Kiva U.S. helped two-time borrower Cedric expand his video business into a statewide, multi-service media company.

Kiva U.S. helped two-time borrower Cedric expand his video business into a statewide, multi-service media company.

Kiva U.S. helped two-time borrower Cedric expand his video business into a statewide, multi-service media company.

Case Study

Jump-starting small business growth

Partnering with Kiva U.S. to enhance operations, scale microloans, and support entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities

Opportunity

Scaling a successful program

In the United States, a significant barrier to success exists for many entrepreneurs: lack of access to affordable capital, with over 80% of small business owners who recently applied for loans reporting difficulties.1 This challenge is even greater for small businesses owned by people of color, where applicant firms are about half as likely as White-owned applicant firms to receive all of the financing they seek.2

Kiva U.S. helps bridge this gap by providing zero-percent, no-fee loans of up to $15,000 to entrepreneurs and small businesses typically excluded from traditional financing. With an inclusive underwriting approach and no minimum credit score requirement, Kiva U.S. serves as the first rung on an otherwise inaccessible capital ladder.

To reach even more entrepreneurs in need, Kiva U.S. sought to scale its programs and enhance its operations.

1Small Businesses Face Challenges Accessing Capital, Uncertainty Around Tax and Trade Policy, Goldman Sachs, June 2025

22022 Report on Firms Owned by People of Color, Fed Small Businesses, June 2022

Hear from Kiva U.S. director Eli Cherner and the McKinsey team about how McKinsey Fellows have helped to enhance Kiva U.S.’s operations, scale microloans, and support entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities

Solution

Expanding reach and enhancing operational performance

Through a multi-year partnership with Kiva U.S., McKinsey embedded two nonprofit fellows to support growth strategy and operations. The fellows worked on several key initiatives that delivered tangible results:

  • Expanding reach through platform partners. Developing and launching a go-to-market strategy to increase Kiva U.S.’s platform partners, resulting in $1.3 million in loans disbursed to 75 borrowers and 38 Black-owned businesses by the end of 2024.
  • Strengthening Kiva Card sales strategy. Analyzing opportunities for growth and developing a promotions campaign for early 2025, aiming to increase Kiva Card purchases by 20 percent. This hybrid gift card allows recipients to make microloans to borrowers through the Kiva platform.
  • Streamlining loan repayment. Collaborating on a new borrower outreach model that combines direct mail reminders with a QR code for easy loan payments, achieving a fourfold increase in repayment rates during the pilot.
  • Enhancing loan flexibility. Launching and disseminating a tool to support borrowers facing unexpected challenges, such as natural disasters or equipment failures. Borrower feedback was gathered, resulting in enhancements that provided expanded repayment options and greater flexibility to manage debt.

Adding a McKinsey fellow to our team of seven was nothing short of transformational. It gave us the capacity to take on projects that will benefit Kiva and borrowers for years to come.

Eli Cherner, director, Kiva U.S.

Unlocking potential, scaling impact

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Tawanda Sibanda
Bay Area
Serves global financial services firms including financial infrastructure providers, FinTechs, and payments companies in building...

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