Stanford Study on Kiva

[Guest]

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[Unilove]

This just posted on Twitter. 

http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/the_profit_in_nonprofit/

http://www.ssireview.org/images/articles/2009SU_Case_Study_Coates_Saloner.pdf

This has interesting information, including on some of the very topics we have raised: Kiva's operating costs, donation %'s and amounts, grants, philosophies etc...

[wthepoo]

Thank you very much!

I don't know why, but I cannot access the PDF-document - is it the same as the html-document or is the latter just a summary (in the html-document there is a references to '“Kiva’s Loan Cycle” on page 70')?

Thanks again and best wishes,
Wolfgang.

[Jan & John]

Thank you very much!

I don't know why, but I cannot access the PDF-document - is it the same as the html-document or is the latter just a summary (in the html-document there is a references to '“Kiva’s Loan Cycle” on page 70')?

Thanks again and best wishes,
Wolfgang.

it's the same text Wolfgang - the pdf doc is marked pages 67 to 71 - and the Loan Cycle referred to is just a graphic with the circle showing lender -> Kiva -> partner -> and back around - the 4 stop cycle

jan

[wthepoo]

Thank you very much, Jan!

Best wishes,
Wolfgang.

[TheTatiana]

Excellent article.  Did they actually do frequent journal updates in the early days?  I wasn't around until November of 2006 but I never remember seeing many journal updates at all.

[wthepoo]

Did they actually do frequent journal updates in the early days?

Yes, they did - I haven't been around then, either, but you can check the businesses of "East Africa Beta" (http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&partner_id=1&status=All&sortBy=New+to+Old&pageID=1) and see for yourself:

One example:

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=91&_tpos=15&_tpg=3

with 16 updates in about 10 months.

Best wishes,
Wolfgang.

[Jan & John]

wow, thanks Wolfgang!

I have never taken the time to 'look back' at the Kiva loans or MFI's

What a mighty effort was made to supply the journal entries back then.
Knowing what I know now, I appreciate labour and time involved helping Matt and Jessica get their start. 

Incredible.
I followed one goat owner - from Moses through Alfred and then 'staff of Kiva office Africa'.  So many journals really allowed me to get a picture of the success and value of the loan.

Of course, we are now aware of the *business cost* of this kind of journalling so I won't grumble about what I do receive.

jan

[TheTatiana]

It is awesome, though, isn't it?  I wonder if, over time, if the kids were exposed to computers, that the borrowers couldn't eventually make their own updates.  I'm thinking of the next generation who might find computers more available, for instance in kiva's many internet cafe type businesses.  It would be so cool to be able to follow day by day the triumphs and setbacks that our business owners go through.  It seems like the cost of providing updates just doesn't need to be so high, you know?  I guess in time it will come down.

[wthepoo]

Very nice thought, Tatiana - who knows?

Anyway, with having received six new journal updates today, I am quite happy with some MFIs' efforts at providing us with updates. In particular, I think ASKI (Philippines) is commendable for providing two nice (if short) updates - including new photos - on (at least some of) their short term loans.

Examples:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=79636
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=80133
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=80130

And there are many other MFIs doing a great job with Kiva journals, too...

Best wishes,
Wolfgang.