The internet is revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries, be they a farmer in Kenya who wants to invest in new cows or a seamstress in India who wants to open her own shop.

Global Giving just enables small-scale grassroots projects to match up with relatively small donors all around the world, who want to help them make a difference," said Mr Whittle.

"The website is kind of like a combination of eBay and Amazon. And the idea is that qualified grassroots projects from around the world can be listed, as long as they meet certain qualifications.

"If you're a donor, and you're interested in HIV/Aids, you can find projects to fund. If you're interested in projects in Kenya, you can find those. It's a clearing house."

A potential donor searches through a list of small-scale projects on the Global Giving website. You can even e-mail project leaders for more information.

Then, the donor can choose to give as little as $10 to a project. Some, though, have given as much as $150,000.

Needy projects

Global Giving is not the only website tapping into internet's power to directly connect would-be funders with would-be entrepreneurs.

Another site is called Kiva, the brainchild of a husband and wife team from California.

Kiva's story starts a little more than two years ago, when Jessica Flannery went to East Africa. She was working for a group that gives $100 grants to needy projects.

"Every single day, I would meet an entrepreneur, and hear about how $100 had changed not just his or her life, but also the lives of their families, friends and other community members," said Ms Flannery.

"Take a goat herder in Uganda. If you give him $25, that's two smaller goats. That's a great start. With $100, you can imagine more goats, perhaps a small shelter, stock up on goat feed. So, that little bit of money can really help set someone up."

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