I donate ten per cent of ongoing worldwide royalties from my book Screw Work Break Free through Kiva, a non-profit organisation that makes microloans to entrepreneurs in the developing world. Even a $25 loan can be life-changing for someone needing to buy a sewing machine to make clothes to sell or buy stock for a small shop in a remote location.
Kiva works with microfinance and social enterprise partners on five continents to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. Since 2005 Kiva have lent over $850 million in 84 countries and they get a 98 per cent repayment rate.
Simply by buying the book you have already helped an entrepreneur to create opportunity for themselves and their family
As royalties come in, I will be donating them to the Kiva account called John SWBF Williams (note the first royalties will be a minimum of 6 months after publication on 4 August 2016). Once that happens, you will able to the stories of the loans that have been made in the name of the book on the SWBF team page. Once each loan is repaid, it can be lent again to another individual so that it can continue to create benefit.
(While normal Kiva account holders can withdraw their funds, I have arranged with Kiva that the account associated with these donated royalties is non-withdrawable and so will remain in the Kiva ecosystem permanently.)
Want to get more involved? Join the Screw Work lending team
If you wish to support Kiva’s work further, you can join as a member yourself and make your own loans – just read through the borrower stories from around the world on the Kiva site and choose who to help.
You can also join the Screw Work lending team here and connect with me and other readers to share how we’re making a difference in people’s lives all over the world.
100 per cent of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes directly towards funding loans; Kiva does not take a cut. Furthermore, Kiva does not charge interest to their field partners who administer the loans.
Once your loan is repaid, you can empower another person by making a new loan, donate the money to help cover Kiva’s running costs or withdraw it.
To join Kiva yourself and make your own donations click here.
