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!
Dec 31, 2015 | 8:53 am
#1216
Original Poster
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT EXP; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,950
Just making my final loans to be able to deduct the portions I give to Kiva for admin purposes from my 2015 taxes. (Reminder bump)
Mar 14, 2016 | 8:39 am
#1217
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,673
Well, about 48 weeks ago, we were at ~$1.3 MM and ~25K loans; now we're at:
595 Team Members
$2,062,400 Amount Loaned
34,620 Loans
Woohoo! Almost 10 thousand additional loans and we've now broken the $2 MM mark! ^:-:
May 12, 2016 | 9:21 pm
#1220
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
May 12, 2016 | 9:33 pm
#1221
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,673
I have a long way to go to match your feat...I'm still missing 34 from my collection. (Though I've apparently made about 10 loans to Benin!
Unfortunately, most of them ended with a currency exchange loss.)
May 13, 2016 | 3:27 am
#1222
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,387
I'm on Kiva. I'll have to move my team to Flyertalk.
I usually loan to females for education or business. I have loaned once or twice for silly reasons such as the sad looking guy in his late 30's who was single and still lived at home. He wanted a tv to watch in his room.
Just did another loan. It does make you feel good.
I usually loan to females for education or business. I have loaned once or twice for silly reasons such as the sad looking guy in his late 30's who was single and still lived at home. He wanted a tv to watch in his room.
Just did another loan. It does make you feel good.
Last edited by Annalisa12; May 13, 2016 at 3:37 am
May 14, 2016 | 11:29 am
#1223
Original Poster
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT EXP; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,950
I'm on Kiva. I'll have to move my team to Flyertalk.
I usually loan to females for education or business. I have loaned once or twice for silly reasons such as the sad looking guy in his late 30's who was single and still lived at home. He wanted a tv to watch in his room.
Just did another loan. It does make you feel good.
I usually loan to females for education or business. I have loaned once or twice for silly reasons such as the sad looking guy in his late 30's who was single and still lived at home. He wanted a tv to watch in his room.
Just did another loan. It does make you feel good.
).We'll be happy to welcome you. Our team, started in 2008, today has 607 members have lent $2,209,175 in 37,092 loans.
Last edited by JDiver; May 14, 2016 at 12:08 pm
May 30, 2016 | 7:06 am
#1226
Original Poster
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT EXP; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,950
You've helped us get to our current figures:
610 TEAM MEMBERS
$2,251,475 AMOUNT LOANED
37,527 LOANS
61.5 LOANS PER MEMBER
$2,251,475 AMOUNT LOANED
37,527 LOANS
61.5 LOANS PER MEMBER
Jul 28, 2016 | 2:56 pm
#1229
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
Just made my 1,000th loan today in just shy of 17 months of lending! 
875 of those loans were credited to FT and I have an overall loss of 0.77% from defaults & currency losses. Not bad! That's cheaper than most methods of MS and I did a heck of a lot of good for others
Here's to the next 1,000!
875 of those loans were credited to FT and I have an overall loss of 0.77% from defaults & currency losses. Not bad! That's cheaper than most methods of MS and I did a heck of a lot of good for others
Here's to the next 1,000!
Jul 29, 2016 | 7:59 am
#1230
Original Poster
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT EXP; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,950
Just made my 1,000th loan today in just shy of 17 months of lending!
875 of those loans were credited to FT and I have an overall loss of 0.77% from defaults & currency losses. Not bad! That's cheaper than most methods of MS and I did a heck of a lot of good for others
Here's to the next 1,000!
875 of those loans were credited to FT and I have an overall loss of 0.77% from defaults & currency losses. Not bad! That's cheaper than most methods of MS and I did a heck of a lot of good for others
Here's to the next 1,000!