Excitement in the Inbox!

As part of my 2007 Resolution, I loaned three people money through Kiva.  All year I've been following their progress as much as possible through Kiva.  I have also made a point to keep the people in my thoughts and hoping that they were doing well-- I've never been sure that such things make a real difference, but in the year of throwing aside cynicism, I figured "what the heck?--- lets go all out!"

This morning I waddled to the desk to check my e-mail expecting a full spam folder and a good number of crap emails for diet pills that eeked their way into my inbox.  Well-- I found plenty of spam ---but all the annoyances were washed away when I saw an email from Kiva that told me that one of the people I loaned money to had paid it back.  I was so excited!

The joy grew when I realized that the person had a good 2007 and was able to pay her loan back sooner than expected.  However, I was a little disappointed when I couldn't really find an update on her file and/or another opportunity to loan to her again.   I also couldn't reloan the money to some other person.  RATS!!!

I know that Oprah and Bill Clinton have brought attention to Kiva-- and that is great.  Big voices like that really do have an opportunity to get more Americans involved in helping the poor in all corners of the world.  I understand that such attention has caused a drain on Kiva's resources and that is a good problem to have.  However, my selfish desire to continue to be a little person doing my own little things that make a difference has been squelched a bit.

Stepping back from my disappointment (cause honestly, it is just a selfish desire to massage my own ego at this time when I am feeling at odds -- a nice way of saying 38 weeks pregnant, fat, hormonal and self absorbed with getting this baby here), I had a couple of thoughts about this new trend (I'm hoping it eventually becomes a societal value) of giving.

• First, I dream of a day when giving (in whatever form) is part of each person's life--- much like brushing your teeth, paying your rent, or eating a meal.
• Life's hassles and cynicism are often the biggest obstacles to making giving a practice and discipline in one's life. 
• Personal cynicism can be reduced and I'm hoping that my 2008 experiences prove that it can be eliminated without me becoming naive, stupid, gullible, and airheaded.
• Along with promotion and drawing attention to causes, celebrities can also help by making it possible for causes to grow/improve their infrastructure to handle the demands of all the new people coming to give/contribute/learn.
• Giving is not often a discipline/practice for most people.  However, it is a practice that is easily developed by providing an ample supply of genuine, feel-good feedback to reward the people who take the risk of letting go of cynicism and putting forth the effort to navigate the obstacles to giving.
• Subsequently, those of us who dream of a society that is more compassionate and giving, need to understand that it should always be easy for a person to give when the spirit moves them. I will return to the Kiva website in a few weeks, but I wonder about the busy gal or guy who just read Bill Clinton's Giving and is looking for someone to help.  Will he or she go back to the website?

I'm not trying to vilify Kiva.  I'm just aware, as a director of a nonprofit org, that sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed by the operation of an organization.  People either fit in, find a place, find a way to help or they don't.  And sometimes it needs to be that way for organizational growth. 

I also think that organizations need to mourn the missed opportunities too.  Afterall, we never know how one missed opportunity could have changed us for the good.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts as well.

Comments

[Katie Konrath]

Hi Carol,

I think Kiva was just overwhelmed by the response for Christmas. It must be insane there right now. I was on their site earlier today, and they had 5 pages of loans available. Now all of them are funded. They just can't keep the available loans "in stock".

You're right that it's really disappointing to go to a website all excited about doing something good... and then to be thwarted. Perhaps Kiva could have put up an email sign-up to remind people when they put up new loans, or just mentioned that they "add at least XX loans per day at X:XXam" so visitors know when to come back. Or maybe just a "Remind me when the insanity quiets down a little at Kiva."

Probably Kiva simply can't vet loans and partners quickly enough for this time. One thing that their "Out of stock" status tells me is that they aren't just throwing money at anyone who will take it. They're holding their partners to a standard.

But, I think it's also a cause for celebration. They're getting so much attention for a really fantastic cause. That has to be a good thing.

Plus, I can't complain too much about them being out. I did snatch a loan up quickly on Jan 4th. Sorry if I stole a chance of yours!

Hope you have better luck next time.

~Katie

[Carol Kirshner]

Hi Katie-

I agree wholeheartedly with you. Being super busy and running out of loans is a wonderful problem to have.

I also appreciate all of Kiva's efforts to put out well 'vetted' opportunities with reputable microfinance companies. When one of my loans was completely paid back, that certainly gave me confidence in the process as well as giving me a good appreciation of how the individuals who are loaned money, really do appreciate it enough to make strides to pay it back. That whole process can turn one into a habitual giver... which is not at all a bad thing.

Thanks for the comment.