I'm going to take this opportunity to plug a website that I designed for a friend's new social enterprise:


Energy In Common
http://www.energyincommon.org


it's kind of like kiva, but for energy entrepreneurship, clean fuel, etc. it also automatically calculates the carbon offsets of your microloans. it promotes true energy independence.

quote:

Some would describe Energy in Common as a not-for-profit organization. And they'd be right. But if you ask us, Energy in Common is a community. A community that believes they have a way to end poverty. Energy. There are billions of people living in poverty that want to build a better future for their children. Together, we can lend them the money they need to do it. A small loan from you can give a family reliable, accessible and safe energy, and help break the cycle of poverty once and for all. But there's more. With that same little loan, you can fight climate change at the same time. Every project funded through EIC benefits the environment. Your loan is directly helping to generate real emission reductions that you can then purchase to offset your own carbon footprint and that money goes straight back into providing energy to the developing world. Pretty good huh? And it all starts with a small loan from you.

remember, you're making loans - so you get your money back