiva, or withdraw it. This cycle creates a sustainable and impactful form of philanthropy that emphasizes dignity and partnership over traditional charity.

Key Features and Impact

Kiva's website showcases a wide array of loan categories, allowing lenders to support causes they are passionate about. Key categories include:

  • Agriculture:Loans for farmers to purchase seeds, equipment, or livestock.
  • Education:Funding for school fees, supplies, or educational services.
  • Green Initiatives:Loans for solar power, clean water, and sustainable agriculture.
  • Small Business:Capital for vendors, shop owners, and artisans to grow their enterprises.
  • Women's Empowerment:A significant focus, as many loans are directed toward female entrepreneurs.

The platform provides transparent reporting on its impact, with statistics on total loans funded, repayment rates, and the number of countries served. This transparency builds trust and demonstrates the tangible results of the collective lending community.

Beyond International Loans: Kiva U.S.

Recognizing that financial exclusion exists everywhere, Kiva also operates a dedicated program for entrepreneurs within the United States. Kiva U.S. offers 0% interest loans with no credit check to small business owners who may not qualify for traditional financing. This program supports a diverse range of American entrepreneurs, furthering Kiva's mission of financial inclusion domestically.

Getting Involved

The website makes participation straightforward. Users can create a free account, browse borrower profiles filtered by region, sector, or specific traits, and start lending immediately. Kiva also offers gift cards and lending teams, enabling friends, families, or corporations to lend together. The organization is funded primarily through optional donations from lenders and grants, ensuring that 100% of every loan goes directly to funding the entrepreneurs.

In summary, Kiva.org is more than a lending website; it is a global community leveraging technology to democratize philanthropy and finance. By providing a direct, transparent, and personal connection between lenders and borrowers, Kiva enables anyone with an internet connection to become a powerful force for economic good, one small loan at a time.