Accion Opportunity Fund

Overview

Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that serves as the nation's leading lender to small businesses, especially those owned by underserved communities. The organization is committed to creating an inclusive financial system by providing affordable capital, educational resources, and coaching to small business owners who often face barriers in accessing traditional financing.

History

Accion Opportunity Fund was formed in 2020 as a result of the merger between Accion U.S. Network and Opportunity Fund. This merger aimed to enhance the impact of both organizations by combining their resources and expertise to support small businesses across the country.

Mission and Impact

AOF focuses primarily on supporting entrepreneurs who are women, people of color, or immigrants, as these groups frequently encounter challenges in securing conventional financing. By offering customized loans and comprehensive support services, AOF helps these business owners build sustainable and prosperous enterprises. The organization's efforts have led to significant economic outcomes, including the creation or support of over 50,000 jobs and the generation of $1 billion in economic activity.

In March 2025, AOF announced a major milestone, surpassing $1 billion in lending to small business owners, marking over 34,000 loans. This achievement underscores the organization's role in providing safe and affordable capital to businesses that cannot access traditional financing sources.

Services Offered

AOF provides several types of financial assistance and support services to its clients:

• Working Capital Loans: These loans range from $5,000 to $250,000 with repayment terms of 12 to 60 months. They are designed to cover various business expenses and are offered with competitive interest rates starting at 8.49%.
• Equipment Financing: Specifically for commercial trucks, this financing option also ranges from $5,000 to $250,000.
• Business Support Services: AOF offers free educational resources, business coaching, and mentoring in both English and Spanish. These services are designed to help entrepreneurs develop the skills needed to grow their businesses effectively.

Eligibility and Requirements

To qualify for an AOF loan, businesses must have been operational for at least 12 months, with a minimum annual revenue of $50,000. The organization considers a wide range of factors beyond credit score when evaluating loan applications, making it accessible to businesses with limited or poor credit.

Strategic Vision

AOF has set ambitious goals to expand its reach over the next five years, aiming to provide capital and services to 65,000 small business owners. This effort is expected to generate $1.5 billion in economic impact and support or retain 30,000 jobs. The organization seeks to catalyze growth in the mission-driven lending sector by demonstrating the economic value of investing in underserved small businesses.

[1] https://calvertimpact.org/investing/partner/accion-opportunity-fund [2] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/accion-opportunity-fund-surpasses-1-billion-in-affordable-small-business-loans-and-kicks-off-ambitious-scaling-plan-302409511.html [3] https://www.lendingtree.com/business/reviews/accion-opportunity-fund/ [4] https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/small-business/accion-business-loans [5] https://www.bankrate.com/loans/small-business/reviews/accion-opportunity-fund/