Frequently Asked Questions

Does 100% of my loan go to my chosen entrepreneur?

Yes. We don’t keep a cent.

Can I lend from anywhere in the world?

Yes. We use the secure payment processing services of PayPal and USA E-Pay which means that you are able to lend money from anywhere in the world.

Is my loan a tax deductible donation?

No. You are lending money which will be repaid back to you at the end of the loan term. By lending through EIC you are giving the entrepreneurial poor the tools to lift themselves out of poverty while also contributing to climate change mitigation.

Can I make a donation to EIC?

Of course! EIC is a registered non-profit with a 501(c)(3) status. This means that we will send you a receipt for your donation and it is fully tax-deductible in the US. Click here to make your donation now.

How does repayment work?

Okay. Once the loan has been repaid (success!), we will notify you via email and repay the money you lent into your EIC account.

Then what happens next is completely up to you. After all, it is your money we're talking about. You can:

1. Re-lend Think you can deal without that money a little longer? Put the money to work again and re-lend to another entrepreneur.
2. Offset your carbon emissions Offset your emissions through a tax deductable donation. What better way to offset your own carbon footprint than with the very emission reductions that your loan helped to create? And what's more, that money then goes back into helping us find and help more entrepreneurs in need. It's win win.
3. Withdraw the money Just let us know where you would like the money transferred and we'll get it straight to you. No tricks. No hassles. Every cent of it.
4. Leave it alone and decide later Relax. Take your time. Until you give us the order, that money ain't going anywhere.

Still confused? Click below to send any queries you have to our CEO. studman@energyincommon.org

What are my options for withdrawing money?

We anticipate that Paypal will be the most common method used to withdraw money. You can use your existing Paypal account (or sign up for one), give us your details, and we can get your money back to you. You will only be able to withdraw your money once it has been returned to your EIC account at the end of a loan term.

Is my carbon offset donation tax deductible?

Yes. When you offset your carbon emissions with EIC it is through a tax deductible donation. Once you make a donation, we retire the carbon offsets associated with that project on your behalf.

When can I offset my carbon emissions through emission reductions generated by my entrepreneur?

Integrity is important to us and as such, we will only offer emission reductions that have already been created. This means you are not able to offset your carbon emissions until your entrepreneur’s loan term has been completed and we have calculated how many emission reductions have actually been created using real data collected from your entrepreneur. We will contact you directly once they are available for use. To learn more about our process click here.

What happens if my entrepreneur’s energy system (solar panel, LED lamp, clean burning stove etc) breaks down?

Our Field Partner selection process includes reviewing whether they provide warranties on equipment and training to entrepreneurs and whether they ensure spare parts are available in the area once a loan has been disbursed. We place a special emphasis on working with Field Partners who have a comprehensive plan to deal with technology risk and failure. We insist that entrepreneurs are supported to use their energy system to maximum effectiveness.