Skip to content

What is Kiva?

Kiva is an international nonprofit crowdfunding platform that believes in character over credit and the power of community-based lending. Through crowdfunding, they’re able to provide funding opportunities for entrepreneurs where conventional lenders won’t. Through Kiva, you can receive a loan up to $15,000 with 0% interest.
Learn More about Kiva

What is Kiva Little Rock?

Kiva Little Rock is a partnership between Kiva, an international nonprofit, and FORGE, Inc. FORGE is serving as a local Hub of Kiva. The Kiva Little Rock Hub is funded through a grant from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. This means you have a dedicated manager in Little Rock to help you at any point in the Kiva lending process. When you submit your application, it goes directly to Little Rock’s Capital Access Manager. They will follow up to review your application before submitting it to Kiva and keep you updated on the status of your application, provide fundraising templates and answer any questions.

Kiva’s unique crowdfunding model helps business owners access 0% interest and no fee small business loans with the help of their community.

The Kiva Little Rock Hub works with entrepreneurs throughout the application, fundraising, and repayment process to help them succeed. Check out the requirements and loan sizes below to see if we can help your business grow.

Minimum Requirements

  • At least 18 years old
  • Registered U.S. Business
  • Willing to engage community support
  • Not currently in bankruptcy or foreclosure
  • Not a franchise or multi-level marketing
  • You will be using the requested loan for a legal and socially responsible business
  • You must have a PayPal account (that’s how you will receive as well as repay your Kiva loan!)

  • You must be willing to demonstrate your social capital by asking a small number of your friends, family, clients, and/or business partners to make a loan to you during your Private Fundraising Period

Terms

  • $1,000 – $15,000 loans
  • Up to 3 year term
  • 0% interest rate and no fees
  • Community-backed online crowdfunding
Apply Now
Borrower Information

Kiva’s Process

Application

We assist you develop a good application from best practices. We have the option to endorse applications which increases the chance of success for borrowers. Contact us today for a consultation.

Kiva Review

Based on your trustworthyness and stage of readiness, Kiva will reach out to you to let you know how much you qualify for.

Private Fundraising

Kiva will set a minimum of community investment from your personal network before you can market on the platform. This term is about one to two weeks.

Public Fundraising

After private investment, you have 45 days to fully fund your loan through the online lending/crowdfunding platform.

Repayment

Your repayment, at no interest is 0%. Your payment is principle/term.

Application

We assist you develop a good application from best practices. We have the option to endorse applications which increases the chance of success for borrowers. Contact us today for a consultation.

Kiva Review

Based on your trustworthyness and stage of readiness, Kiva will reach out to you to let you know how much you qualify for.

Private Fundraising

Kiva will set a minimum of community investment from your personal network before you can market on the platform. This term is about one to two weeks.

Public Fundraising

After private investment, you have 45 days to fully fund your loan through the online lending/crowdfunding platform.

Repayment

Your repayment, at no interest is 0%. Your payment is principle/term.

How to Lend

Each lender on Kiva lends for their own reasons. Many believe that small, locally owned businesses benefit their communities and they want to see their communities thrive. For others, it’s even more personal: they want to support friends, neighbors and businesses they frequent. Also, because it’s a loan, lenders are repaid, enabling them re-lend and multiply their local impact.

Kiva’s unique community-backed model helps business owners access loans with the help of their communities. As a lender, you have the power to create opportunity and help others work toward their dreams—whether it’s a loan to an artist looking to fund their next exhibition, someone needing to purchase new equipment, or an entrepreneur with a creative idea for a new business.

Lenders are repaid the exact amount they loaned over a period of time (from 1-3 years). The minimum amount someone must lend on Kiva is $25.

Become a Lender

Meet your Little Rock Hub Capital Access Manager

Itzel Velazquez

Kiva Hub Capital Access Manager
Little Rock, Arkansas
littlerock@local.kiva.org
(501) 444-2979

Meet with Itzel

Back to Top