Technology as a force for good
Newly married couple Jessica and Matt Flannery were working together in East Africa when they came up with the idea for Kiva.
According to Brit Heiring, Director of Communications at the organization, the company was founded on the belief that technology can be a powerful force for good when used to amplify impact and reach the vulnerable communities around the world. “We connect everyday people with changemakers around the world, crowdfunding loans that unlock solutions to poverty, climate change, gender inequality, and forced displacement,” says Heiring
Finding efficient ways to distribute loans is what Kiva strives to do best, because “when money flows to the right people, real change follows.” Since its formation, the tech-based organization has not only expanded its philanthropic goals, it has created grant partnerships and new ways for lenders to participate in the lending process.
The power of the hands of the many
Unlike other direct-donation, not-for-profit entrepreneurial models, Kiva relies on loans to support its beneficiaries instead of direct donations—collecting over $2.2 billion to date.
“Kiva’s unique model of achieving our mission through loans, not donations, allows us to create the greatest level of impact by recycling the same funding to multiple needs,” says Heiring. “Starting at just $25, anyone can fund a refugee-owned business, support a woman-led farm, or bring solar power to an off-grid village.”
She points out that Kiva lenders start small, with the majority of lenders giving out $100 or less. However, because that money is repaid and re-lent, its impact can grow two to three times over the long run.
Lenders at Kiva recognize that funding solutions are, for the most part, held by the ultra-wealthy and the few. “Kiva changes that by putting it in the hands of the many. Through a crowdfunded loan, many voices collectively say, ‘I believe in you.’ It’s a vote of confidence that affirms someone’s ability to lead, grow, and repay on their own terms.”
The story of Elizabeth, a Kiva entrepreneur
When Elizabeth made the move from Nicaragua to San José, Costa Rica, in 2011 she had dreams of expanding her home hair salon to include pricier hair treatments. Thanks to Kiva, her microloan of $875 was quickly funded by 14 lenders and Elizabeth was able to purchase keratin and other hair treatments as well as high-quality dyes.
Heiring adds that Elizabeth’s financial growth and security creates a ripple effect: by “building her credit history and growing her income, Elizabeth has not only secured a better life for her daughter (who can now pursue her education free from the barriers they faced in Nicaragua), [she] also sent a powerful message about the resilience and contributions of immigrant women.”
Elizabeth’s story is one of many similar cases where Kiva’s “global lending community … inspires others to invest in small‑scale entrepreneurs who drive local job creation and strengthen families. Proof that when we lift one person up, we lift an entire community, both near and far.”
A bright future
Kiva has ambitious plans for its future as a lending app. The organization hopes to almost double its impact by 2028, with a goal of reaching 10 million people in-need of funding with $4 billion in small loans.
Kiva’s ongoing focus will continue to be on “women, refugees, climate-vulnerable communities, and marginalized business owners in the US.” Kiva is also dedicated to measuring the impact of its loan program by making use of independent assessments and input from lenders.
Heiring states the importance of methodical impact strategy as Kiva moves forward: “it identifies the lives we aim to reach, the futures we aim to support, and the ripple effects our work will have on communities and individuals around the world.”
In a world where funding remains uncertain for many people, Kiva strives to continue being a source of financial relief for underserved entrepreneurs in areas where it’s needed most.
This article was originally published in the November 2025 issue of alive magazine.
