The Disability Opportunity Fund
The Disability Opportunity Fund is a Nationally Certified CDFI that provides targeted lending, technical assistance, and advisory services to nonprofits, schools, and developers serving people with disabilities, operating a $24 million investment portfolio and a 100% historical repayment record.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Disability Opportunity Fund does
The Disability Opportunity Fund (DOF), legally Disability Fund, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit and Nationally Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 2007 and headquartered in Rockville Centre, New York. The organization provides targeted financial products, technical assistance, and advisory services to real estate developers, schools, community centers, healthcare providers, and service organizations that serve people with disabilities across the United States. Its mission is to address structural gaps in financing for affordable, accessible housing and related services for the disability market — a population comprising roughly one in five Americans but historically underserved by conventional lenders.
DOF operates a multi-product financial services platform centered on lending products that include bridge loans, term loans, gap financing, predevelopment loans, acquisition financing, and rehabilitation financing. Underwriting and credit evaluation are performed by an in-house chief underwriter and Loan Committee, with each loan monitored and tracked through closing. Technical assistance services cover guidance on Universal Design standards, business and financial management, loan packaging, and federal compliance advisory spanning Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act. Beyond core lending and advisory, DOF runs the ATLAS pilot program with Toyota's Hillside dealership to finance accessible Sienna taxis for small business medallion owners, and the DOF Cares grant program (launched 2019), which has distributed more than $500,000 across 29 organizations. The technology layer is a conventional lending platform with manual underwriting, a website-driven marketing and donation funnel, and an email newsletter.
DOF's business model is structured around mission-driven investments that produce a double bottom line of financial returns and social impact. Capital is raised from financial institutions, governmental entities, foundations, individuals, religious organizations, and other businesses via direct inquiries, with investments ranging from $50,000 to $5 million. Revenue streams include net interest income from the loan portfolio, fees for technical assistance, loan packaging, and federal compliance services, and tax-deductible donations processed through the Network for Good platform. Under President and CEO Charles D. Hammerman (appointed 2007), DOF has grown from inception to $30 million in total assets with a $24 million investment portfolio and a 100% cumulative repayment rate on investments.
The Disability Opportunity Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Disability Opportunity Fund
- Legal name
- Disability Fund, Inc.
- Website
- https://thedof.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Disability Opportunity Fund is a Nationally Certified CDFI that provides targeted lending, technical assistance, and advisory services to nonprofits, schools, and developers serving people with disabilities, operating a $24 million investment portfolio and a 100% historical repayment record.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Disability Opportunity Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Lending
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)
Keywords
Where The Disability Opportunity Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Disability Opportunity Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Lending and Loan Products: DOF generates revenue through interest on loans including bridge and term loans, gap financing, predevelopment loans, acquisition financing, and rehabilitation financing. These are mission-driven investments that yield double bottom line results providing financial returns while addressing social concerns.
- Technical Assistance Services: Provides development services to potential and current borrowers including guidance on financing projects while maintaining affordability, business and financial management, and Universal Design standards. Also provides loan packaging services with participating lenders.
- Donations and Grants: DOF accepts donations to fund the development of affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities. Donations support deal execution and provide education and support for parents, agencies, and housing developers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Investment Range |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Disability Opportunity Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Disability Opportunity Fund (DOF) is a nationally certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides mission-driven loans (bridge and term loans, gap financing, predevelopment, acquisition, and rehabilitation financing), technical assistance, and federal compliance advisory services to real estate developers, schools, community centers, and service organizations serving people with disabilities and their families across the United States. It supplements its lending with grant programs such as DOF Cares and the ATLAS accessible taxi financing pilot in partnership with Toyota.
Product overview
The Disability Opportunity Fund (DOF) is a nationally certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides financial products and services to improve quality of life and build personal wealth for people with disabilities and their families. The organization operates a multi-product portfolio centered on targeted lending services (bridge loans, gap financing, predevelopment, acquisition, and rehabilitation financing), technical assistance programs, and grant initiatives. Key offerings include the ATLAS accessible taxi loan program, the DOF Cares grant program, and federal compliance advisory services. DOF bridges the disability market and community development financial institutions to address the growing needs of this underserved population, focusing on housing, schools, and community centers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lending Services Provides bridge and term loans, gap financing, predevelopment loans, acquisition financing, and rehabilitation financing to real estate developers, schools, community organizations, and agencies serving the disabilities market throughout the United States.
- Technical Assistance Services Provides development services to potential and current borrowers including guidance on financing projects while maintaining affordability, business and financial management support, Universal Design guidance, and loan packaging services.
- ATLAS (Accessible Taxi Loan Assistance Service) Pilot program providing accessible taxi financing assistance to small business medallion owners, partnering with Toyota through the Hillside dealership to offer a $30,000 Taxi Improvement Fund Grant and low-interest loans for accessible vehicle purchases.
- DOF Cares Grant Program Grant program providing individual grants between $10,000 and $50,000 to organizations serving people with disabilities in focus areas including Education, Employment, Housing, Public Policy, and Socialization/Sports.
- Federal Compliance Services Compliance advisory service ensuring adherence to federal statutes including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination Act, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% repayment rate on investments since inception in 2008
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Disability Opportunity Fund
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Disability Opportunity Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Disability Opportunity Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Toyota (via Hillside Dealership)coreDOF partners with Toyota directly through the ATLAS (Accessible Taxi Loan Assistance Service) program to secure Accessible Sienna Taxis at Toyota's designated Hillside dealership. Toyota provides a $30,000 Taxi Improvement Fund Grant applied to vehicle purchases. DOF reviews and approves low-interest loans for qualified small business medallion owners.
- JeenieminorDOF partners with Jeenie, a mobile language service provider, to ensure meaningful communications with Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals through instant access to live human interpreters for translation and interpretation services in various languages.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Disability Opportunity Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Disability Institute: National nonprofit focused on the financial health of people with disabilities; comparable in mission and target population to DOF, though it emphasizes financial education and asset building rather than direct CDFI lending.
- Capital Impact Partners: National CDFI providing financing and technical assistance to underinvested communities, including disability-serving and human services organizations. Operates a similar lending-plus-advisory model to DOF at materially larger scale.
- Calvert Impact Capital: Mission-driven Community Development Financial Institution that pools capital from individuals and institutions to finance community organizations. Comparable as a CDFI deploying impact capital toward social outcomes.
- RSF Social Finance: Nonprofit financial services organization providing loans, grants, and impact investing to social enterprises and nonprofits; operates a similar CDFI-like structure serving mission-driven borrowers.
- SeaChange Capital Partners: Nonprofit intermediary providing loans and capital solutions to NYC-area human services and disability-serving nonprofits. Directly comparable in target borrower base and mission-lending approach.
Broad incumbents
- Enterprise Community Partners: Large national CDFI and nonprofit focused on affordable housing, with adjacent disability-inclusive housing initiatives. Much larger scale and broader scope, but directly comparable as a CDFI lender to community developers.
- Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI): Maine-based CDFI providing financing and technical assistance to mission-driven businesses and nonprofits, including social services. Operates a similar lending-plus-advisory model to DOF across a broader sector mix.
Others
- Opportunity Finance Network: National membership association and intermediary for the CDFI industry, including CDFI Fund funding advocacy and capital aggregation. Not a direct lender but the principal trade body and capital partner for DOF and similar CDFIs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Disability Opportunity Fund social profiles
Digital presenceThe Disability Opportunity Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Disability Opportunity Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Disability Opportunity Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Disability Opportunity Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments8 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Disability Opportunity Fund
What does The Disability Opportunity Fund do?
The Disability Opportunity Fund (DOF) is a nationally certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides mission-driven loans (bridge and term loans, gap financing, predevelopment, acquisition, and rehabilitation financing), technical assistance, and federal compliance advisory services to real estate developers, schools, community centers, and service organizations serving people with disabilities and their families across the United States. It supplements its lending with grant programs such as DOF Cares and the ATLAS accessible taxi financing pilot in partnership with Toyota.
Is The Disability Opportunity Fund a public or private company?
The Disability Opportunity Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Disability Opportunity Fund founded?
The Disability Opportunity Fund was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Disability Opportunity Fund based?
The Disability Opportunity Fund is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Disability Opportunity Fund make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Lending and Loan Products are the primary driver. The others are technical Assistance Services and donations and Grants.
Who are The Disability Opportunity Fund's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Disability Institute, Capital Impact Partners, Calvert Impact Capital, RSF Social Finance and SeaChange Capital Partners. Broad incumbents are Enterprise Community Partners and Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI). Opportunity Finance Network is listed as an others.
Does The Disability Opportunity Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Disability Opportunity Fund.
What industry is The Disability Opportunity Fund in?
The Disability Opportunity Fund's product category is Community Development Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAA, Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance). Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 6111.