Kiva is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, incorporated in November 2005.

"Kiva" is a Swahili word which means "unity" or "agreement".

Kiva is the world's first online micro-lending platform.

Kiva was co-founded by Matt and Jessica Flannery, when they were 28 and 27 respectively.

Previously, Kiva CEO and Co-Founder Matt Flannery was an engineer at Tivo. Premal Shah, Kiva President, was a product manager at PayPal.

PayPal provides Kiva with free payment processing. Kiva's is the first account at PayPal with a free payment processing agreement.

The minimum amount that can be loaned to an entrepreneur on Kiva is $25.

Kiva partners with microfinance institutions around the world, referred to on the Kiva website as Field Partners.

Recipients of a Kiva Loan are referred to as "entrepreneurs", contributors to a Kiva Loan are referred to as "Kiva Lenders".

Anyone with an email address can create a Kiva Account. Anyone who can make payments using a credit card or PayPal account can be a Kiva Lender.

Currently, Kiva Lenders can only receive 0% interest on their loan. Kiva hopes to allow Field Partners to offer non-zero interest rates to Kiva Lenders soon.

Kiva is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Kiva currently employs 24 full-time and 9 part-time staff members.