Irene Pritzker cofounded the IDP Foundation, Inc., with her daughter, Liesel, in 2008. She was motivated when she visited Ghana that same year and saw how many local schools had barely any infrastructure or resources. Irene considered whether it would be possible to successfully provide a business loan to these schools given that they had no collateral but were serving the poorest families in Ghana.

Focusing on localization and working closely with government, the school proprietors, and an extraordinary microfinance NGO, Sinapi Aba, she launched a successful pilot program. The program continues to grow today and is no longer dependent on aid. The model has been replicated, expanding with new partners into new countries, reaching over 2,300 schools, and serving over 500,000 children.

In addition to program development, Irene actively works to mission-align the foundation’s investment strategy -- particularly incorporating alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. The foundation has also made significant contributions to extraordinary developments in medical research.

As an advocate for developing sustainable and market-driven solutions that are no longer aid-dependent, Irene has frequently been invited to share the work of her philosophy behind the IDP Rising Schools Program. She has given major speeches on effective philanthropic investment and participated in numerous panels at the United Nations and other international forums, including throughout the US, Accra, Beijing, Paris, Zurich, Istanbul, Rome, and Dubai.

She has won multiple awards, including the American Association for Cancer Research Public Service Award, the Foreign Policy Association Global Philanthropy Award, and the Australian Consul-General’s Outstanding Achievement Award. In 2012 the IDP Foundation, Inc., was granted special consultative status to the United Nations, which continues to this day.

“The School in the Market is the remarkable story of how the IDP Foundation applied its innovative approach to partnering with people and organizations to build a scalable, sustainable, and evolving solution to the important problem of improving education for all. It is a story that demonstrates the power of true empathy in philanthropy. I recommend this book to anyone engaged in social and economic development.” -- Patrick Awuah, founder and president, Ashesi University

“Readable and engaging, The School in the Market tells the inspiring story of how Irene Pritzker brought both passion and financial acumen to one of education’s toughest challenges. By creating a local solution with smart support -- a financial model that enabled low-fee private schools in Ghana to thrive -- she and her organization have become true pioneers of impact investing in education.” -- Harry Anthony Patrinos, former senior advisor for education, World Bank; professor of education policy, University of Arkansas

“In this powerful narrative, we see what happens when capital meets community and respect meets resolve. The work chronicled in The School in the Market isn’t just transforming schools -- it’s transforming how we think about the future of education in emerging economies.” -- Asheesh Advani, CEO, JA (Junior Achievement) Worldwide

“Irene Pritzker’s approach to philanthropy is a masterclass in transformative partnerships. She invests in a way that allows organizations to adapt, evolve, and thrive in response to the shifting needs of the communities they serve. This book is vital for anyone seeking to understand how strategic funding aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals can drive systemic change.” -- Aashti Zaidi Hai, CEO, Global Schools Forum

“By centring local actors, Irene Pritzker and the IDP Foundation are leading a movement to challenge conventional thinking about philanthropy and development. The School in the Market is not only a compelling read -- it is a powerful call to adopt inclusive, collaborative models that align with the interconnected goals of the SDGs. This is investing for impact in action!” -- Amir Dossal, former executive director, United Nations Office for Partnerships; founder and president, Global Partnerships Forum

“As described in this book, the IDP Foundation’s commitment to uplifting Ghanaians by partnering with us while deeply respecting our culture and traditions and never imposing their own beliefs or identity made them true trailblazers in the world of international development. They are still blazing trails, and the world is paying attention.” -- Tony Fosu, CEO, Sinapi Aba Savings & Loans

"Irene Pritzker perceived what the creators of Sesame Street knew: that high-quality early education can change children’s lives. The School in the Market reveals how Pritzker’s inspiration led to an innovative education program with transformative results. Sesame Workshop was proud to be a part of this work, creating teacher-training resources featuring Sesame’s beloved characters that model play-based, child-centred techniques, leading to more engaged classrooms and inspiring teachers and students alike.” -- Sherrie Westin, president and CEO, Sesame Workshop