Dec 20, 2015, 4:45 am
Last edit by: wilsnunn
The FlyerTalk Lending Team on Kiva:
improving lives a small loan at a time.
Kiva.org is the not-for-profit microlending organization that networks people willing to lend to small entrepreneurs in developing nations using available technology and international networking / collaboration, and how Kiva.org had become an approved FlyerTalk charity thanks to TalkBoard's approval June 29, 2008 <link> It is listed on the FlyerTalk Cares page.improving lives a small loan at a time.
"Kiva is a grassroots project started by a team with a big idea: one-to-one, real-time lending to the poor via the Internet. Currently, we take no cut of the loan you make through our site -- 100% goes to the entrepreneur. We suggest a 10% donation, in addition to your loan, to help us cover our costs. Kiva is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and your donation is tax-deductible for US taxpayers." (Suggested donations for administrative overhead, low though that is, are not required - you may lend 100% if you so choose.)
As of 15 May 2016 it was 607 FlyerTalk lending team who have lent $2,209,175 in 37,092 loans! And now as of 30 June 2019 it is 941 members who have lent $6,415,775 in 71,722 loans!
Our motto is: "We loan because: We want to fight global poverty while earning miles."
This is tangible evidence Flyertalk Cares! There are likely other FlyerTalkers on Kiva who have not joined - if you are one of them, do so now to show your and FT's support and involvement. If you haven't lent yet, check it out - you may want to join up. For the low-income entrepreneurs on five continents who are requesting loans, microlending is significant - and it takes a lot of drops to fill the bucket. (Read on to see updates!)
Now, we can see this sophisticated network link resources from those who can lend (no interest, sorry!) with those who are needy, worthy and screened by local NGOs and have a need to start / expand their small business to enhance their and their families' survival. And, using PayPal and your FFP/FFG linked card or account, you can earn miles or points with many loans!
FlyerTalkers are lending, and fulfilling one of FT's seminal values, that of "paying it forward."
Read more about Kiva.org, who supports and enables it (Intel, Google, Paypal, Intuit and many others,) and see if you have $25.00 (or more) you can lend someone deserving in a land you have visited and enjoyed (or not.)
This is how it works:
Add your experiences here, or if you haven't joined... won't you consider joining the FlyerTalker Lending Team?
You can see who the latest FT borrowers are (some still possibly needing loans) here
For ease, you can click here: Subscribe to FlyerTalker Lending Team on Kiva.org
FlyerTalker Lending Team on Kiva.org!
Apr 16, 2012, 11:36 pm
#811
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ICT
Programs: AA ExP
Posts: 1,860
I don't want to rain on everybody's feel good parade here, but I made 32 loans and have a 7.93% default rate. Everything I read about Kiva is how wonderful it is and how you never lose money. You can lose money. If you want to give to charity don't let me stand in your way, but if you want to get miles with a small risk of loss, this is not the place to do it.
Apr 17, 2012, 5:43 am
#812
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,289
I don't want to rain on everybody's feel good parade here, but I made 32 loans and have a 7.93% default rate. Everything I read about Kiva is how wonderful it is and how you never lose money. You can lose money. If you want to give to charity don't let me stand in your way, but if you want to get miles with a small risk of loss, this is not the place to do it.
Some borrowers may be late in paying their installments as HansGolden has pointed out but ultimately, they catch up and pay back. I currently have 8 loans of 270 paying back that are delinquent, but usually by the end of the month, almost all my loans have caught up. It is important that although the bulk of repayments occurs on the 15th, the actual pay date is the following first of the month.
and while miles are important to the community, one should also consider the lasting effects your loans has to the borrower giving them a chance to lift themselves into self-sustainability.
Apr 17, 2012, 6:47 am
#813
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 216
I understand the difference between default and delinquency. Kiva considers something delinquent for a really long time before they consider it defaulted. That number I gave is the default rate. Believe me, I wish it wasn't.
The dollar amounts are not huge and I can afford it. My point is that somebody might read the glowing reports on here and toss in $10,000 trying to meet some card bonuses (remember, this is FT) and lose a lot of money that they cannot afford.
The dollar amounts are not huge and I can afford it. My point is that somebody might read the glowing reports on here and toss in $10,000 trying to meet some card bonuses (remember, this is FT) and lose a lot of money that they cannot afford.
Apr 17, 2012, 7:44 am
#814
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,056
I don't want to rain on everybody's feel good parade here, but I made 32 loans and have a 7.93% default rate. Everything I read about Kiva is how wonderful it is and how you never lose money. You can lose money. If you want to give to charity don't let me stand in your way, but if you want to get miles with a small risk of loss, this is not the place to do it.
I understand the difference between default and delinquency. Kiva considers something delinquent for a really long time before they consider it defaulted. That number I gave is the default rate. Believe me, I wish it wasn't.
The dollar amounts are not huge and I can afford it. My point is that somebody might read the glowing reports on here and toss in $10,000 trying to meet some card bonuses (remember, this is FT) and lose a lot of money that they cannot afford.
The dollar amounts are not huge and I can afford it. My point is that somebody might read the glowing reports on here and toss in $10,000 trying to meet some card bonuses (remember, this is FT) and lose a lot of money that they cannot afford.
Apr 17, 2012, 8:04 am
#815
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 8,539
I understand the difference between default and delinquency. Kiva considers something delinquent for a really long time before they consider it defaulted. That number I gave is the default rate. Believe me, I wish it wasn't.
The dollar amounts are not huge and I can afford it. My point is that somebody might read the glowing reports on here and toss in $10,000 trying to meet some card bonuses (remember, this is FT) and lose a lot of money that they cannot afford.
The dollar amounts are not huge and I can afford it. My point is that somebody might read the glowing reports on here and toss in $10,000 trying to meet some card bonuses (remember, this is FT) and lose a lot of money that they cannot afford.
hopefully you will be like me - unlucky at first and then do very well later on.
Apr 17, 2012, 11:09 am
#816
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,289
I understand the difference between default and delinquency. Kiva considers something delinquent for a really long time before they consider it defaulted. That number I gave is the default rate. Believe me, I wish it wasn't.
The dollar amounts are not huge and I can afford it. My point is that somebody might read the glowing reports on here and toss in $10,000 trying to meet some card bonuses (remember, this is FT) and lose a lot of money that they cannot afford.
The dollar amounts are not huge and I can afford it. My point is that somebody might read the glowing reports on here and toss in $10,000 trying to meet some card bonuses (remember, this is FT) and lose a lot of money that they cannot afford.
As kipper and others have noted, there is an inherent risk in microloans and people should lend what they can as YMMV re: risks.
Apr 17, 2012, 3:17 pm
#817
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 216
My loans are almost all in Nicaragua and the problems were all with a partner called ADEPHCA. That partner has now been cut off, but when the loans were made they had typical ratings. As with anything, past performance . . .
Is there a trend (country or MFI that is resulting in the high rate of defaults?) I have been fortunate to have zero defaults, though I can see one heading in that direction.
As kipper and others have noted, there is an inherent risk in microloans and people should lend what they can as YMMV re: risks.
As kipper and others have noted, there is an inherent risk in microloans and people should lend what they can as YMMV re: risks.
Apr 17, 2012, 4:11 pm
#818
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 8,539
If you want to lower risk, it's best, I believe, to diversify your portfolio. I've made 645 loans to every Kiva country but Zambia and to over 100 field partners and my default rate is 0.26%.
Apr 18, 2012, 8:52 am
#819
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: DAY
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire, National Exec Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 456
I don't want to rain on everybody's feel good parade here, but I made 32 loans and have a 7.93% default rate. Everything I read about Kiva is how wonderful it is and how you never lose money. You can lose money. If you want to give to charity don't let me stand in your way, but if you want to get miles with a small risk of loss, this is not the place to do it.
Just re-loaned my latest $25 credit out a couple days ago...
Apr 19, 2012, 4:06 pm
#820
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,418
As with anything - work, sports, hobbies, investments, complicated travel itineraries (
), etc. - always good to know the risks. ^
As of today, 291 of us have joined the FT Kiva team. Perhaps we can get a few more folks to join us by next month and hit 300! (And collectively, we have made 6,323 loans...making a difference, one loan at a time.
)
If you haven't already checked your Kiva accounts, the next batch of repayments started coming in, so if you happen to be able to spare some funds to re-loan, that would awesome! :-:
), etc. - always good to know the risks. ^As of today, 291 of us have joined the FT Kiva team. Perhaps we can get a few more folks to join us by next month and hit 300! (And collectively, we have made 6,323 loans...making a difference, one loan at a time.
)If you haven't already checked your Kiva accounts, the next batch of repayments started coming in, so if you happen to be able to spare some funds to re-loan, that would awesome! :-:
Apr 20, 2012, 10:45 am
#821
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,056
As with anything - work, sports, hobbies, investments, complicated travel itineraries (), etc. - always good to know the risks. ^
As of today, 291 of us have joined the FT Kiva team. Perhaps we can get a few more folks to join us by next month and hit 300! (And collectively, we have made 6,323 loans...making a difference, one loan at a time.)
If you haven't already checked your Kiva accounts, the next batch of repayments started coming in, so if you happen to be able to spare some funds to re-loan, that would awesome! :-:
), etc. - always good to know the risks. ^As of today, 291 of us have joined the FT Kiva team. Perhaps we can get a few more folks to join us by next month and hit 300! (And collectively, we have made 6,323 loans...making a difference, one loan at a time.
)If you haven't already checked your Kiva accounts, the next batch of repayments started coming in, so if you happen to be able to spare some funds to re-loan, that would awesome! :-:
Not much at all compared to most here, but it's something.
Apr 20, 2012, 11:23 am
#822
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 8,539
Just logged in and saw that I had $12.49 in credit waiting for me, which is far more than I thought I'd have (only had 4 $25 loans, one of them being a free trial). So, I topped it off to an even $25, and now have 5 $25 loans. Not much at all compared to most here, but it's something.
Not much at all compared to most here, but it's something.One loan is infinitely times greater than zero loans.
Apr 20, 2012, 11:36 am
#823
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,056
This is true.http://www.kiva.org/lend/410893
Igor only needs $325 until his loan is fully funded. Anyone up for helping him hit that mark?
Apr 20, 2012, 11:54 am
#824
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
ROFL! "Let's lend one for the kipper". 
Over the 465 loans I have made, my loss rate is closer to ~0.8%, but I have purposely made a very few loans I felt were riskier. And a couple of them certainly were. My reaction: just relent $250 paid back with another 10% to support Kiva.
Over the 465 loans I have made, my loss rate is closer to ~0.8%, but I have purposely made a very few loans I felt were riskier. And a couple of them certainly were.
My reaction: just relent $250 paid back with another 10% to support Kiva. Last edited by JDiver; Apr 20, 2012 at 12:06 pm
ROFL cute...