Today I made some Kiva loans and then sent gift cards to my children and some of my older grandchildren so that they can make loans.

Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Using the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.

The thing I like about Kiva is that 100% of the money I loan goes to the recipients. Kiva does not charge the micro finance institutions it works with interest. The money necessary to run Kiva is donated separately. With each loan I make I can choose to donate to Kiva’s operating expenses or not. When my loan is repaid I can choose to re-loan the money or I can have redeposited into my Paypal account and I can use it how I want. I always re-loan the money.