Profit With a Purpose: Why I Chose “Giving Back” Part of Doing Business
When I founded Makena, I knew success could not be measured by profit alone. I wanted to build a company where business success created an opportunity to do meaningful good.
One of the ways we quietly live that philosophy is through Kiva.
A farmer in Cambodia. A seamstress in Tonga. A shop owner in the Philippines. A woman starting her first business.
To date, Makena has helped fund microloans for 162 entrepreneurs across 30 countries.
I share this only because most people I talk to have not heard of Kiva — and I think they should. Kiva connects people who have a little capital to entrepreneurs who often don't have access to traditional credit.
For as little as $25, you can help fund a loan that might allow someone to purchase equipment to build irrigation channels that will bring water to their farm, or to buy coconut leaves to sustain their weaving business, or even buy construction materials to build a sanitary toilet for their family, the list goes on and on.
What I particularly love about the model: You're not simply giving money away.
The entrepreneur repays the loan over time, and you can use those repayments to lend again — allowing the same dollars to help another entrepreneur.
But what keeps me coming back isn't just the model. It's the compelling stories.
These are people with ideas, determination and a plan. Sometimes, they simply need access to a little capital to take the next step. As a small business owner, that's something I understand.
That's what Profit with a Purpose means to me. If you've never heard of Kiva, I encourage you to take a look at Kiva.org.
And if you want to make it a group effort, you can create or join a Kiva team and see the collective impact of your lending alongside others.
You don't have to change the world all at once. One $25 loan is a place to start.
Comments