The City of San Francisco: Kiva Zip’s Newest Trustee

This is a continuation of "SF Budget & Finance Committee passes Kiva Zip Resolution" from 10/16/2013.

Just in time for Small Business Saturday, the City of San Francisco officially became part of Kiva Zip’s growing network of Trustees.

Kiva and the City of San Francisco’s partnership is a monumental and exciting win for local economic development, small business access to capital, and strengthening community.

Local economic development: According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses create two out of every three new jobs. This is an important statistic given that the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there were over 150,000 unemployed people in San Francisco as of August 2013.

Small business access to capital: “The mission of the Office of Small Business is to foster, promote and retain small businesses in San Francisco,” says Regina Dick-Endrizzi, Executive Director of the office. “Our small businesses will now have Kiva Zip as a resource to help them start and grow here, and a great way to do it is through the support of our community.”

Strengthening community: “Kiva Zip's vision is one of a community of individual people coming together to lend their support to owners and aspiring owners of the City’s smallest of small business,” says Kiva Zip Director Jonny Price. San Francisco District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell agrees, saying “through this partnership, everyone can be part of a local small business’ success by crowdfunding a small dollar loan to help them start up or expand their businesses. When they succeed we all succeed, jobs are created, neighborhood economies grow, and communities are strengthened.”

As a Trustee, the City of San Francisco, with the help of the Office of Small Business, can now identify and endorse entrepreneurs for 0% interest small business loans up to $5,000, all crowdfunded on Kiva Zip. Kiva Zip differs from traditional financing resources in that it bases lending decisions on character and trust. Trustees play a crucial role for Kiva Zip by vouching for the character and business viability of entrepreneurs they know and trust within their communities. In return, Trustees leverage Kiva Zip as a revolutionary resource to actively and directly infuse crowdfunded capital into small businesses in their communities.

The City of San Francisco is joining an impressive and growing network of Bay Area Trustees. Endorsers run the gamut from large economic development offices to the local pizza shop. Organizations of all sizes are rallying behind the small businesses in their neighborhood and Kiva Zip's model of social underwriting.



Kiva Zip Trustees promoting small business success in the Bay Area include:

• Economic development organizations such as Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), La Cocina, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, Women's Initiative, Pacific Community Ventures, and the San Francisco Small Business Development Center
• City supervisors and offices including The City of San Francisco, The City of Oakland, District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell, Office of the Supervisors of Districts 5 & 9
• Community-based organizations like San Francisco LGBT Community Center, Quesada Gardens Initiative, and the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA)
• Local stores such as Bi-Rite, California Made Mercantile, and La Victoria Bakery
• Individuals like Justin Renfro, Andrea Baker, and Chris Whitten

The City of San Francisco has already endorsed its first entrepreneur, Ramni Levy, owner and chef of King Knish. Chef Levy is currently fundraising a $5,000 loan to purchase a van to expand his Eastern European food catering business.



Anyone can become a lender and create an active and tangible impact helping Ramni and other entrepreneurs turn their small business dreams into reality with amounts as small as $25. Visit zip.kiva.org to become a lender, borrower, or Trustee today!

Click here for a list of entrepreneurs currently fundraising in San Francisco, or see below!


Kyle and Erin, Kipper Clothiers


Garry, Souls of San Francisco


Traci, Poetica Arts and Antiques


Xan, Fox and Lion Bread

Want to bring Kiva Zip to your city? Email ContactZip@kiva.org to get started.