Opportunity International was founded in 1971 by two visionary leaders who were inspired to take action by their experiences with people living in extreme poverty.
Al Whittaker, former president of Bristol Myers International Corporation in the U.S., and Australian entrepreneur David Bussau sought a solution that would help people transform their lives. They entered uncharted territory when they launched what we know now as Opportunity International, which was one of the first non-profit organisations to recognise the benefits of offering financial services for people living in poverty in developing countries.
Opportunity International goes where others won’t. It provides marginalised people and their communities with access to business loans, savings accounts, financial training, and community support—all of which empower these entrepreneurs to work their way out of poverty and build a new sustainable future for themselves and their families.
Today, Opportunity International serves more than 10 million hardworking families in over 20 countries around the world.