Kiva was the online microlending nonprofit founded in 2005 by Matt Flannery and Jessica Jackley.
The idea grew after Jackley and Flannery encountered stories about microfinance and entrepreneurs lacking access to startup capital. Jackley had worked with Village Enterprise in East Africa, while Flannery helped develop the technology and lending concept. Their goal was to let ordinary people fund small loans to entrepreneurs through the internet.
Kiva’s first loans were funded in April 2005, and the organization was formally founded that October. The name “Kiva” means “unity” in Swahili. Its platform has since worked with field partners such as microfinance institutions, social enterprises, schools, and nonprofits in countries around the world.
Kiva is often described as a person-to-person microlending platform, but the mechanics are more complex than a lender simply sending money directly to a named borrower. Kiva commonly works through field partners, and some loans may be disbursed before lenders select a profile. That distinguishes Kiva from grant platforms such as DonorsChoose or GiveDirectly.