Opportunity International Names World Vision Veteran as Chief Philanthropy Officer
Opportunity International has named 20-year World Vision USA veteran Michael Chitwood as its chief philanthropy officer.
The global Christian non-profit, which says it tries to emulate the Good Samaritan by serving all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender, provides support to small businesses and schools through programs including micro lending, agriculture, and education financing.
“I believe everyone deserves to have a roof over their head, food on their table and see their children have access to a quality education. That’s what’s at the heart of Opportunity International: finding ways to end extreme global poverty by giving people the opportunity to pursue their dreams, earn a living, and provide for their families,” Chitwood said. “I can’t wait to see what this opportunity holds.”
Chitwood joins Chicago-based Opportunity International from World Vision USA, where he was the executive director of church and ministry partnerships for nearly five years. In that position, he was responsible for leading a global multi-functional team of approximately 100 staff members in partnering with individual churches, church networks, and ministry partners.
He also founded Team World Vision, a program that organizes fundraising runs to support efforts to bring clean water to people in Africa. The program generated 50,000 volunteers and $100 million in donations during his 16-year tenure.
Chitwood is a public speaker, marathon runner, and the author of “The Ability to Endure,” a book about persevering in the face of life’s challenges with the help of faith. He earned his master’s degree in social work from University of Illinois-Champaign and his bachelor’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University.
In 2020, Opportunity International and its partners provided $2.3 billion in capital in more than 30 countries and helped fund 8,800 schools that reached 2.8 million children.
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