KIVA

KIVA is a microfinancing organization that connects those of us with excess with people in poverty looking to improve their situation. The idea is you give money to someone to help them start or improve their business and they repay you in a specified period of time. Your $25 is added to hundreds of other people's $25, and you give someone a chance. There have been times that we struggled to put food on the table and did not want a handout, but a job. It made me compassionate towards hungry mothers with hungry babies, so that is who I look to help. You can choose who your money helps based on region or industry or risk factors. Then, as long as the loan is repaid, you can withdraw it or regive it after the loan period. The hardest part is choosing who to give to.