About Al Whittaker
Lived 1918 – 2006 (aged 87–88). Al Whittaker was an American businessperson.
Al Whittaker (1918 – September 27, 2006) founded the non-profit organization Opportunity International and helped to popularize microcredit lending.
In 1971, Whittaker left his job as president of Bristol Myers to found the Institute for International Development Incorporated (IIDI), a micro-enterprise organization. Barry Harper was IIDI's first executive director and oversaw establishment of offices in Colombia, Peru, Honduras, Kenya, the Dominican Republic and Indonesia. Australian philanthropist David Bussau Maranatha Trust came on staff with IIDI in 1979 and began expanding its work in Asia. In 1988, IIDI changed its name to Opportunity International. Since that time, it has continued to grow.
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Important facts
People in Al Whittaker's life
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Al Whittaker?
American philanthropist
When was Al Whittaker born?
Al Whittaker was born in 1918.
When did Al Whittaker die?
Al Whittaker died on 27 September 2006.
What was Al Whittaker's occupation?
Al Whittaker was a businessperson.
What nationality was Al Whittaker?
Al Whittaker was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Al Whittaker. https://biography.guide/al-whittaker/
MLA: "Al Whittaker." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/al-whittaker/.
Chicago: "Al Whittaker." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/al-whittaker/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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