Beyond the grant: How philanthropy can rewire education financing

McKinsey features Opportunity International EduFinance as one of four education financing mechanisms tested and proven effective. The research highlights financing for low‑cost private schools as a scalable, investable model and points to Opportunity’s work with local financial institutions to expand:

• Loans for schools
• School fee financing for families
• Financing for tertiary and skills providers

McKinsey also underscores EduQuality as a critical layer of technical assistance strengthening school leadership, governance, financial management, and learning outcomes.

The scale is significant:

• EduFinance and EduQuality were deployed through 211+ financial institutions
• Active in 32 countries
• 21+ million children reached

Every $1 in technical assistance unlocks $20+ in commercial loans, demonstrating how philanthropy can catalyze markets rather than subsidize them indefinitely.

Opportunity International EduFinance’s model shows that low‑cost private schools can be investable when the right financial products are paired with locally grounded, high‑quality technical assistance.

To close the global education gap, we don’t just need more funding. We need smarter funding. When innovative finance is combined with local expertise, we can scale solutions that last.

Read the full article to know more about how we're scaling what works here: READ MORE