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Subscribe via EmailMonthly Archives: May 2011
Joy in Giving: Minneapolis Women Philanthropists Share Inspirational Ways They Put their Passion Into Action
The following guest blog post was written by Cassidy Burns, an Opportunity International supporter who works for Riverbridge Partners. On Tuesday, more than 150 women gathered at the Joy in Giving event in Minneapolis, Minn. to learn and share why giving changes the world and changes you. The event was sponsored by Opportunity International, the Minneapolis Read more…
Tagged Betty Jane Hess, Board of Directors, Board of Governors, Community, Ending Poverty, Events, foundations, Global Poverty, Minneapolis, Nonprofit, Opportunity International, Philanthropy, Polly McCrea, Poverty, Print 4 Change, Women, Women Leaders, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
Chicago Microfinance Conference: Technology Innovations and the Future of Microfinance
At Friday’s Chicago Microfinance Conference at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, I had the opportunity to attend the morning breakout session, “Innovations in Microfinance.” In the past 40 years, the microfinance industry has grown to its current level whereby MFIs are operating in virtually every country. In this dynamic and rapidly growing Read more…
Tagged 2011 Chicago Microfinance Conference, ATMs, biometric technology, Booth School of Business, CARE, Cell phone banking, Chicago Microfinance Conference, Clients, hub-and-spoke model, Kenya, Malawi, MicroDreams, Microfinance, mobile banking vehicle, mobile phone banking, OIBM, Opportunity International Bank of Malawi, Opportunity Malawi, point-of-sale devices, POS devices, Poverty, Rural banking, Rural Outreach, Rwanda, Satellite bank branch, Savings account, Technology, University of Chicago, Women
LiveBlog: Chicago Microfinance Conference-A Closing “Fireside” Chat with Premal Shah of Kiva
In closing at today’s Chicago Microfinance Conference, Premal Shah, president of Kiva, sits down for a Q & A keynote with Marc J. Lane, founder & president of Marc J. Lane Wealth Group. Shah shares the story of how he moved from PayPal to help grow the nascent Kiva with Matt Flannery and Jessica Jackley, and discussedthe growth, Read more…
Tagged 2011 Chicago Microfinance Conference, Chicago, Chicago Microfinance Conference, Financial services, India, Insurance, Kiva, Loans, MFI, Microfinance, PayPal, Poverty, Remittances, Savings, Technology, Twitter
LiveBlog: Chicago Microfinance Conference-The Challenges & Impact of Practicing Microfinance in Areas of Conflict
At this lunch and learn session today at the Chicago Microfinance Conference, Peter Greer, the President & CEO of HOPE International and co-author of the book The Poor Will Be Glad, discusses the need for financial services in areas of conflict and discusses the risks and the great rewards of expanding microfinance into countries like Read more…
LiveBlog: Chicago Microfinance Conference-”Does Microfinance Really Work? – Measuring Social Performance of MFIs”
At this first breakout session of today’s conference, moderator Kathleen Odell, assistant professor of economics at the Dominican University Brennan School of Business, leads a panel of academics and microfinance professionals to explore and debate the benefits of microfinance to effectively help people escape poverty. The panel discusses the actual impact of microfinance–and whether such Read more…
Elmhurst College and Community Walks for Global Poverty
The following guest post was written by Olivia Schultz, an intern in the Marketing Department here at Opportunity International. On Sunday, May 1st, over 200 students, staff, and community members of Elmhurst College in suburban Chicago came out for the second annual L.E.N.S. Walk for Poverty. L.E.N.S. is an acronym for Learn, Empower, Nurture, Save. Read more…
Tagged Chicago, Community, Elmhurst College, Ending Poverty, Events, Global Poverty, local staff, local staffing, Opportunity International, Students, Tanzania
Wedding Gifts that are “Better Than a Blender” in Honor of Opportunity
When Prince William married Kate Middleton last Friday, the couple asked that in lieu of gifts, global well-wishers make a donation to a special charitable fund they set up. Closer to home, meet two Opportunity International supporters who launched their own wedding fundraiser this spring to encourage their guests to give a gift that’s “Better Read more…
