Overall operation costs

[Guest]

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[granite]

I read in one of the threads it costs $21 000.00 a day to run Kiva.  Is this right?  It costs $7 665 000 year?  That's the equivilent to 306 600 twenty-five dollar loans.  I'm quite curious about this statistic, what it represents, where the money goes to and how it compares to the amount of overall money flowing through Kiva.  On their facts page it says they have lent $150 069 675 since the start.  I'm curious to know how much is going through a year.  It seems like alot to me... but maybe Kiva is bigger than I thought.

[AccountAbility]

Since nobody else has responded, I will try to address your question.  The figures you cite are approximately accurate (given timing difference and different measurement periods.)

Kiva keeps its operating funds separate from loan funds.  As they say, all loan funds go out to the borrowers through the MFI Field Partners.  They do make some interest off these funds while in their possession, but today's rates don't provide much.

Their operating budget is funded in large measure through grants, corporate sponsors and lender donations.  The gross amount of this budget when divided by 365 presumably results in the $21,000 figure.  Apparently (although it is not clear) a relatively small part of this number is funded through lender donations on the site.  Naturally they would like it to be more.

So, yes perhaps Kiva is bigger than you thought.  As it matures, it too needs to find a self sustaining strategy to survive -- let alone flourish.  Best of everything to them as they try.

Dan