KIVA - loans that change lives

I want to let you know about a cool non-profit that is doing great things: Kiva (which I stumbled upon on Oprah's website after watching the "Oprah's Big Give Show" and decided to learn more about it)

Kiva allows individuals to make $25 loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so, individuals like you provide affordable working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to earn their way out of poverty.

It's a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty, and the way I see it, I get a higher return on $25 helping someone build a future than the interest my checking account pays.

Please check out the site: http://kiva.org/. They have received great press in publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to NPR to BusinessWeek.