Opportunity International
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4
"Up" is the number of experts who agree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in the
field. "Down" is the number of experts who disagree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in field.
Located: Oak Brook, IL
Founded: 1971
Mission: Our mission is to empower people to work their way out of chronic poverty, transforming their lives, their children’s futures and their communities.
Summary
Stories
Expert Reviews
Leadership
From the Nonprofit
Leadership
Bill Morgenstern.
Bill Morgenstern, Opportunity’s CEO, has a remarkable track record of accomplishments as an entrepreneur and senior executive. In fact, he received the Ernst and Young award for Entrepreneur of the Year in 1996. He has also served on several nonprofit boards in his community including Habitat for Humanity, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and as chairman of the Hamot Health Foundation.…
See full bio.
Financial Data
| Read Annual Report | Overhead Ratio: 11.00% |
Charity Navigator Rating:
(profile)
|
Total Revenue: $132,257,658 |
From the Nonprofit
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Contact Info
| Website: | http://www.opportunity.org/ | Address: | 2122 York Rd |
| E-Mail: | Contact form | Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA | |
| Phone: | 630-242-4100 | ||
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Story:
This is Sugey Armenteo’s story. She’s a sandal business-owner in Columbia.
“Ten armed guerillas stormed our house just before dawn looking to kill my husband because he had been a soldier,” says Sugey Armenteo of Colombia. “Thankfully, he wasn’t home, and he was able to escape to Magangué. The next day, I sold everything we owned and left with my children to meet him, even though we had no place to live.”
Several years later, Sugey and her family still live in a shantytown with no water or sewage system. But since she found Opportunity International in 2008, she has renewed hope. Her sandal business has already grown and she has repaid her first loan of $109.
In Colombia, two to three million people have become displaced as the result of a decades-long armed conflict. Those like Sugey Armenteo, struggling with poverty but economically active, are just the sort of clients for which Opportunity products are tailored. To help these clients realize their potential Opportunity International offers business microloans, savings with no or low minimum balances and affordable insurance— all at easily accessible branches. Sugey takes full advantage of these services at one of their new kiosk banks near her business.
Every day, Sugey leaves her house at 7:30 a.m. to sell sandals at the Olympica Market in Magangué, Colombia. “My cart provides me with a living,” she says. “My goal is to become a wholesaler with my own store, and make our lives so much better.”
Sugey has already made dramatic changes in just months since becoming an Opportunity client. Her children are well-fed and they attend school. She has $16 in savings and life insurance worth $4,500. When she became a displaced person, she lost everything. Now she says, “Opportunity has given me a new place in the world because they didn’t judge me by the neighborhood I live in.” (Source: http://www.opportunity.org/media-center/stories/sugey-armenteo/)
Expert Reviews of Opportunity International
Evidence of Impact Summary:
Opportunity International has 1,357,828 active loan clients, 562,101 savings accounts, and 1,016,507 microinsurance policyholders. $138 is the average first loan for Trust Group members. 84% of their loans are made to women. They have a 95% loan repayment rate, a staff of 11,501 in more than 20 countries. They have 6,515 loan officers and $567 million in assets.Organization Strengths Summary:
Microfinance experts believe that Opportunity International is innovative in developing new products and have a solid institution with a holistic approach to development.See expert comments.
Areas for Improvement Summary:
At the same time, the experts believe that Opportunity International should deepen their outreach to the poor and empower community ownership.See expert comments.
Expert Comments: Organization Strengths
Select the boxes to display the results according to expert type.
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Foundation Professionals (F)
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Researchers and Faculty (R)
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Nonprofit Senior Staff (N)
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Other (consultants, journalists, policy makers) (O)
Impact |
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F
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This organization is outstanding because it has demonstrated results on the ground. | ||
Innovative |
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N
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They are innovation in electronic banking. | ||
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N
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They are innovative and dynamic in developing new products. | ||
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They are innovative, and owner operator serving the poor. | ||
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N
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They are innovative, such as their efforts in mobile (vehicle-based) microcredit branches. | ||
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N
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They are outstanding because of their innovative programs. | ||
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O
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This organization is an innovator in products and services offered; it is client-focused and demonstrates effective integration of faith in program and with donors. | ||
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O
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They are outstanding with their outreach, impact, branding, and innovation. | ||
Solid Institution |
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N
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They have a holistic approach to development. | ||
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N
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They have built strong financial institutions with some creative products. | ||
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N
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They have strong linkages with countries’ microfinance institutions. | ||
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O
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They have a good focus on the poorest, and have good resources. | ||
Effective Programs |
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N
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Their programs are effective; their results are sustainable and seen in terms of contribution of improvement in the quality of life of the people they help. | ||
Mission |
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N
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They focus on their mission and impact and have excellent management. | ||
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O
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They have a focus on sustainability and commitment to their mission. | ||
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O
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They have a strong mission and a drive to reach the very poor. | ||
Founding & Mission |
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N
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From what I read in the biography by Philippa Tyndale, his institution was borne out of experiential learning and immersion in the lives of individuals and groups who needed to be productive. His work was drawn from practical experiences and shaped by both successes and missed opportunities. | ||
Profits |
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N
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This organization is outstanding with its profit approach. | ||
Scale |
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N
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They are outstanding with their scale and commercialization. | ||
Expert Comments: Areas for Improvement
Select the boxes to display the results according to expert type.
Show:
Show:
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Foundation Professionals (F)
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Researchers and Faculty (R)
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Nonprofit Senior Staff (N)
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Other (consultants, journalists, policy makers) (O)
Continue to Push Into Savings |
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R
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They should continue their push into savings. | ||
Increase Outreach to the Poor |
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N
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They should deepen their outreach to the poor. | ||
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They need to continue to increase their outreach to poorer clients. | ||
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N
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They should prove that they can reach the poor. | ||
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N
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They need to apply more creative energy to developing products for the poorest. | ||
Empower Community Ownership |
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Their ownership must be left to the local organizations. | ||
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N
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They should veer away from a banking model and move towards a more responsive community banking system. | ||
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N
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They should use an Australian operation as the base to focus on the Pacific, which is largely ignored in regard to promoting microfinance. | ||
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O
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They should lose their Christian focus. | ||
Leadership
Bill Morgenstern
CEO
CEO
From the Nonprofit
The nonprofit has not added any comments yet. If you are a representative of this nonprofit and would like to leave a comment, please email us at
feedback@myphilanthropedia.org
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