Blog Archives

What We’re Reading: Banking in Africa: Continent of Dreams

By Allison Bearden on March 22, 2013

Africa is the next frontier for banks from all corners of the globe. Last week, The Economist aptly portrayed both the high hope and sheer uncertainty felt by financial institutions serving the African continent in Banking in Africa: Continent of Dreams. A number of the article’s key points are central to both why and how Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Our Work, Poverty, Resources, Rural Outreach, Technology, What We're Reading, Where We Work
Tagged Africa, Banking, Banking Tools, Economic development, Economics, Economist, Rural banking

Opportunity International joins forces with Carly Fiorina’s One Woman Initiative

By Opportunity International on February 15, 2013

Opportunity International today announced a dynamic partnership with Carly Fiorina and the One Woman Initiative to empower an additional two million women living in poverty through financial resources, education and training to build sustainable futures. As a Global Ambassador to Opportunity International, Fiorina will lend her voice and influence to Opportunity’s efforts to build a Read more…

Posted in In the News, Meet Our Staff, Our Leadership, Our Method, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Strategic Partners, What We're Reading, What We're Watching, Women
Tagged Carly Fiorina, Education, Financial resources, Global Ambassador, One Woman Initiative, Partnerships, Training, Vicki Escarra, Women

“The Chronicle of Philanthropy” Spotlights Opportunity International as an Innovative Nonprofit

By Opportunity International on January 18, 2013

“The Chronicle of Philanthropy” featured Opportunity International‘s microinsurance work with subsidiary MicroEnsure and our CEO Vicki Escarra in an article published today. As part of Opportunity International’s commitment to bringing insurance to protect more people in poverty, Opportunity divested much of its share to allow for a capital infusion that will increase MicroEnsure’s market reach. Opportunity Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Microinsurance, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Poverty, Strategic Partners, What We're Reading
Tagged Agriculture, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Global Poverty, IFC, in the news, International finance corporation, jakobo chikayiko, Leaders, Malawi, Microensure, Microinsurance, Mission, Omidyar Network, Opportunity International, Poverty, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Vicki Escarra, Weather-index crop insurance, what we're reading

What We’re Reading: Council on Foreign Relations, “Five Development Innovations to Watch in 2013″

By Emily Riemer on January 14, 2013

MicroEnsure, the microinsurance subsidiary founded by Opportunity International, was recently recognized by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) as a “development innovation to watch in 2013.” In a blog post last month, CFR reported that MicroEnsure has “sign[ed] up a million [life insurance] customers [in Ghana] over 14 months, 85% of them new to insurance” by linking Read more…

Posted in Cell phone banking, Microinsurance, Our Work, Technology, What We're Reading, Where We Work
Tagged accra, Africa, Cell Phones, chronic poverty, Clients, Council on Foreign Relations, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Ghana, Health insurance, life insurance, Microensure, Microinsurance, Opportunity International, Poverty, Risks, Rwanda, Tanzania, Technology, Tigo, Weather-index crop insurance

What We’re Reading: Vicki Escarra in the Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneurial Supporters Empower Communities in Nicaragua

By Opportunity International on January 11, 2013

At Opportunity International, we see our experienced, resourced entrepreneurial supporters as a major asset to the organization that has led to ground-breaking innovations in our work. Today, in the Harvard Business Review, our CEO Vicki Escarra wrote a piece entitled “Funders Can Give More than Money.” Opportunity International’s staff and supporters are a team of innovators. Read more…

Posted in Donors, Loans, Our Leadership, Our Work, Training, Transformation, What We're Reading, Where We Work
Tagged Agriculture, Asset-Based Community Development, CED, Client Stories, Clients, Community, community economic development, David Allman, David Kone, donors, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Fundraising, Geralyn Sheehan, Harvard Business Review, Harvard University, Loans, Microfinance, Mission, Nicaragua, Opportunity International, Opportunity Nicaragua, Poverty, south america, Training, Vicki Escarra, what we're reading

What We’re Reading: Forbes, “Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs”

By Emily Riemer on December 26, 2012

What do Richard Branson and Steve Jobs have in common with Opportunity International’s clients? Turns out, a whole lot. In a recent “Forbes” article by Patrick Hull, successful entrepreneurs are those willing to take risks and push boundaries. The article quotes Harvard Business School professor Howard Stevenson, who says, “Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Loans, Microfinance, Our Work, Poverty, What We're Reading
Tagged Blog, Blog Posts, Client Stories, Clients, Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship, Financial services, Forbes, Loans, Microfinance, Opportunity International, Poverty, steve jobs, what we're reading

The McDougals Celebrate 25 Years in the Opportunity International Family

By Opportunity International on December 12, 2012

In 25 years of supporting Opportunity International, Governors Fred and Nancy McDougal say they’ve received more than they’ve given. Fred, founder of textbook publishing giant McDougal Littell (now Holt McDougal), first learned of Opportunity from his friend Dave K. Hardin, a former Opportunity board chair. The McDougals would later honor their friend through generous contributions Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Donors, Insight Trips, Our Leadership, What We're Reading
Tagged Board of Directors, Board of Governors, Colombia, Fundraising, Governors, Holt McDougal, Impact newsletter, India, Insight Trip, Microfinance, Opportunity International, Philanthropy, Trust Group, Trust Groups, what we're reading

Serving the Whole Person with Opportunity’s Transformation Program

By Opportunity International on December 7, 2012

“It’s the dignity of it” was how one African loan client expressed herself to an off-duty staff member standing in line at an Opportunity International bank. She knew she had achieved success through the work of her own hands. Four million such stories play out each day all over the world as Opportunity strives to Read more…

Posted in Loan officer, Local Staffing, Our Method, Our Mission and Vision, Transformation, Trust Groups, What We're Reading
Tagged Africa, Asia, chief transformation officer, Client Stories, Clients, Community, Daniel Ryumugabe, Ending Poverty, Financial services, gypsies, holistic transformation, Impact, Impact newsletter, India, Loan Officer, local staff, Microfinance, Opportunity India, Opportunity International, Opportunity Rwanda, Poverty, Rwanda, spiritual transformation, Transformation, Trust Groups, Valamarthi

Holiday Giving Guide: Citi Foundation, One Woman and a Gift Card of Opportunity

By Emily Riemer on December 4, 2012

This year, Opportunity International has unique and interactive ways to give the gift of opportunity to more than four million clients around the world that will not only do good, but will make you feel great. Here are a few of our favorite ways for you to partner with us this holiday season. Your gift will Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Donors, Fundraisers, Gift Cards, Loans, Microfinance, Online Giving, Our Work, Text to Give, What We're Reading, Women
Tagged Ada, Africa, Bob Annibale, Christmas, Citi Foundation, City A.M., Clients, Donations, Financial services, fundraisers, Ghana, Gift Cards, Global Poverty, Holiday, holiday giving, Loans, match, Microfinance, One Woman Holiday Challenge, Opportunity Ghana, Opportunity Gift Cards, Opportunity International, Patience Dameh, Poverty, text to give, Women

What We’re Reading: Malin Akerman’s Commitment to Opportunity featured in Us Weekly

By Emily Riemer on November 28, 2012

Malin Akerman — actress and Opportunity International supporter — was featured this week in the Dec. 3 print edition of “Us Weekly.” In it, Malin talks about her trip to Tanzania in March and her visit to see our entrepreneurial high school at Nicaragua in July. We’re thrilled to see Malin’s passion for our work Read more…

Posted in Donors, What We're Reading, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
Tagged Africa, Blog, donor, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Global Poverty, Insight Trip, Latin America, Malin Akerman, Nicaragua, Opportunity International, Poverty, Tanzania, Us Weekly, what we're reading, YAO, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity

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