Every Thanksgiving I like to use this website to promote a worthy organization that does goodwill either in my city or throughout the world. This past year I found out about a really awesome non-profit that’s very different from the ones I’ve featured in years past.

It’s called Kiva. Essentially, you give microloans of at least $25 at a time to entrepreneurs and groups in struggling countries throughout the world. These individuals might use the funds to buy more supplies for their businesses, improve their property, etc. (they will specify what the funds will go to before you choose them). Now here’s the cool part … these are actually loans, not donations. You’re giving them capital to start or expand their business while setting a payback period. After you get the funds back you can then lend to other businesses. So it encourages small businesses (many run by women) and economic growth to flourish in struggling countries and with a 99.02% successful payback rate it’s very likely you’ll be able to pass out the same loans over and over to people who could greatly use them.

Now that’s just a very simple look at the organization – the logistics of it are more complicated and it’s certainly not the only microloan organization out there. I highly suggest checking out Kiva’s website and seeing if it’s something you’d like to try out. Again, I love the idea that we have an opportunity to give these entrepreneurs the opportunities they need and letting them decide how to make that capital work for their business.

Anyway, this Thanksgiving I’ve very thankful for my friends and my readers here on Just Plain Something and CliqueClack. Thanks again for reading and supporting my work.