Portfolio Partner Profile
Accion Opportunity Fund
Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) is the nation’s leading nonprofit small business lender working to build a more inclusive financial system. AOF provides small business owners with access to affordable capital, educational resources, free coaching, and supportive networks—helping them grow resilient businesses and achieve long-term financial security. For more than 30 years, AOF has delivered responsible capital and hands-on support, deploying over $1 billion to small businesses and providing free educational resources to over 4.5 million entrepreneurs nationwide. Nearly 90% of clients come from underserved communities, and this work has helped create or retain 107,000+ jobs and generate more than $2.1 billion in economic activity.
AOF was formed in 2020, uniting the strengths of Accion U.S. Network and Opportunity Fund. AOF continues to lead the field in scaling inclusive, community-centered finance. While our first loan to AOF was in 2021, we have supported its predecessor organizations since 1996.
Featured Impact Story
Impact Story
Quality Wet Paint
Dr. Bernardo Flores spent 25 years making a difference in classrooms in The Bronx, earning his PhD in Special Education and Leadership and dedicating his career to helping young people thrive. But after decades in education, he felt called to make a different kind of impact—by creating jobs in his community. Driven by that mission, he and two business partners founded Quality Wet Paint, a small but growing painting business focused on providing stable, well-paying work for local families.
In January 2025, when Dr. Flores landed a major government contract and needed fast capital to cover payroll, he turned to AOF. Within four days, a $41,400 loan was in his account—allowing him to pay his team, stay on track, and keep his commitment to his community.
For Dr. Flores, the transition from teaching to small business ownership has been deeply rewarding. "When I was teaching, I got the gift of seeing kids learn and succeed," he explains. "But now, I'm generating work—and that's very powerful."
With the right support at the right time, one small business can generate jobs, provide stability for families, and empower entire communities.
Impact Story
Anderson Law Group
When Rhonda M. Anderson launched Anderson Law Group in Pennsylvania in 2016, she aimed to do more than practice law—her firm is dedicated to achieving results for clients while strengthening communities. Rhonda combines legal expertise with strategic consulting to make a meaningful impact.
In the early days, she faced a common challenge for small business owners: limited access to affordable capital. To keep her practice running, Rhonda relied on high-interest credit cards and personal loans, navigating financial hurdles while focusing on quality service.
Determined to grow, she secured her first loan with AOF in 2022, providing critical working capital. Her demonstrated business growth and strong repayment history opened the door to a larger opportunity in 2024, when she qualified for a $65,000 loan through AOF’s repeat borrower program. This program included an added incentive that covered her loan origination fees, reducing Rhonda’s expenses, and strengthening her financial footing.
Reflecting on her experience, Rhonda said, “The process was not difficult, and the support is top tier.” Today, she leads Anderson Law Group with a clear focus on results and community impact, proving that with persistence and the right resources, small business owners can overcome obstacles and thrive.
Impact Story
Sunsums Shoes
George Baah, founder of Sunsums, created a purposeful footwear brand that connects his Ghanaian roots with the U.S. market. After immigrating from Ghana and building a career in Texas, George launched Sunsums to provide fair-wage jobs to artisans in his hometown while offering sustainable, artisan-crafted shoes to American consumers.
George sought more than just funding—he wanted a partner who shared his commitment to economic empowerment and community development. That’s why he chose AOF.
George secured funding from AOF that enabled him to launch a targeted online marketing campaign—critical for reaching his audience of consumers who prioritize sustainability, wellness, and meaningful purchases. This support aligned perfectly with George’s mission and helped Sunsums connect deeply with the values of its target demographic.
Reflecting on his journey, George encourages other small business owners: “Don’t give up on your business dreams because of capital—always work and persevere.” With purpose and perseverance, he’s turning every step into progress.
Impact Story
Lia Hirtz, owner of World Empanadas
A first-time entrepreneur at 55 years young, Lia wanted to share an Argentinian tradition with Southern California. Her goal was to provide customers with the best empanadas in town! Even throughout COVID-19, her family-owned small business found a way to continue to share sweet and savory versions of this amazing dish.
Lia was facing more than just a freezer dilemma. Her business was also tied up in aggressive merchant cash advance loans that helped finance their move into their new space and other improvements like installing a hood for the stove. She had some capital thanks to personal loans from friends and family, but World Empanadas needed help to get the freezer unit that could make their business really take off.
Lia’s loan officer, Robert, offered Lia a $15,000 Accion Opportunity Fund loan, which helped World Empanadas purchase the walk-in freezer unit. “I couldn't believe it,” Lia said. “Within a few weeks Robert called me and told me I could pick up our check. It was just like that.”
Impact Story
Valonne Smith, owner of Natural Do
“I met an Opportunity Fund staff member in 2017, a couple of years after I started Natural Do. Opportunity Fund wasn’t giving assistance to start-ups, but I kept his card. In 2018, we ran into a tax issue, so I called him and applied for a loan. The process was simple and I was able to get the working capital right away. Opportunity Fund saved the day. This spring, I received a $5,000 COVID relief grant from Accion Opportunity Fund, through Small Business Live...and the first thing I did with that was finish paying off my Opportunity Fund loan!”
Impact Story
Tania Torres, Vanidad Beauty Salon
Tania Torres has been doing hair since 1996 and has had some of the same customers for 24 years. Though she does not see them as customers, she sees them as family.
Originally from Nicaragua, Tina loves the flexibility of setting her own hours for herself and her customers. She can take appointments at 7am to help customers who need to work early; sometimes she can work from 2pm and work until 10pm. When you set your own schedule, you feel freer—and then you are happy to put in the work for yourself.
Mayra, Tania's loan officer at Accion Opportunity Fund, connected Tania with a $2,500 loan to build her credit. In July, Mayra referred Tania to a federal savings account that will be returned in one year. Not long after, Tania followed San Jose’s shelter-in-place orders and closed the salon from March through September 2020, then from December through February 2021. Recently, so much of her work has been fixing “pandemic hair;” and catching up with her customers who have been waiting for her.
She has been spending a lot of money and time sanitizing the salon. She has all her health notifications in English and Spanish, bought an air filter that she leaves on overnight, and has available for customers. Tania has some ladies who are 75 or 85 years old who want her to do their hair, so she takes all the precautions. When people do not want to wear masks, she provides masks for them. She tells them the city requires them and then changes the topic quickly—maybe to a mole recipe because her husband is from Mexico! She loves cooking, so she always asks her clients about that.
Impact Story
Callaghan’s Coffee Café
Chad has been serving delicious coffee and other treats to the community of Brooklyn, MI since August of 2020. Callaghan’s Coffee Café has a location in Brooklyn, as well as a mobile coffee cart that has been named Best in Jackson.
Chad came to AOF in April of 2024, looking for a loan to help remodel their café, and was approved for $75,000! When AOF spoke to him about his experience, Chad explained that he was very happy with the application process and truly appreciated AOF’s responsiveness. He stated he had applied with other lenders, some taking weeks to respond, but AOF was very quick, and their entire process was easy for him to go through.
Small Business
Gender Equity
