Triple Bottom Line

Every organization is called upon to measure its success at achieving its mission. The Opportunity International Network recognizes that such measurements have to include factors beyond financial sustainability. So Opportunity has adopted a triple bottom-line approach, measuring its success on three levels: transformation, outreach, and sustainability.

Transformational Impact

Because of Opportunity’s commitment to the whole person, the organization is committed to pursuing measurable improvements in clients’ lives in each of seven biblical areas of need: !) Dignity, 2) Authority, 3) Security, 4) Adequate Provision, 5) Purpose, Hope, and Meaning, 6) Freedom and Adequate Boundaries, and 7) Authentic Relationships and Love.

Large-scale Outreach

Opportunity aims for the poorest of the working poor: those with passion and a business dream but without access to all the benefits of the developed world. In serving that group, Opportunity has grown exponentially over the past 35 years, making more than 1 million loans in 2005 alone, versus a cumulative total of 1 million loans between 1971 and 2001.

Financial Viability

A defining moment for Opportunity came in 2002 when, on a global basis, its programs became operationally sustainable — income from lending operations covered costs for the first time. Opportunity is committed to this not only on an organizational scale, but on a program-by-program scale as well.