Kiva Microfunds

To expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive.

Founded in 2005, Kiva operates a global crowdfunding platform that connects individual lenders with entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional banking. Lenders can start with as little as $25 to support women, refugees, climate-vulnerable populations, and marginalized communities across 84 countries. Since its first loan, over 2 million people have invested more than $2 billion, reaching 5 million borrowers worldwide. The organization maintains a 100% pass-through model—no fees are taken from lenders, so all funds go directly to borrowers. With over 700 volunteers and 130+ full-time employees, Kiva operates from hubs in San Francisco, Nairobi, Bogotá, and Bangkok while supporting remote work globally. The team describes itself as mission-driven with a digital-first culture that blends startup energy with poverty alleviation impact.

Products

The core platform at kiva.org lets users browse borrower profiles and fund specific loans with as little as $25. Monthly Good offers automated subscription lending for recurring support. Kiva U.S. provides zero-interest, zero-fee loans ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 to domestic small businesses, using social underwriting based on character rather than credit scores. Kiva Capital manages institutional debt funds like the Kiva Refugee Investment Fund, providing capital to microfinance institutions serving displaced populations. The organization also offers corporate engagement programs, digital gift cards, and a Developer API for external integrations.

Funding

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Kiva operates through voluntary donations rather than venture capital. Over two-thirds of operating costs come from voluntary contributions by lenders, with the remainder funded by grants from foundations like Etsy's Uplift Fund and the Boundless Futures Foundation. The organization has received approximately $8.16 million in grants and accelerator support throughout its history. In 2024 alone, the Kiva community funded $188 million in loans, contributing to the $2 billion total facilitated since founding. This sustainable model allows Kiva to charge zero fees while maintaining operations.

Recent news

In November 2025, Kiva celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking a major organizational milestone of having successfully facilitated over $2.4 billion in crowdfunded microloans to more than 5.6 million borrowers globally.

Technology

The frontend uses Vue.js and Nuxt.js with Tailwind CSS for styling and Apollo GraphQL for data fetching. Backend services run on Node.js, Kotlin, PHP, and Java in a microservices architecture containerized with Docker. Kiva integrates Auth0 for authentication, Braintree for payments, and Sentry for error tracking. Data analytics rely on Snowplow and Optimizely for testing. Daily operations use Google Workspace, Slack, and Microsoft Office applications. The platform also leverages Contentful as a headless CMS, with MySQL, Redis, and MongoDB handling data persistence and caching.

Benefits

Kiva offers unlimited PTO for salaried employees and flexible scheduling, including part-time roles structured around employee preferences. Health benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance with 100% premium coverage for employees and 80-90% for dependents. New parents receive 10 weeks of paid leave, with additional pregnancy disability coverage for birth mothers. The company provides a $2,500 annual 401(k) contribution and a $750 continuing education stipend. With a digital-first culture, Kiva supports hybrid and remote work arrangements. The organization emphasizes global connectivity through Employee Resource Groups and regular opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and partners worldwide.