Intro: How to Navigate and Make Loans on Kiva

"We are a non-profit organization with the mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world."
-Kiva

These steps are designed to teach readers how to navigate the Kiva site and make loans. These instructions expect that users have a basic understanding of finances and Paypal.

Below is an informational video for the following steps on registering and making a loan:

STEP 1: Registering for the Site

1. Type www.Kiva.org into an Internet Browser.

2. Once on the Kiva homepage, click the “register” button at the top right of the home page.

STEP 2: Registering for the Site Continued-Adding Information

3. Fill in the necessary boxes with your first name, last name and email address.

4. On the same page, create and confirm a password in the corresponding areas.

STEP 3: Registering for the Site Continued-Adjusting Settings

5. If desired, a photo can be uploaded as a profile picture by clicking the “browse” button and selecting a .jpg or .gif photo from your documents.

6. Choose your personal display settings in the bottom of the form.

7. Read and agree to the terms of agreement.

8. Click the “register” button.

STEP 4: Selecting a Borrower

After registering, the site will automatically take you to the lend page; however, if you want to go there, there is a “lend” button in the top access bar on the website. There are two ways to select a borrower:

First option:
1. On the lend homepage, a list of potential borrowers will appear. Scroll through this list until you find a borrower you wish to loan to.

STEP 5: Selecting a Borrower Continued- Accessing Their Page

2. Click on the borrower’s name to access their page.

3. If desired, you can read more about your borrower to ensure their credibility and learn why they need the money.

STEP 6: Selecting a Borrower Continued-Narrowing Search for Borrowers

Second option:
1. On the side panel, there is a selection process to narrow borrowers. Click the boxes that interest you in the various fields (e.g. gender, sector, etc.).
• Once an option is clicked, the site will automatically filter the loans. You can continue to click other aspects that appeal to you from the remaining available loans.

2. Click on the borrower’s name to access their page.

3. If desired, you can read more about your borrower to ensure their credibility and learn why they need the money.

STEP 7: Making Your Loan

There are two options to make a loan:
First option:

1. Once on the user’s page there is an orange button on the right side of the website that says “lend $25.” Click this button.

STEP 8: Making Your Loan Continued-Kiva Donation

This will take to you a page that documents your receipt. This receipt will show the $25 dollars donated, and an optional donation to Kiva’s site.

2. Click edit if you do not desire to make the optional donation to the Kiva site.

3. A drop down option will appear. Click the amount you wish to donate to Kiva and click the orange donate button

STEP 9: Making Your Loan Continued

4. Press the orange “continue” button in the lower right-hand-corner of the screen.

STEP 10: Making Your Loan Continued-Completing Order

5. Click the orange “pay now” button.
a. If you have a Kiva card, enter the code in the Kiva card box and click apply. If not, ignore it

STEP 11: Making Your Loan Continued-Paypal

7. There are two options to pay with Paypal. You can click the option to pay through your Paypal account, or you can click the option to pay as a Paypal guest.
a. If you are paying as a Paypal guest, fill in the necessary boxes with your information (e.g. name, e-mail, etc)

STEP 12:

7b. If you are paying through your Paypal account, you will log into your account by filling in your e-mail and Paypal password to the necessary boxes.

STEP 13: Making Your Loan Continued-Payment

8. Click “continue” button.

     a. If paying as a Paypal guest, this will take you to a “choose a way to pay” page. Fill in your credit/debit card information in the      necessary boxes to pay the loan.
        i. Click “Review and Continue”
        ii. Finish Payment
        iii. Once the loan is made, the site will take you to a confirmation page

STEP 14: Making Your Loan Continued-Payment

8b. If paying with a Paypal account, click “pay now.”
i. Once the loan is made, the site will take you to a confirmation page

STEP 15: Making Your Loan Continued-Option 2

Option two for selecting a borrower:

1. Once on your borrower’s page, using the drop down bar on the right side of the website, select the amount you wish to pay.

2. After the amount is selected, follow steps 2-8 from option one.

STEP 16: Repayment Schedules

Below is an informational video for the following steps regarding looking at your portfolio and relending credit:

1. Click “my portfolio” in the top right corner of the site.

2. Scroll down to your “recent loans” section.

3. Click on one the name of one of your borrowers.

4. Once on their homepage, at the top of the page click “repayment schedule”

5. This will give you a breakdown of when the borrower is supposed to make payments were received. Click show advanced for a detailed breakdown of the expected repayment amounts and the actual amounts repaid by the borrower.

STEP 17: Looking at Your Portfolio

6. Click “my portfolio” again.

7. If desired, you can view information at the bottom of your portfolio page. Scroll to the bottom of the page for recent updates from your borrowers and your portfolio distribution.

STEP 18: Relending Credit

1. Click on the “my portfolio” button at the top of the website.

2. Once your borrower’s have repaid $25 dollars, click the “relend credit” button.

STEP 19: Relending Credit Continued

3. Find another borrower from the borrower page, and click “lend $25.”

4. Complete the steps from the Making your Loan section.