Kiva.org

I want to let you all know about a cool non-profit that is doing great things: Kiva.org – this is a frugal way to help people in the developing world.

Kiva.org allows individuals to make $25 loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so, individuals like you provide affordable working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to earn their way out of poverty.
It’s a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty, and the way I see it, I get a higher return on $25 helping someone build a future than the interest my checking account pays. The point os that you get your money back 🙂 So it is like free giving.

Anyways, if you have a minute, please check out the site: http://kiva.org. If you need more “reputable” validation than my recommendation :), know that they have received great press in publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to NPR to BusinessWeek to The Today Show and are endorsed by Bill Clinton, Oprah and many others.

Even though I do not have a lot of money, I still invest in other entrepreneurs. If my $25 can make a difference, then they are well invested. Besides the same $25 can be re-invested over and over again.