Borrower Templates
Find the best templates for every step of your lending experience!
PRIVATE FUNDRAISING PERIOD (INTRODUCTION):
Use the following template in the first email you send out to your social network. Feel free to modify it any way you want.
Hey (insert name here), I hope you are well! (OPTIONAL: insert personal note) My business, (insert business name here) is raising a crowd-backed, 0% loan on Kiva and I was wondering if you would be willing to back my campaign. (insert fundraising link here) I am currently in a private fundraising period, and I need (insert number of lenders here) lenders to make it onto the public platform where anyone on Kiva can lend to me. The funds from this loan will go towards (insert short description of loan use).Your contribution helps prove my creditworthiness and build momentum in my campaign. I need it to enter. I would like to ask you to lend as little as $25 (which you will get back!) so that I can progress to the next public fundraising round where my business will be backed by Kiva’s wider community of 1.6mm lenders.period. More about Kiva: Kiva is the first and largest micro-lending service in the world that has distributed $1 billion across 86 different countries, among 1.5 million small businesses. Recently, Kiva and Sofia Vegara announced a goal to raise $50mm to support businesses around the world affected by Covid-19. If you would like to help me out, please follow this link to my campaign page (insert link).
Thanks for your support, I am deeply grateful!
PRIVATE FUNDRAISING PERIOD (FOLLOW UP):
Consider using the following template throughout the public fundraising period. Make sure you're not spamming your contact list, so customizing it is key. Try to focus on specific people you can reach out to and personalize your email.
Dear (insert name here),
I made it through the private fundraising period and now my loan is posted on the Kiva public page! I have 30 days to fund the remainder of my loan to receive my loan - funding on Kiva is an all or nothing deal.
If you're still interested in supporting me, please use the following link: (insert loan profile link here)
Please consider lending - I sincerely appreciate your support! Let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you!
Social Media
THE BEST SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS:
Have a call to action: Whether the post is a thank you or a status report, always include your invitation link to encourage more lending.
Tag supporters: Tagging people increases the likelihood of their seeing your post. To tag someone on Facebook, use the @ symbol, followed by their name.
Have pictures: Use images of yourself and your business to gain more attention. Readers are more likely to read your message if you attach a photo with it!
Fundraising alert! There are only 2 days left to make a loan to my business, (your organization), on Kiva. Every little bit helps, so please visit this link before (date) to lend as little as $25: (loan profile link). If you can, spread the word to your friends, families, and coworkers! This is a loan, not a donation, so you will get your money back as I repay the loan. Thank you for your support!
Hey everyone! I’m fundraising a loan on Kiva to help grow my business, (your organization)! Please lend a hand and loan me as little as $25 on (loan profile link). Thanks!
Thank you, _____! We are now over 60% - very exciting! Thank you for helping make our dream come true. Spread the word with (loan profile link).
Hey everyone, my Kiva loan is already at 31%. My goal is to reach 37% by the end of day! Please help by visiting (loan profile link) and lending $25 or more. Thanks!
We just passed 60% funded thanks to lenders like _____. Help me keep up the momentum by lending here: (loan profile link)! Every dollar helps!
Thanks to _____, _____, and _____ we are now over 60% funded! Thank you so much for all your support. Check out my loan at (loan profile link).
Help my business grow by lending to my 0% interest loan @kiva: (loan profile link). Every bit helps – loan as little at $25!
Only 1 week left to lend to my business on @kiva: (loan profile link). It’s a loan, not a donation, so you get paid back!
My 0% interest loan is up on @kiva: (loan profile link)!
Support my business by contributing to my loan on @kiva: (loan profile link). Loans start at $25!
Thank you @_______ for supporting my @kiva loan! Help my business here: (loan profile link)
Hey everyone, my Kiva loan is already at 31%! My goal is to reach 40% by the end of day. Please help by visiting (loan profile link). Thanks!
I’m fundraising on Kiva for a business loan. This loan will enable me to [insert the purpose of your loan here].
Kiva is a global microlending platform recognized for its work in publications like TIME and by philanthropists like Oprah.
I’d really appreciate your support in this campaign. This is not a donation: your money will be returned as I pay back my loan. These loans are 0% interest, and each contribution can be as small as $25.
You can make a loan by accessing my loan page via this link: [insert your loan link here]
Your support means a lot to [insert your business name here] and to me personally. Every $25 loan gets me closer to my goal of raising $[insert loan amount here].
Please share this link with your network - every dollar helps! The campaign ends on [insert date here].
I sincerely appreciate your support. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Many thanks,
[Insert your name here]
[Insert your business name here]
[Insert your phone number here]
Phone
PHONE CALL GUIDE:
The first thing you should do before you start making phone calls is make a list of people in your network you want to call.
Keep track of their lending over time!
When you talk with someone on the phone, you should explain the following points:
Why you are asking for a loan. Make sure they understand how will it help your business and community.
You are asking for a loan, not a donation. Everyone will be paid back when you repay the loan.
They can lend as little as $25.
Explain that you think of them as a close friend that you can count on for support.
Urge them to act now and lend immediately.
Review the steps of How to make a loan on Kiva with them.
Sample Phone Call
This template is meant to help you get an idea of how to have in-person and phone conversations with potential lenders. Practice with someone you feel comfortable with. Ask for their advice on how you should change your language to fit the person you are reaching out to.
“Hey (insert name here), how are you? I was hoping to talk to you about a crowd-backed campaign that I am doing with Kiva. Is this a good time for you? (If not schedule a time that works better for them).”
“Hi (Kiva borrower), yes I can chat.”
“Great! I wanted to tell you a little bit about my Kiva campaign. As you know my business, (insert business name here), is …..(insert personal note about your business). The funds from Kiva backed loan will go towards (insert short description of loan use). The cool thing about Kiva’s crowdfunding model is that contributions that my network makes is not a donation but rather a loan. Meaning all my lenders will receive the full amount they lend once I pay back my 0% loan.”
“Wow, interesting!”
“Yeah Kiva is the first and largest micro-lending service in the world that has distributed $1 billion across 86 different countries, among 1.5 million small businesses! Their model is very unique!”
“So how does Kiva work?”
“Well I am currently in the private lending period, and I need (insert number of lenders here) lenders to make it onto the public platform where anyone on Kiva can lend to me. The idea behind this private lending period is to help prove my creditworthiness and build momentum in my campaign. Once I get (insert number of lenders here) to lend as little as $25, I can progress to the next phase where my business will be backed by Kiva’s wider community of 1.6mm lenders. I wanted to know if I could send you the link to my campaign page for your to contribute my loan (Remind them that they are not giving you a donation but rather a loan! They will receive however much they lend to you once the loan has been paid in full) .”
“Yes, I would love to. I am not so great with technology though.”
“Thats okay! Kiva is super easy, and I will also send you a Step-by-Step guide of How to make a Loan on Kiva, but if you have any issues give me a call and I can walk you through it! Thanks so much for your support, I am so grateful!”
If someone says they can not contribute financially to your campaign, thank them anyways! Ask them if they know of anyone in their network that they think be interested in contributing to your campaign! Or have them share your loan link with their network on their social media platforms.
Text Message
TEXT MESSAGE GUIDE:
The first thing you should do before you start texting people in your network is think about who you can reach out to. Make a list of people in your network you can text informally, and a list that you might need to draft an email for.
The people you should be texting are your close family and friends. People that you have a close relationship with and whom you feel comfortable asking if they can share your loan link with their network.
Here are somethings you should cover when texting your network:
Explain to them why you have applied for a Kiva loan.
Make sure they understand how Kiva works and how they can help you by reaching out to their network.
You are asking for a loan, not a donation. Everyone will be paid back when you repay the loan.
They can lend as little as $25.
Explain that you think of them as a close friend that you can count on for support.
Ask them to review the steps of How to make a loan on Kiva.
Sample Text Message
This template is meant to help you get an idea of how to reach out to your close network about your Kiva campaign.
“Hi (insert name here), how are you? I am not sure if you know this already but I applied for a loan with Kiva. I was hoping you could help me get the word out about my campaign.”
“Hi (Kiva borrower), I’m good. I’ve never heard of Kiva. What is it?”
“Kiva is this really unique crowd-lending platform. I applied for a loan for (insert business name here), to help (insert short description of loan use). The cool thing about Kiva’s crowdfunding model is that contributions that my network makes is not a donation but rather a loan. Meaning all my lenders will receive the full amount they lend once I pay back my 0% loan.”
“Oh, interesting! I’ve never heard of anything like that. How does it work though?”
“Well I am currently in the private lending period, and I need (insert number of lenders here) lenders to make it onto the public platform where anyone on Kiva can lend to me. The idea behind this private lending period is to help prove my creditworthiness and build momentum in my campaign. Once I get (insert number of lenders here) to lend as little as $25, I can progress to the next phase where my business will be backed by Kiva’s wider community of 1.6mm lenders.”
“Wow thats cool. So what do you need me to do?”
“Well, I wanted to know if I could send you the link to my campaign page. If you want to lend to my campaign and maybe share the link on your social media so that all your followers can lend to the campaign too that would be amazing! (Remind them that they are not giving you a donation but rather a loan! They will receive however much they lend to you once the loan has been paid in full) .”
“Yeah! Of course! I’'ll post it right now!”
“You are the best! Thank you! Here is a a Step-by-Step guide of How to make a Loan on Kiva if you want to post that too!”
If someone says they can not contribute financially to your campaign, thank them anyways! Ask them if they know of anyone in their network that they think be interested in contributing to your campaign! Or have them share your loan link with their network on their social media platforms.
Kiva Updates / Conversations on Platform
THE BEST CONVERSATIONS POSTS:
Have pictures: Use images of yourself and your business to gain more attention. Lenders can become new customers as well, so make sure to update them about your business!
Thank lenders: Show your appreciation to and build connections with the people who have supported you.
Utilize other's networks: Ask lenders to share your invitation link within their own networks, further increasing your reach.
Sample Update
Thank you, ______! And thanks to all lenders who have contributed in the last couple days to get us over 60% - very exciting! I am so very grateful to this Kiva U.S. community of lenders.Thank you for helping make our dream come true.
Thank you John for your wishes, we are so grateful for your support!
Whooo! 42% raised. I cannot believe it. What an amazing feeling to be supported by the Kiva community and all of our fans, friends, and family! If you're interested in seeing how many organic fruits and vegetables (A LOT) are actually in our juices, take a look at this quick video we put together: (link to video). Special thanks to all who've loaned so far. This loan will help us get the necessary staff that we hire up to speed and move us to the next level. THANK YOU! Cheers to you for helping us make the world healthier one person at a time and for supporting an environmentally-friendly woman-owned business.