Opportunity Funders Make a Difference
AT-A-GLANCE
Meet Opportunity Funders in Action
Name: Arun Israel
Profession: Software engineer by day; microfinance volunteer by night
Volunteer Role: SaveTogether.org website development and market research
What inspired him to join: Arun joined Opportunity Funders to explore microfinance and make an impact in his own community, as well as to apply skills and interests beyond his professional work.
What does he do? Arun conducted focus groups for market research for a new website sponsored by Opportunity Fund, called SaveTogether.org. He contributed to development meetings and provided beta website testing and feedback. While working on SaveTogether.org, he learned about Opportunity Fund’s IDA Savings program and was so inspired by this program that he is currently training to teach financial literacy classes to our clients.
Name: Leslie Roulias
Profession: Former corporate treasurer gives one year to Opportunity Fund
Volunteer Role: Kiva.org Content Manager
What inspired her to join: After 13 years in corporate treasury, Leslie began to feel unfulfilled in her job because she wanted to contribute to more than just the bottom line. Impressed by microfinance internationally, she resigned her job and began a year of service to explore a new career path and begin to give back. Opportunity Fund stood out as the most reputable, high-impact, well-run institution she found.
What does she do? Leslie interviews new Small Business borrowers on site to learn about their businesses and how their loan from Opportunity Fund will impact their bottom line. She puts her long-neglected writing skills to use by drafting profiles of Opportunity Fund’s borrowers to post on our online lending partner, Kiva.org.
Name: Kim Cheung
Profession: Technology services professional and master party planner
Volunteer Role: IDA Evaluation Event Manager
What inspired her to join: Kim wanted to learn more about microfinance and never imagined she’d become so inspired by the power of microsavings in addition to microcredit.
What does she do? Kim plans graduation parties for our IDA clients each quarter to celebrate their success saving and learning in the program. She handles everything for the event, from catering and venue to children’s games and the rsvp list. Most importantly, Kim plans these events to enable other Opportunity Funders to collect survey data from the clients to inform a long-term evaluation to assess the program’s impact on our clients’ lives – and she does it all like a true professional and makes the events fun for our clients, their families, and Opportunity Fund staff and volunteers.
TESTIMONIALS
My favorite thing about Opportunity Fund is the focus on results. I’d encourage everyone to get involved—you’ll learn a lot, have fun working with great people, and make a difference in your community.”
-Arun Israel
The small business owners I interview inspire me with their motivation and creativity. As an Opportunity Funder, I have gained experience in microfinance, worked with the wonderful Opportunity Fund staff, and found the fulfillment that had been missing in my career for years.”
-Leslie Roulias
TAKE ACTION
