From time to time Smart Family Tips will feature an organization that is a “Do-Gooder”: a group that works to help both people and the environment. The Do-Gooders may be companies, nonprofits, or any organized group that focuses its efforts on making the world a better place.

As “the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the globe,” Kiva’s “mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.”

Kiva has developed a new kind of philanthropic model. One that allows people with even small amounts of money to directly help individuals in need, people who are already working hard to build better lives for themselves. With Kiva’s unique program, people can pour over the profiles on their website. These profiles highlight entreprenuers in struggling countries and explain what business the given entrepreneur is building, how much money the individual would like to borrow, and what the funds will be used for. Once you find a person you wish to help, you commit to loan any amount of money you wish. That money is then sent to one of Kiva’s microfinance partners who disperses the funds to the entrepreneur. Typical repayment time is 6-12 months, after which you may withdraw your funds or re-lend them to someone else.

It’s difficult not to be moved by the stories of these hardworking entrepreneurs. It’s also nice to be able to contribute to a cause that directly impacts someone’s life in such an important way.

I’d urge you to head over to Kiva and look at some of the profiles. This is a new and exciting way to look at giving and helping people who are working hard to help themselves.