Cirrus Threads believes in empowering visionaries in the third world by connecting communities here and abroad. As a group, we've committed to donate at least 10% of all our profits to help ease poverty through micro-loans. These loans give a boost to poverty stricken people to help climb out themselves. When these loans are repaid, the funds will be re-used to boost someone else. Cirrus believes in helping those that have, help those that don't.
Cirrus Threads has partnered with the Kiva organization, leaders in the micro finance movement. MySpace has changed the way the entertainers relate to their fans, Craigslist has changed the way people find a job or a room-for-rent,
Kiva has changed the way people give back.
How Kiva Works from Kiva on Vimeo.
Kiva posts a picture of each loan recipient on the internet, so that contributors can see who they are helping, read their name and learn their story through their business description. Kiva Field Partners post updates to each business throughout the loan term, and lenders can post comments in reply to the Partner Representative, asking questions about the business or expressing their encouragement for the entrepreneur. Kiva demands accountability for loan funds by tracking repayments in a transparent way, and publishing all progress reports - both positive and negative.Kiva's unique online micro-lending marketplace is a true social business which provides a service for philanthopic individuals looking to create the greatest impact with their philanthropy earmarked funds. Lenders choose to make an optional donation to Kiva for facilitating their loan to an entrepreneur, creating a sustainable business model for Kiva. The social impact is two-fold: entrepreneurs receive start-up or expansion capital which gives them an opportunity to create a business to lift themselves out of poverty, while the microfinance institutions Kiva partners with gain access to a new source of cheap, soft debt capital.
The ease with which we can now gather information from around the world has changed the way the public want to give. By creating a platform through which people can connect - much the same as MySpace or Craigslist - Kiva is giving philanthropy a 2.0 twist, enabling individuals to give an entrepreneur halfway around the world their vote of confidence with just $25.