Dennis RipleyChief Business Development Officer

Dennis is responsible for securing funds from government, multilateral and financial institution donors; overseeing Opportunity’s funding and investments in over 20 countries; developing and managing strategic alliances with other NGOs, and co-leading the strategic planning for Opportunity International U.S. He currently serves as a board member of Opportunity Colombia and Opportunity DRC, as well as the board of Opportunity’s microinsurance subsidiary, MicroEnsure.

Dennis joined Opportunity in 1992 as its vice president for programs, and served as vice president for planning and development before moving into his current role. Prior to joining Opportunity, Dennis was founding president of Exodus World Service in Roselle, Ill., a humanitarian agency devoted to mobilizing community groups, families and individuals on behalf of refugees settling in the U.S. During his tenure, he was responsible for board recruitment, designing program services, fundraising and public relations events. Prior to joining Exodus, he was World Relief Corporation’s director of program services in the Refugee Services Division from 1980-1986, and vice president and director of the Refugee Services Division from 1986-1988. Dennis received a Masters of Divinity and completed coursework toward a Masters of Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Evangel College in Springfield, Mo.