Jessica Jackley Net Worth 2025: Powerful Women Entrepreneurs

Dubbed by Forbes as one of the most powerful women entrepreneurs, how much is Jessica Jackley net worth? Read her success story.

Forbes named her one of the most influential women entrepreneurs back in 2013. Jessica Jackley co-founded two micro-lending organizations, Kiva and ProFounder. She left her job and made a career switch to promoting financial inclusion, sharing economy, and social justice.

Jessica Jackley’s net worth is estimated at $1 million to $5 million in 2022. She gets her wealth from being a successful entrepreneur, investor, teacher, and author. She receives invitations for speaking engagements and provides consultation on a wide range of topics with social impact.

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Jessica Jackley’s Life And Education

Jessica Jackley is an American entrepreneur who was born on the 29th of October, 1977. She lived with her family in Franklin Park, Pennsylvania, and was raised in the Christian faith.

After graduating from North Allegheny Senior High School in 1996. Jackley stayed in Pennsylvania until she finished her degree in philosophy and political science at Bucknell University in 2000.

Jackley also holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, with a certificate in Global Leadership and Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. She was also presented with honorary PhDs from Centenary College and Quinnipiac University.

Starting A Non-Profit Organization

Jackley always wanted to become an entrepreneur or a businesswoman. Obtaining financial stability means she can work on her other dream – to help those in need. Her earliest influence was her grandmother, who inspired her by giving her cash to help others.

She landed a position as an administrative assistant at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The job gave her access to important lectures. Stanford is also where she heard the founder of Grameen Bank speak about microfinance. That talk inspired her to become a volunteer in Africa.

Moving to Africa and becoming a volunteer was an important learning period for Jackley. She wanted to hear insights directly from the people who received microloans. More specifically, she wanted to know if it made a positive difference in their lives.

Founding Kiva.org in 2005

Two years after moving to Africa, Jackley started Kiva with her husband at the time, Matt Flannery. Kiva’s test batch consisted of seven loaners and they released a total amount of $3,500 in April 2005. They dubbed these smaller, pioneering loaners as Kiva’s dream team.

By September of the same year, the loans were repaid. After seeing the sustainability and potential of microcredit, the couple officially founded Kiva the next month.

Kiva works with more than 300 field partners worldwide, with the internet bridging its platform to all countries. The organization lends out as little as $25 with the hopes to create opportunities for those in need, with the intent to help fund small businesses and entrepreneurs.

In October of 2006, Kiva facilitated over $1 million in loans. Ten years later, the organization distributed $827.4 million in loans from 1,394,336 lenders to 1,928,760 borrowers. And more than half the number were successfully funded through Kiva.

Kiva as an organization does not charge interest on its loans. Their funds come from grants, financial backing, and discounted services from major corporations and institutions.

For example, they received money from:

$1 million from Chevron Corporation
$1 million from Visa Inc.
$2.5 million from Skoll Foundation
$1 million from Sam’s Club’s campaign
$500 thousand from American Express’s “Take Part” competition
$5 million in total from Omidyar Network

Over the years, Kiva acquired an impressive list of staff and supporters; these include Premal Shah from PayPal and Reid Hoffman, CEO and founder of LinkedIn.

And recently, Forbes featured an article on Hollywood actress Sofia Vergara announcing her support and partnership with Kiva. The actress called on the people from her home country to help. Their joint effort managed to raise over $5 million in emergency and response funds.

Doubts About Kiva

In 2009, an article was posted in the New York Times, relaying some suspicion if loaners are receiving the funds that lenders sent them. David Roodman, a researcher at the Center for Global Development. He said that Kiva’s donor-to-borrower connections were a lie; loaners already received their requested amount when their pictures were posted on Kiva’s website.

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Jessica Jackley Net Worth – Frequently Asked Questions

How Much is Jessica Jackley Net Worth?

For this year, Jessica Jackley net worth is estimated at $1 million to $5 million. Aside from being an entrepreneur, Jackley is also an investor, influential speaker, book author, teacher, and consultant to private and non-profit sectors.

How Much Did Jessica Start Kiva With?

Jessica Jackley started Kiva with Matt Flannery in 2005. They didn’t have money to lend out just yet, so they advertised that the organization was accepting donations of any amount. Kiva raised a total of $250 thousand in donations, sent by people worldwide who wanted to support their cause.

Where is Jessica Jackley From?

Jessica Jackley was raised in Franklin Park, Pennsylvania. She moved to California after marrying her second husband, author Reza Aslan. They are raising four children at their home in Los Angeles.

What Did Jessica Jackley Do?

Jessica Jackley is a successful entrepreneur who co-founded two microlending organizations. She holds a degree in philosophy and political science and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, with certificates in Public and Global Management.

Jessica Jackley Net Worth – Final Thoughts

In 2015, Kiva’s 17 person staff were paid an average salary of $80 thousand up to $100 thousand. As one of the employees, Jackley, receives the same rate. After six more years of successful operations, Kiva would have gained more supporters and financial backing.

While there are people criticizing micro-lending as Kiva does, there are many who support and encourage it. It boils down to a simple question of whether Kiva is a positive force, living up to its mission in assisting people towards a better life.

Jessica Jackley net worth is reasonably in line with her earnings from being an investor, her royalties from being an author, a spokesperson, and as a consultant, plus her salary at Kiva. After all her success, what’s next for this mom of four?