Kiva.org: Making Loans that Change Lives

A few weeks ago, we featured Microplace, an eBay-backed website that lets Americans invest in microlenders throughout the world. Kiva.org allows you to loan money directly to small business owners, giving microfinance a human face.

Though individual loans are currently capped at $25, and so the investment potential may be minimal, many may find Kiva.org to be a more exciting way to contribute to economic development. After all, just like with child sponsorship, you know exactly who benefits from the money you lend, and what they plan to do with it. Perhaps there's room for two strong contenders in the field of personal microfinance.