How many people to lend to? I like knowing who they are...

[Guest]

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[chris]

I do like "knowing" who I'm lending to.  In fact I think it would be cool if Kiva partnered with Snapfish or some other site to offer the option of purchasing hard copy photos of a loan portfolio.  I'd like to be able to point to a photo on my fridge and say, "I helped that guy buy a tuk tuk."

But I do see Johanna's point of view.  Regardless of how you slice it up, you're loaning the money to someone who needs it, and diversification distributes the risk.  I'd never take 100% of a loan, but until one of my borrowers defaults, I'll shy away from maximum diversification.

[Ramón]

BTW, I have printed out my loan portfolio with pictures and a Kiva flyer and posted it on a wall at work. We're a small technology company of about 100 persons, and I have had quite a lot of people striking up conversations about it. I always explain what Kiva does, and they always ask if those are the  businesses I actually invested in...

I'll post a picture here when I get a chance.

Ramón

[FANAFI]

We are trying to balance 'knowing' and 'helping' the best we can. We want to impact as many lives as possible and 'knowing' may fall to the wayside for the purpose of helping satisfy as many loans as possible. Personally, we believe once we hit 200 loans (currently at 40) we will run into the 'knowing' barrier. Otherwise we'll have a very full binder (or two, three, etc)... which we don't mind!;)

-Jeff & Heather

[Ramón]

here is the picture I promised, see attachment

--Ramon