Can a Church Use Kiva as a Platform for Its Membership?

[Guest]

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[sorchard]

I'm looking for a platform that would allow members of a US based religious organization to extend microloans to their fellow church members in developing economies.  Does Kiva (or another similar platform) provide systems/standards/tools for smaller groups like ours to set up private / sub-brand micro-lending assistance?  Thanks for your ideas.

[charity]

I don't think Kiva does this, and I am not certain, but I don't think Microplace or MyC4, etc do either.  I know there are several church groups that have Teams on Kiva, where their members can join and they can have a message board and track loans made and attributed to the team.  But I don't think Kiva or any of the other microfinance places let you use their platform to lend only to other church members of your choosing.  Screening of entrepreneurs is done by independent microfinance institutions that have been screened and vetted and work within Kivas guidelines and meet their requirements.  So the only way I can see that working is if you had a microfinance institution that could then try to work with Kiva and get their loans posted on the site.  But the loans would again be public -so anyone could loan to them, like all the other loans on the site.   

[sorchard]

Thanks for your thoughtful response.  I will continue to research the Kiva platform to see if we can use it in the manner you described - our goal is not privacy or exclusivity, just matching up motivated lenders with borrowers in need within an established fellowship.  Maybe we can find an independent microfinance institution that would work with our people.  We are looking to operate in the Philippines, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Ghana.  I'l do some hunting.  Thanks again.

[waywardcats]

Thanks for your thoughtful response.  I will continue to research the Kiva platform to see if we can use it in the manner you described - our goal is not privacy or exclusivity, just matching up motivated lenders with borrowers in need within an established fellowship.  Maybe we can find an independent microfinance institution that would work with our people.  We are looking to operate in the Philippines, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Ghana.  I'l do some hunting.  Thanks again.

Hello sorchard and  to Kivafriends!

In this case you may do well to search the establish MFIs that already work with Kiva in the countries that are of interest to you.  For example, in Ghana you could research Sinapi Trust and if they are in the area of your borrowers, you could perhaps get them together.  It might not happen that their loan would be listed on kiva, though the borrower could try requesting that.  But if you could bring the two together, that sounds like it would still help you help individuals in your fellowship.

Good luck!

-Kerry-

[Dagfinn]

Maybe you would like to approach Hope International, they are a big organsiation and doing microloans in many countries and are run by a religious organisation I believe.

If you want to get in touch with priests out in the field I know of one that may be interested in hearing from you.

I hope for your success, Dagfinn A