= Overview<br/> =
There are many students on campuses across America who are working on solutions for the developing world. These solutions range from $2 birth kits that prevent women in India from giving birth in unsanitary conditions and solar lights, to corn shellers, irrigation pumps and bicycle -powered phone chargers. However, students fall short if/when they don't figure out the sustainable mechanisms to bring the product to market. The students who succeed create win- win solutions for entrepreneurs in the developing world who can increase their personal income by being distributors and resellers. Kiva, and other microfinance organizations, may serve as a platform for American students who are looking at those types of world-changing solutions.
Founded in 2005 by Matt Flannery and Jessica Jackley and headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Kiva Microfunds is a non-profit organization that allows lenders to make loans via the Internet to entrepreneurs and students. As of November 2013, Kiva has distributed almost $500 million from 1 million lenders to 1.2 million borrowers.
= Purpose<br/> =
<span style="font-size:larger">Kiva aims to create an international platform that connects lenders and low income individuals/underserved entrepreneurs from around the world. Kiva connect people through lending to alleviate poverty and create opportunities for entrepreneurs who lack access to start-up capital. Their operation mainly revolves around the idea of microfinance. Microfinance is a general term used to describe financial services to low- income individuals or to those who do not have access to typical banking services. The concept of microfinance conveys the idea that low- income individuals are capable of lifting themselves out of poverty if given access to financial services. Kiva's ultimate goal is to find a a </span><span style="font-size:larger">sustainablesustanable mechanism to continuously provide safe, affordable access to capital to those who in need through microfinance.</span>
= Distinct Differences From Other Offerings<br/> =
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size:larger">Kiva Microfunds is one of the first organizations that have succesfully discovered and developed a sustainable microcredit concept. They allow indivisualds indivisuals to loan as little as $25 to help entrepreneurs in the developing world to expand their business. There are four major steps involved when making a loan through Kiva. First, 100% of lender's loans will be sent to microfinance institutions that Kiva has been working with (whicharewhich are called Field Partners) who administers loans in the field. Next, lenders will get updates on the progress of their loans from Kiva and they will be able to trace the path of their donation. As borrowers repay their loans, the money becomes available in the lenders' Kiva accounts and now the lenders can either reuse this money to fund another loan, donate it to Kiva or withdraw it from the account. </span></p>
= Impact Achieved For Students And Campus<br/> =