Kiva conducts regular, ongoing monitoring of all Lending Partners, but only posts status updates here in response to relevant, major changes at the partner.

Status Update- February 21st, 2023

​Kiva and Artisan Alliance at the Aspen institute have agreed to end their partnership after nearly 9 years and more than $450,000 in loans raised. This partner has repaid its outstanding balance to Kiva in full, and these funds have been distributed to lenders. We thank Artisan Alliance at the Aspen Institute for the years of collaboration and wish them success in their future endeavors.

Status update- September 13, 2021

​

Kiva has moved this Lending Partner to inactive status, which means Artisan Alliance at the Aspen Institute is no longer fundraising loans on Kiva, though Kiva fully expects the partner to continue to send repayments owed to Kiva lenders for as long as the partner has an outstanding balance. Artisan Alliance at the Aspen Institute hasn't posted a new loan in over a year and is reassessing its Kiva strategy. If and when this partner requests to fundraise again on Kiva, Kiva will first conduct any additional monitoring and due diligence tasks we believe necessary.

​

Partner description: 

​

The Artisan Alliance (previously known as The Alliance for Artisan Enterprise at the Aspen Institute) is an initiative of the Aspen Global Innovators Group at the Aspen Institute, which works to unlock economic value in the artisan sector. It's a collaborative effort of over 140 members and partners working together to promote the full potential of the artisan sector worldwide. 

​

The artisan sector is the second-largest employer in the developing world after agriculture, worth over $32 billion every year. Hundreds of thousands of people across the globe, particularly women, participate in the artisan sector. Artisan activity creates jobs, increases local incomes, and preserves ancient cultural traditions that in many places are at risk of being lost. Still, artisan businesses are seldom recognized as drivers of economic growth, and artisan entrepreneurs lack access to the tools and resources needed to succeed in the global marketplace.

​

As a Kiva Lending Partner, the Artisan Alliance aims to bridge the financing gap for artisan businesses across the globe.

​

A unique lending approach:

​

Loans offered by the Artisan Alliance on the Kiva website are targeted to artisan entrepreneurs around the world who lack access to traditional financing and business development resources. The borrowers represent small and growing businesses in their countries. Loans will support artisan business development, including the purchase of raw materials and equipment to fulfill purchase orders, market preparation, and workshop development.