The amazing thing about Kiva is how easy they make it for the user to see exactly what the site does and how to contribute to the mission of the company.

Microfinance is a growing social experiment in 3rd world countries that is proving to be an overwhelming success. It is a good way for developed countries to aid developing countries without going through bureaucracies and crippling the governments even more.

Up to this point, it has been unnecessarily burdensome for the user to donate money to such organizations. Kiva, and its incredible focus puts a face to the recipient of the loan and an easy, secure way for the user to give the loan. This sort of focus is what gives companies an edge in the fierce battle over non profit dollars.

With the first two rounds of “the big dance” out of the way and the “sweet sixteen” round right around the corner, sites like Bracket Brains and ESPN are enjoying some of their highest ad revenue weeks of the year. Google searches on topics such as Division 1 Tournament and Men’s College Basketball are higher than normal at this time of the year. It is interesting to see how the high paying ads shift from topic to topic in the sports arena as well as in other seasonal markets on the web.

As internet capabilities expand, more and more media hosting sites are popping up all over the place. Among them are a handful of extremely successful sites that encompass photo and video hosting.

In my opinion, photobucket is the most impressive of these sites with its broad range of artistic interests. But, what is it that separates photobucket from the rest?

1. Broad Scope: Photobucket.com has a full range of artistic interests. From photography to fashion to creative animation, you’re likely to find something to spark your interest. The site is also open to new and trendy art forms in popular culture.

2. Collaboration: While the site is free to all users, it also allows artists to collaborate with one another through group albums and networks. Moreover, the scope of the site ranges from popular culture iconography to random funny videos. Consequently, you don’t have to go very far to find users with similar interests.

3. Artistic Appearance: The main page is exciting and inviting. Because of the massive amount of information on many similar media sharing sites, their home page templates appear far more bland.

When we got our intial weekly assignment to blog about Kiva.org, I was very curious to investigate the site.  I had heard the name thrown around by some professors and each time, it was met with  many approving headnods from students.  But why, I wondered, were students so quick to give Kiva a thumbs up?  Was it because they applauded Kiva’s mission to provide micro-loans to entrepreneurs in third world countries or was it more shallow than that?  Were people so quick to commend Kiva’s efforts becaue they wanted to be viewed by their peers as an active member of society?

Regardless of their motives, I think Kiva provides a much needed service that will have an even bigger impact than investors could ever imagine.  To Americans living in such a blessed nation, an amount like $125 is not pocket change, but I’ve known friends who have spent more money on custom made jeans.  When you visit Kiva’s website and read the powerful, personal testimonies of what an impact a few dollars can have on a person’s life, you realize that Kiva exists to be more a pat-on-the-back organization. 

The numbers speak for themselves: with over 3,000 entrepreneurs funded every week through Kiva, people are catching the funding fever and donating more than ever.  When donating to Kiva’s powerful mission, you will be helping change the world, one micro-loan at a time.  Whether you decide to finance someone’s emerging business for the tax benefits or to get a a warm fuzzy feeling inside or because you genuinely want to help, the important thing is that you do it. 

I ran across an article describing the differences between Kiva and its competitor MicroPlace. Both websites are microfinance lending sites to benefit entrepreneurs in poverty.

MicroPlace is right for you if you are: