Opportunity International 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 5/2/2022. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Opportunity International designs, delivers, and scales innovative financial solutions that help families living in extreme poverty build sustainable livelihoods and access quality education for their children. We equip families with the tools and training they need to build their businesses, improve their harvests, provide for their families, send their children to school, and break the cycle of poverty.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Opportunity International
PO Box 2826
Carol Stream, IL 60132-2826
Website: www.opportunity.org
Phone: 800-793-9455
Email: getinfo@opportunity.org
Organization details
EIN: 540907624
CEO/President: Mr. Atul Tandon
Chairman: LeAnn Pope
Board size: 11
Founder: Al Whittaker, David Bussau
Ruling year: 1971
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Our vision is a world in which all people have the opportunity to achieve a life free from poverty, with dignity and purpose.
We respond to Jesus Christ's call to love and serve the poor. We seek to emulate the Good Samaritan, whose compassion crossed ethnic groups and religions. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
Mission statement
By providing financial solutions and training, we empower people living in poverty to transform their lives, their children's futures and their communities.
Statement of faith
OI uses the following to express its guiding principles:
"Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from one who wants to borrow from you." Matthew 5:42
People who care about the poor and hold scripture in high regard are not surprised to learn that several hundred verses in the Bible attest to God's concern for the poor. In Matthew 25, Jesus says,"whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
The Oxford Declaration on Christian Faith and Economics affirms that poverty was not part of God's original creation, and that poverty and powerlessness are an offence to God and a denial of his loving provision for his creatures. To neglect the poor reveals a lack of love that does not match God's unlimited concern for humanity, nor Christ's mission that portrays deep care for suffering people.
"He who oppresses a poor man insults his maker." Proverbs 14:31
Opportunity International heeds Christ's call to serve the poor by providing opportunities for impoverished people to transform their lives through microenterprise development--providing small business loans and training so people can work out of poverty with dignity. This strategy demonstrates that God's concern for the poor is not just to meet their economic needs, but to empower them to meet their own needs.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 985 of 1022 | 82 of 85 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 887 of 1024 | 73 of 85 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 721 of 1024 | 63 of 85 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1018 of 1022 | 85 of 85 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 13% | 17% | 19% | 17% | 14% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 12% | 16% | 6% | 8% | 7% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 94% | 92% | 32% | 50% | 52% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 14% | 15% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 6% | 8% | 68% | 50% | 48% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 79% | 79% | 88% | 86% | 87% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 87% | 106% | 80% | 102% | 87% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 69% | 84% | 71% | 87% | 75% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | 13% | -6% | 20% | -2% | 13% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | 6% | -3% | 27% | -2% | 18% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.62 | 0.06 | 0.10 | 0.18 | 0.17 | 0.20 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.25 | 14.39 | 12.70 | 5.54 | 5.37 | 4.97 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.36 | 0.89 | 1.24 | 0.99 | 0.89 | 0.98 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.90 | 2.97 | 4.06 | 0.51 | 0.55 | 0.53 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.34 | 0.25 | 1.94 | 1.83 | 1.89 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.15 | 8.93 | 7.28 | -11.43 | -11.14 | -10.84 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 12% | 83% | 82% | 84% | 84% | 84% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 4% | 5% | 19% | 50% | 44% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 51% | 272% | 186% | 91% | 94% | 83% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $17,869,972 | $10,755,131 | $38,377,198 | $35,837,237 | $39,414,085 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,259,560 | $7,685,745 | $9,787,708 | $13,277,250 | $12,138,656 |
| Short-term investments | $680,167 | $701,501 | $621,055 | $600,843 | $541,753 |
| Other current assets | $267,868 | $307,868 | $375,668 | $375,668 | $390,668 |
| Total current assets | $21,077,567 | $19,450,245 | $49,161,629 | $50,090,998 | $52,485,162 |
| Long-term investments | $8,012,280 | $9,099,254 | $8,709,397 | $8,812,520 | $5,931,467 |
| Fixed assets | $1,061,502 | $1,101,973 | $5,292,398 | $5,063,204 | $5,941,014 |
| Other long-term assets | $273,112,803 | $217,388,143 | $209,074,609 | $204,800,511 | $196,241,945 |
| Total long-term assets | $282,186,585 | $227,589,370 | $223,076,404 | $218,676,235 | $208,114,426 |
| Total assets | $303,264,152 | $247,039,615 | $272,238,033 | $268,767,233 | $260,599,588 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $5,179,440 | $3,765,096 | $9,526,439 | $16,652,046 | $16,347,637 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,911,053 | $1,022,702 | $85,943,102 | $74,769,203 | $82,787,780 |
| Total current liabilities | $7,090,493 | $4,787,798 | $95,469,541 | $91,421,249 | $99,135,417 |
| Debt | $13,099,266 | $12,545,408 | $52,078,279 | $133,087,115 | $115,332,211 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $2,414,331 | $2,348,531 | $2,172,309 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $229,531,428 | $182,486,320 | $78,104,100 | $2,499,887 | $3,396,794 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $245,045,025 | $197,380,259 | $132,354,688 | $135,587,002 | $118,729,005 |
| Total liabilities | $252,135,518 | $202,168,057 | $227,824,229 | $227,008,251 | $217,864,422 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $32,456,299 | $32,122,866 | $31,404,461 | $23,481,903 | $24,214,979 |
| With donor restrictions | $18,672,335 | $12,748,692 | $13,009,343 | $18,277,079 | $18,520,187 |
| Net assets | $51,128,634 | $44,871,558 | $44,413,804 | $41,758,982 | $42,735,166 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $20,269,755 | $21,117,710 | $19,435,604 | $21,966,111 | $30,812,404 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $0 | $0 | $25,902,197 | $21,226,434 | $27,194,148 |
| Other revenue | $1,346,025 | $1,739,246 | $15,061,457 | $578,642 | $1,482,045 |
| Total other revenue | $1,346,025 | $1,739,246 | $40,963,654 | $21,805,076 | $28,676,193 |
| Total revenue | $21,615,780 | $22,856,956 | $60,399,258 | $43,771,187 | $59,488,597 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $14,875,354 | $19,103,852 | $42,641,318 | $38,067,841 | $44,845,857 |
| Management and general | $1,312,969 | $1,512,149 | $2,254,629 | $2,733,353 | $2,511,814 |
| Fundraising | $2,610,833 | $3,561,431 | $3,719,175 | $3,700,196 | $4,301,394 |
| Total expenses | $18,799,156 | $24,177,432 | $48,615,122 | $44,501,390 | $51,659,065 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,816,624 | ($1,320,476) | $11,784,136 | ($730,203) | $7,829,532 |
| Other changes in net assets | $3,440,452 | $1,778,230 | ($3,861,578) | ($245,981) | ($11,358,810) |
| Total change in net assets | $6,257,076 | $457,754 | $7,922,558 | ($976,184) | ($3,529,278) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Atul Tandon | CEO | $539,732 |
| Ronald Gray | Legal Counsel | $246,444 |
| Roth Gregory E | SVP, Philanthropy | $234,678 |
| Kurtz Randy | Chief Administrative Officer | $230,277 |
| Ripley Dennis W | Chief Program Officer | $226,091 |
| Lutz Mark K | SVP, Philanthropy | $224,976 |
| Tomasik Margaret | SVP, Finance | $223,544 |
| Haiduc Amelia S | Managing Director | $219,287 |
| Reda Lana D | Chief Philanthropy Officer | $204,667 |
| Wiegman David | VP, Program Operations | $185,613 |
| Olson Lori | VP, Philanthropy | $165,893 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2019
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 5/2/2022. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
In 1971, Al Whittaker, president of Bristol-Meyers International Corporation, asked poor people, "What do you need?" They answered, "We need work. With jobs we will solve our own problems." Whittaker acted on that answer and founded the first Opportunity program in Latin America. In 1981 Al Whittaker, President Opportunity International, retired and is Chairman Emeritus.
In 1976, David Bussau, an Australian entrepreneur, founded a similar program in Indonesia. Three years later, the two programs united. Poor people on two continents proved that with small loans to start up or expand micro-businesses and cottage industries they could support their families. The Opportunity Network now has partners in 29 countries, in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
Program accomplishments
Opportunity serves families in 27 countries, with a strategic focus in 11 key countries.