Company Matching Donations

[Guest]

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[Nicole & Hiren]

Hi, everyone!

I'm so excited I'm about to BURST. A few weeks ago, I went to our company's HR person, asking her if I could start a Kiva lending group at my company. She told me to go right ahead, but I asked her if she could clear it first with the Powers That Be, just to make sure it was OK.

Well, the Powers That Be were so happy with Kiva, that they agreed to match ALL donations our employees make. YAY!!!!!!  I'm so happy I'm about to BURST. Today was the day we kicked it off, and I've already had $100 pledged (that's $200 really).

Here's our lender page: http://www.kiva.org/lender/terix We only have one loan so far (I did that one in order to start off with a great one). But, as I said, there are definitely more in the works. We're not a huge company, so my goal is $1000, which I'm fairly confident we can do.

Ahem. Now I'm going to try to get them to put a Kiva banner on our website! 

See ya!
Nicole

[QueenOfHearts]

Congratulations Artlover....I am on my way to post you on Kivapedia.....

Queen

[Henry]

Well done Nicole!  You have to enjoy a company that will support you like that.

p.s.  Very Well done on the other thing----your w.w. website!  Congratulations! looks wonderful!  I admire your hard work!

[Nicole & Hiren]

Very Well done on the other thing----your w.w. website!  Congratulations! looks wonderful!  I admire your hard work!

Thanks, Henry! After my pregnancy, I again have a long journey ahead of me, but that's OK. He was worth it.  It helps me to put things about my weight loss on the web. Keeps me honest and makes me feel beholden to someone. Not sure if that makes sense.

I am on my way to post you on Kivapedia.

Queen, thank you for putting us on there! I'm not overly familiar with Kivapedia. I will need to check it out now that I'm the company Kiva "expert." 

[Kay]

That's wonderful, Nicole--about starting the lending group and getting matching donations!

[KivanSteven]

Thats awesome Nicole...I was just thinking that over the last couple days...wondering if my boss, who is the boss of my boss of my boss, lol, though an extremely generous person, would sign on to something like that.  I was actually wondering if he would sponsor me and any others since I was considering a cross country bike trip next year with the primary objective of promoting Kiva.  Its very very preliminary but hardly something beyond my reach and I might be posting the topic on kiva friends to recruit ideas and methods I could undertake for spreading the word and/or raising money in each little town, village, and city I ride through.  I do hope my boss will be as generous as yours.

[Soriak]

Interesting! I encouraged my father last week to bring it up at his work. They did something charitable for Christmas last year and were looking for something new this year. I figured giving every employee a $50 or so Kiva gift certificate might be a nice gesture and since it's a bank, getting involved in loans for a good cause seems like an interesting idea.

It was apparently well received, leading to new Kiva lenders. But I fear it may fail because the site is only available in English and the Gift Certificate process is a big pain, especially when it has to be done for hundreds of people. Still, you never know

That might be an idea worth trying in general. I could see HR departments being up for that. More imaginative than just letting people pick a charity to donate to.

[wind5001]

I really like these ideas you've been posting...the matching donations seem to be a very American thing. I've never heard of it before here in Germany. Good job Nicole. Just checked out your profile...very nice loans!!

[Skimmis]

http://www.kiva.org/landing/octoberChallenge

[kalleward]

This concept would work especially well at public events for Kiva.  Whether it be a fundraiser or a race, I've seen a lot of company's wanted to show social responsibility through donation (or lend) matching. 

Events bring the people, and there's never a better way to represent your responsibility than in front of the masses.  They'd be a sponsor, and everyone at the event would see their commitment to Kiva.  It's a great sales pitch, and anyone involved in an event for Kiva should give it serious thought.