Looking for a holiday gift idea? Not seeing anything that’s quite right at your local gift card kiosk? Our favorite idea is a gift card from Kiva. You can introduce someone to micro-lending by giving them credit to make a loan. They are great not just for friends and family, but also an amazing gift to send to your business clients.

Kiva Gift Cards range in value from $25 to $10,000. Gift recipients log on to Kiva and select an entrepreneur that they want to fund. After the Kiva Gift Card is used, the lender can monitor and watch for updates about their borrower. Once the loan-term has ended, the amount is returned to your gift recipient where they can make another loan…and another loan…and another loan. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving!

We at HarmonyWishes have been lending at Kiva since December of 2008 and proudly support their efforts to help alleviate global poverty. For more information, click HERE to purchase a Kiva Gift Card today!

And swing on back by to HarmonyWishes after you do for your electronic greeting card needs!

As someone who is very much interested in online philanthropy (you all should know by now that we are big fans of Kiva here at HarmonyWishes!), I find it fascinating to watch the growing interest in various types of volunteerism involving time and talent as well as money.

Katherine Fulton, President of the Monitor Institute, addresses the subject eloquently in a recently posted podcast at Ted.com in which she talks about the ‘democratization of philanthropy’ and how it is no longer an act associated with the wealthy.  The new ‘moral hunger’ she references is something I certainly feel in my life – the strong need for us to build community through good works.

The last few minutes are particularly powerful – I strongly encourage you to listen and see what your answer is.  We’d love to hear.

Gandhi’s quote “…be the change you want to see in the world” never seemed more applicable.