Are you a cat lover? I mean really love cats? So much so that your cat (or 10 cats) inspires you to do something good in the world? Then check out this week's Kiva team. Team Cats Are People Too has 184 members and is (surprise, suprise) made up mostly of women. They've loan over $98,000 and (another shocker) most of that has gone to the food and retail. Team CAPT (hey!) loans because:  The world can never be purrfect, but it can be happier! Right, Pepper?

A loan of another color...

I love red hair. It's true! I love it on little girls, I love it on those Irish boys (like my own darling Daddy McD), I love it on celebrities (I'm looking at you, Emma Stone, Brendan Gleeson and Amy McAdams). Well it just so happens that there is a Kiva lending team for redheads. Team Readheads! is the team for you, you fiery lil' devil!! With 7 members, Team Redheads! has loaned $950. And you don't have to be a redhead to join. you can just love red hair...like me

Every Penny counts

You don't have to be rich to do something good. Today's Team knows the value of making every penny count. Team The Widow's Mite loans because: " Our members want to make an impact no matter how small or large the contribution ". Do you remember the story of the widow's mite (Luke 21:1-4)? She gave all she had, even though it wasn't much. Team Widow's Mite has two members and they've loaned $300. To someone out there, that's a BIG deal!

Good deeds are a-brewin'

Today's team on what I fondly think of as "Team up Tuesday" is a Kiva lending team in good spirits...literally. Team Beer Goggles never Lie...Much loan because "We love a beer, and we love to loan. Coincidence? I think not!" Most of their loans go to the agricultural sector and the team has loaned a whopping  total of $171,525! They've got 115 members but you know what they say; the more the merrier! Right?

Handmade Help

Whether you shop Esty or sell on Etsy or just peruse Esty, you gotta love the heart that goes into the handmade goodies! Well they apparently have some overflow of heart. This week's Kiva team is Team Etsy.com Handmade. With 157 members, Team Etsy has given over $20,000!  Team Etsy gives because: "we want to help other micro-entrepreneurs & because so many of us understand the struggles one must face when trying to get a small business off the ground". It's great to help someone else get their dream started, don't you agree?

Knights who loan

And now for something completley different...
This week's Kiva team is obsessed with "swallows, 42, and three questions". You got it, Team Knights Who Say Ni. Now, they currently have 3 members but I KNOW there are way more Monty Python fans out there...especially ones who say "Ni". Join your brethren who give because: "We would like to help out mankind, and repay karma for saying Ni to old ladies." They given $100 so far and I'm sure you can give them a leg up.

We CAN all get along...to loan

When fighting something big like poverty, it takes a concerted effort. We gotta set aside differences to accomplish a big goal. This week's Kiva team does that. Team Atheist/Christian Alliance was "...brought together by a podcast that seeks to find common ground and understanding". I think we all can agree that empowering and impacting impoverished communities by supporting entrepreneurs matters. Team Atheist/Christian Alliance gives because: "We care, despite our differences". They have 28 members and have loaned over $5000. Join the team and join the conversation over at http://www.achristianandanatheist.com/

Team Over-exposed

Well, it had to be. I mean there's no escaping it and Pickles will get tickles. This week's Kiva Team is dedicated to everyone's favorite teen bloodsucker. Yes, it's Team Edward. With 11 members, Team Edward has loaned just over $2000. Team Edward gives because: "...we love protecting those we love (in our case everyone) as much as Edward does, we have foreseen great and good change in the world as we loan..." There you have it, lovers of progressive vampires unite.

Imagine all the loans

While some of the teams I've featured have been formed for fun or goofiness, this week's Kiva team is grounded in high ideals. And Mother Darling would love it. Team Lennon Lovers gives because: "John Lennon believed in peace and love. There is no better way to show it." With only two members, Team Lennon Lovers could use some help making dreams come true. Their loans so far have gone to food, retail and manufacturing. Imagen loaning!

Hey, Zoe, you can give

While giving and lending can be done by anyone, this week's Kiva Team is specifically for you...Zoe. If your name is Zoe, great news: Team Any Zoe wants you to know you can make a difference. Big Zoes, little Zoes, doesn't matter. Team Any Zoe currently has 7 members and has loaned almost $2300. Most of that has gone to food businesses. So if you are a Zoe, or a Zoey, or love a Zoe or want to impress a Zoey, sign up!

Sweep the leg...of poverty

Just when I think I've seen the coolest Kiva lending team, something else comes along. Something like this: Team Cobra Kai Karate School. With 11 members, it has raised just under $600. Team Cobra Kai gives because: "We want to put poverty in a body bag". Now don't you want to join Johnny and his minions in showing poverty no mercy? Do it, do it now.

Too Sexy not to loan

So I think it's becoming quite clear that Kiva lenders can find just about any reason to give. Don't believe me? I submit to you Team Women Who Lend to Shirtless Men. I think the name says it all. These gals give because: "We can't resist". Team WWLtSM has 28 members has loaned just over $5500. I'm willing to bet there are plenty of shirtless men who need your help. If you're a woman and you support the shirtlessness of men, this is the team for you!

Even Jerks can give

This week's Kiva team is perfect for my ex-husband! Team Pompous Jerks, according to their info page, is "helpful but insulting".  They currently have 2 members but, c'mon, I know there are way more pompous jerks out there! They've raised $100.

Didn't know pompous jerks could give? Well it behooves them apparently. Team Pompous Jerks gives because: "We like to rub our philanthropy in people's faces at social occasions. Feel free to remind everyone you know that you are better than them because you lend money to the third world." Wow, it's like I can hear the ex's voice!!

Loan in Style

Are you Philanthropic AND fabulous? Here's the perfect Kiva lending team for you. Team Fierce loans because: We're fierce. With 110 members, team Fierce has loaned almost $30,000!! Team Fierce is "The most fashion forward Kiva lending team!" And who doesn't want to look good when they're fighting poverty?

BFFs loan

From most fiercest, to most sweetest; seeing as how it's Valentine's Day, this week's Kiva Team is the friendliest, most lovable team ever. It's Team Friends of Piglet! They currently have 4 members but who couldn't use more friends? Even very small animals can make a difference. Team Friends of Piglet give because: "We care". 'Nuff said.

Chuck Norris would give...

This week's Kiva team may be the most awesome team ever. They could use a few more members, though. Team What Would Chuck Norris Do has two members. It has loaned $1800 over 72 loans. Not bad for just 2 folks, huh? Team WWCND doesn't say why they give, but do they really have to?

Since Chuck Norris can hear you reading this right now, I think we all know what we have to do. Join the team, give like the wind and hope to God that Chuck Norris is pleased with your offering.

Capitalists unite!...and give

The goal of Kiva Capitalists is out to make more capitalists, of course! Making loans to help folks make their own way in the world, these capitalists give because: 

"Capital and business make the world go round; trade is a stabilizing force. Offering non-usurious loans to help people start businesses to provide others with goods and services they need or want is what capitalism is all about. We are all proud capitalists, and some of us are even unrepentant"

Are you a capitalist? Then this is the team for you! You can  help to start up a new business, a new life or even a new local economy!

Funding the Future

Last week I talked about KIVA, a micro-lending website that funds small business owners and budding entreprenuers most of them in empoverished countries or conditions. One thing I like about Kiva are the lending groups I'll feature every week. And so I bring you this weeks group: Star Trekkers. Are you a Trekker? I am. Not just the original series, but TNG, DS9 and VOY. Sorry, Enterprise.

Members of team Star Trekkers give because: ... "we can; & because Gene Roddenberry would certainly approve. The first step on the road to any future is to believe that the future is possible & the secret goal of any true trekker must be to help others live long & prosper. Even a Cardassian can see that...."  You got that right!  It seems their biggest portion of loans go to retail businesses. While they currently have only 40 members, team Star Trekkers has loaned amongst them $12,200! That's impressive....most impressive OOPS! Wrong 'Star' guy, my nerd worlds are colliding!

Power up!

Are you familiar with Kiva? Well you're gonna be. Kiva is a non-profit organization that helps folks like you do something awesome! It links lenders to small business owners or budding entrepreneurs (many of them in impoverished countries). It helps you give a hand-up to someone with a plan, a dream or a hope...or all three. "Micro-loans" as small as $25 can be made at Kiva to finance folks with their small business. Businesses run the gamut from farming to retail to food services to cattle to...well, you get the picture
It's not some random loan either! You can choose who you loan money to. A face and a story accompanies each loan request. It's not just money, it's an ooportunity and empowerment that you're lending. Once your loan is paid, you can get your money back OR you can turn it around and loan it again!

Lastly, you can join a team that loans together. Oh the teams; they're formed or they loan based on interests or values or region or favorite sports teams....for real! I'll introduce to a team every week in hopes that you'll get inspired to invest in someone's dream of a better life. You'll see that there are so many reasons to give.

This week it's Team Texas. They loan because: "Texas does it bigger!". The team has 741 members (including yours truly). It appears, from team stats, that Team Texas members are big on making farming or agricultural loans...go figure.

Check out Kiva's website. Once you lend, you're gonna want to do it again!