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Loan

Loan

North America

North America

OPEN

OPEN

GRANT · HOW TO WIN THIS

Kiva U.S. Small Business Microloan

Kiva U.S. Small Business Microloan

$1,000–$15,000 loan, 0% interest, no fees, repaid over 12–36 months.

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Rolling — applications accepted year-round.

AMOUNT

$1,000–$15,000 loan, 0% interest, no fees, repaid over 12–36 months.

AMOUNT

$1,000–$15,000 loan, 0% interest, no fees, repaid over 12–36 months.

DEADLINE

Rolling — applications accepted year-round.

DEADLINE

Rolling — applications accepted year-round.

FUNDING TYPE

Loan

CAN YOU GET THIS?

Any U.S.-based business owner 18+ can apply, with no minimum credit score required.

Any U.S.-based business owner 18+ can apply, with no minimum credit score required.

You must live and operate in the U.S. (not Nevada or North Dakota), have no active bankruptcy or liens, no violent or financial criminal conviction in the last 5 years, and a PayPal account. Kiva prioritizes character, community impact, and social support over credit history or financials.

You must live and operate in the U.S. (not Nevada or North Dakota), have no active bankruptcy or liens, no violent or financial criminal conviction in the last 5 years, and a PayPal account. Kiva prioritizes character, community impact, and social support over credit history or financials.

YOUR REAL ODDS

The review team processes 100+ applications every week, and impactful loans to underserved communities are given precedence.

Kiva does not publish an approval rate, but your profile quality, business validation, and responsiveness to their team directly affect whether your application moves forward.

WHAT IT TAKES

  1. Fill out the online application — 30–60 minutes

  2. Wait for Kiva review and respond promptly to any requests — Up to 2 weeks (20–25 business days total for approval)

  3. Run a private fundraising period — invite friends, family, and contacts to lend to you — 10–15 days

  4. Fundraise publicly on Kiva's platform to reach their 2M+ lender network — 20–30 days

WORTH KNOWING

Kiva explicitly says profile quality is a top factor: clear photos, a detailed loan purpose, and a well-written personal and business story are prioritized — put real time into these sections before submitting.

Apply on the funder’s site →

MORE LIKE THIS

Start Up Loans Scheme

£500–£25,000 (average £10,264); repaid over 1–5 years at a fixed 7.5% annual rate.

UK-based founders at idea stage or trading under 60 months can borrow up to £25,000 at a fixed 7.5% rate.

Kiva U.S. Small Business Microloan

$1,000–$15,000, repaid over 12–36 months at 0% interest with no fees.

U.S. small business owners and early-stage founders can get a 0% interest loan up to $15,000 with no minimum credit score.

RSF Social Finance Mission-Driven Loans

Loan amount varies; includes lines of credit, term loans, and customized financing.

Mission-driven nonprofits and small businesses in food, agriculture, climate, energy, or education in the USA can apply for a loan.

This is 1 of 1,600+ open opportunities.

This is 1 of 1,600+ open opportunities.

$50B+ in available capital across grants, VC funds, CDFIs, and accelerators. Filter by your industry, stage, and region, and see everything you qualify for.

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