FITE is a global empowerment platform powered by www.kiva.org, the non-profit leader in microfinance, that is designed to foster Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship for women in the developing world. Their mission is to provide women entrepreneurs access to small loans that will help them start or grow a business; and to help educate the public at large about the benefits of empowering women entrepreneurs so that they "can hold up their half of the sky."

Leading thinkers in social development, including the World Bank, hail investing in women as "smart economics," an untapped resource that can help solve many of the problems we see in our world today. Indeed, lending to women produces a positive ripple effect of improved health, education, and welfare for all household members.

They have a lofty goal - to help at least 25,000 women with loans in their first two years. Personally, I love that you can make as many $25 loans as you choose, and that as soon as the loan is repaid, you can loan it over and over again. I also love giving loan cards as gifts to friends and family. THIS is a good thing.