Dec 20, 15, 5:45 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!
Jul 18, 09, 6:04 pm
#76
In memoriam
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: AA EXP "Life is good! Really good.""
Posts: 4,923
Great! One of mine was paid back early, so I loaned it out again today. This time to a Lebanese woman who makes paper bags at home with some squares of paper and a glue pot. She wants a machine that makes bags so she can speed up production.
Jul 19, 09, 9:03 am
#77
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,949
MStieb, wildblue, weather, gj83, Jenbel, RCyyz and all, welcome aboard!
I agree this is a great opportunity to link those of us interested in helping by giving a hand up (not the "hand out" we sometimes get faced with by those who may be less than worthy / entrepreneurial beyond begging or scamming) to those looking to better their lives by hard work.
I have taken a hit on one loan (of a number) - ex-partner ADMIC in Mexico has a large number of loan defaults due to the impact of the economic crisis in Mexico, and potentially other issues; Kiva suspended them from being active partners and has specialists looking to see what can be salvaged and what help they might need if they are salvageable. I trust Kiva to do the right thing, either way.
As for potential currency exchange hits, read the page form as you loan, and you are likely to see the loan is protected from currency exchanges.
Like lili - and many of you - I log in and reloan what has been paid back, and I also tend to inject a bit more from time to time. I try to keep my Kiva credit as low as I can - it's currently $4.72.
We're up to a respectable:
60 members
235 loans (!)
$6,850.00 in loans
3.92 average number of loans per FT lending team member
(I've also involved others who are even in some cases starting their own teams or joining others - kind of like weather's great idea of forwarding the information on to her women's group.)
I agree this is a great opportunity to link those of us interested in helping by giving a hand up (not the "hand out" we sometimes get faced with by those who may be less than worthy / entrepreneurial beyond begging or scamming) to those looking to better their lives by hard work.
I have taken a hit on one loan (of a number) - ex-partner ADMIC in Mexico has a large number of loan defaults due to the impact of the economic crisis in Mexico, and potentially other issues; Kiva suspended them from being active partners and has specialists looking to see what can be salvaged and what help they might need if they are salvageable. I trust Kiva to do the right thing, either way.
As for potential currency exchange hits, read the page form as you loan, and you are likely to see the loan is protected from currency exchanges.
Like lili - and many of you - I log in and reloan what has been paid back, and I also tend to inject a bit more from time to time. I try to keep my Kiva credit as low as I can - it's currently $4.72.
We're up to a respectable:
60 members
235 loans (!)
$6,850.00 in loans
3.92 average number of loans per FT lending team member
(I've also involved others who are even in some cases starting their own teams or joining others - kind of like weather's great idea of forwarding the information on to her women's group.)
Jul 24, 09, 2:24 am
#78
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Venice, Italy
Programs: FlyingBlue Platinum, Miles&More Senator, bmi Diamond Club Silver, Marriott Gold Elite, SPG
Posts: 702
Just did loan number 10 and now my Kiva credit has been reset to $0. :-)
I've yet to have anyone default and everyone is paying on schedule or ahead of schedule. This is such an impressive operation that Kiva has going. Keep on passing the word, FTers!
I've yet to have anyone default and everyone is paying on schedule or ahead of schedule. This is such an impressive operation that Kiva has going. Keep on passing the word, FTers!
Jul 24, 09, 4:40 am
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,514
Statistic Name FlyerTalkers
Number of Team Members 60
Number of Loans 240
Number of Loans per Member 4.00
Total Amount Loaned $6,975.00
Some FTers have not got a travel related photo as an avatar
Aug 7, 09, 3:43 pm
#81
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN A-List, Marriott Tit
Posts: 257
If you need to top-off a FF account, consider making a loan through the FlyerTalk Kiva Lending Team w/ a miles-earning cc: http://www.kiva.org/community/viewTeam?team_id=1913
I have never had a Kiva loan default and the overall rate of default is very low, so the cost of the miles is the forgone interest on the loaned money.
Kiva FlyerTalkers
Number of Team Members 62
Number of Loans 251
Number of Loans per Member 4.05
Total Amount Loaned $7,300.00
I have never had a Kiva loan default and the overall rate of default is very low, so the cost of the miles is the forgone interest on the loaned money.
Kiva FlyerTalkers
Number of Team Members 62
Number of Loans 251
Number of Loans per Member 4.05
Total Amount Loaned $7,300.00
Last edited by boulderlaw; Aug 7, 09 at 3:54 pm
Aug 7, 09, 3:52 pm
#82
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: A number, but no status no more
Posts: 3,049
Hi boulderlaw,
While I do agree with the encouraging message, I also think we should not hide the truth.
Overall, the average KIVA user, as per the statistics which are show to me, have a 1.39% default rate.
Now, I will say that this is a very low rate, but I would encourage everyone to pay attention when lending on KIVA to:
- the type of business
- the lending partner involved .. what is their default rate?
It's lending-101 principles, but it does count.
Cheers,
GenevaFlyer
PS = And yes, after 27 loans, of which 15 have been repaid in full, I am still at a 0% default rate
While I do agree with the encouraging message, I also think we should not hide the truth.
Overall, the average KIVA user, as per the statistics which are show to me, have a 1.39% default rate.
Now, I will say that this is a very low rate, but I would encourage everyone to pay attention when lending on KIVA to:
- the type of business
- the lending partner involved .. what is their default rate?
It's lending-101 principles, but it does count.
Cheers,
GenevaFlyer
PS = And yes, after 27 loans, of which 15 have been repaid in full, I am still at a 0% default rate
Aug 16, 09, 6:00 pm
#83
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CLT
Posts: 7,249
Although Kiva has no political or religious agenda, some of their field lenders do. If there is anyone who prefers to loan only to particular organizations there is a FireFox add on for that.
The filter can act as a black list or a white list and the guy who put it together uses it to maintain a list of field lenders who claim to be christian.
If you prefer to lend based on a different set of criteria, that's fine, but if you prefer to not support a religious agenda or only support Christian lenders that is a choice that should be easier than it currently is.
http://atheist-monkey.blogspot.com/2...i-checker.html
You do maintain your own list so if you preferred to black list lenders with high default rates or currency issues it can be used for that also.
The filter can act as a black list or a white list and the guy who put it together uses it to maintain a list of field lenders who claim to be christian.
If you prefer to lend based on a different set of criteria, that's fine, but if you prefer to not support a religious agenda or only support Christian lenders that is a choice that should be easier than it currently is.
http://atheist-monkey.blogspot.com/2...i-checker.html
You do maintain your own list so if you preferred to black list lenders with high default rates or currency issues it can be used for that also.
Aug 16, 09, 9:19 pm
#84
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
Programs: UA 50K, refugee from AC E50K, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 5,113
An update: Since joining Kiva (15 July 2009) I've made 7 loans and a few have been partially repaid already. Today I checked and I have about $23 repaid so I tossed in the other $2 and made my 8th loan.
To anyone who's considering Kiva - it's easy to join, you don't get spam, loans are repaid over time and it's easy to keep the cycle going. ^
To anyone who's considering Kiva - it's easy to join, you don't get spam, loans are repaid over time and it's easy to keep the cycle going. ^
Aug 19, 09, 7:29 am
#86
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 2,392
Aug 19, 09, 12:33 pm
#87
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,949
Welcome to the team, Helsinki Flyer!
I think Adjo Akakpo's request was a good one, so I added my bit.
So, fellow FTers, the score is now, at the end of August:
FlyerTalkers:
68 Team Members
291 Loans
4.28 Loans per Member (average)
$8,900.00 Total Loaned
*Updated as of Sept 1, 2009 10:02 am
I'm betting
$10,000 by Christmas - at least! FlyerTalkers, making a difference! ^
And gj83, thanks for sharing the cool add-on!
(And, yes, I have had one or two loans go into delinquency - I am aware of risk issues and select the kind of business I lend to, the lender, the location, and do know I can decisions that control the loan risk. Thanks for bringing this up, GenevaFlyer.)
I think Adjo Akakpo's request was a good one, so I added my bit.
So, fellow FTers, the score is now, at the end of August:
FlyerTalkers:
68 Team Members
291 Loans
4.28 Loans per Member (average)
$8,900.00 Total Loaned
*Updated as of Sept 1, 2009 10:02 am
I'm betting
$10,000 by Christmas - at least! FlyerTalkers, making a difference! ^And gj83, thanks for sharing the cool add-on!
(And, yes, I have had one or two loans go into delinquency - I am aware of risk issues and select the kind of business I lend to, the lender, the location, and do know I can decisions that control the loan risk. Thanks for bringing this up, GenevaFlyer.)
Last edited by JDiver; Sep 20, 09 at 2:01 pm Reason: corekt typoe and update figures
Sep 1, 09, 12:06 pm
#89
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,949
Sep 6, 09, 6:31 pm
#90
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Sun City, CA, USA
Programs: AA,UA,HH,Marriott
Posts: 398
Where did everybody go? I haven't been here in awhile. (I got too sucked in to Farm Town on Face Book), but I didn't know that FT has a team on Kiva. Woo-Hoo! I've belonged since early last year, and I'm a big fan. I just moved over to your team. Yea, FT! (I also belong to prosper.com) Jean
