Northwest Access Fund
Northwest Access Fund is a nonprofit CDFI providing low-interest loans and free financial coaching to people with disabilities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, with a focus on assistive technology, home and vehicle modifications, and small business support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Northwest Access Fund does
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure combining net interest income on the loan portfolio (typically 5% fixed or board-set variable rates) with grant and donation revenue from federal (CDFI Fund, HHS/ACL, SBA), state (Washington Department of Commerce, DFI), and private sources. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through self-serve online applications, community partnerships with disability service providers, educational webinars, and content marketing. Leadership is CEO Emerson Sekins (since 2017) and COO Ellie Vainker (since 2024), supported by directors across financial coaching, outreach/partnerships, and programs. NWAF received the OFN41 Outstanding Industry Leadership Award in 2025.
Northwest Access Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northwest Access Fund
- Legal name
- Northwest Access Fund
- Website
- https://nwaccessfund.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Northwest Access Fund is a nonprofit CDFI providing low-interest loans and free financial coaching to people with disabilities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, with a focus on assistive technology, home and vehicle modifications, and small business support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northwest Access Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Finance (Disability-focused specialty lending)
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ)
Keywords
Where Northwest Access Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Northwest Access Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Loan Interest Revenue: Northwest Access Fund generates revenue through interest on loans issued to people with disabilities. Interest rates are 5% fixed for assistive technology, opportunity, and small business loans. Adapted vehicle and home modification loans have variable rates set by the Board of Directors. All loans have no fees.
- Grants and Donations: Supported by a mix of federal, state, and private grants, as well as individual donations. Federal grants from U.S. Department of Treasury CDFI Fund, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living, and Small Business Administration. State funding from Washington Department of Commerce and Department of Financial Institutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Assistive Technology Loans: Up to $25,000, 5-year term, 5% APR, no fees |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Adapted Vehicle Loans: Up to $60,000, 10-year term, variable rate, 10% down |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Home Modification Loans: Up to $60,000, 10-year term, variable rate |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Opportunity Loans: Up to $10,000, 5-year term, 5% APR, no fees |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Small Business Loans: Up to $60,000, 10-year term, 5% APR, no fees |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Hearing Aid Loans: Average $3,247, 35-month term, $99.89/month, 5% APR |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Denture Loans: Average $2,426, $76.46/month, up to 5-year term |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Financial Coaching: Free service |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | FCS Contracted Services: $100/hour (first 5 hours), $75/hour thereafter |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Northwest Access Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northwest Access Fund is a nonprofit CDFI that issues low-interest, no-fee loans to people with disabilities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho for assistive technology, adapted vehicles, home modifications, hearing aids, dentures, credit-building, and small business needs, paired with free financial coaching delivered by Certified Benefits Planners and Accredited Financial Counselors. Revenue comes from loan interest plus federal, state, and private grants, with FCS contract services billed hourly.
Product overview
Northwest Access Fund is a nonprofit CDFI offering a comprehensive suite of financial products and services designed for people with disabilities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The core offerings include seven loan products (Assistive Technology Loans, Adapted Vehicle Loans, Home Modification Loans, Hearing Aid Loans, Denture Loans, Opportunity Loans, and Small Business Loans) ranging from $10,000 to $60,000 with terms up to 10 years, all featuring low fixed interest rates and no fees. Complementing the lending portfolio are Financial Coaching services providing free one-on-one support from Certified Benefits Planners, and Small Business Supports for entrepreneurs with disabilities. The organization serves people of all ages, incomes, and disability types through a person-centered, community-driven approach.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Assistive Technology Loans Low-interest, no-fee loans up to $25,000 with up to a 5-year term at 5% fixed APR for people with disabilities to purchase assistive technology devices and services.
- Adapted Vehicle Loans Loans up to $60,000 with up to a 10-year term and a 10% down payment for purchasing adapted vehicles; rate set by the Board of Directors and varies monthly.
- Home Modification Loans Loans up to $60,000 with up to a 10-year term for ramps, grab bars, stair lifts, bathroom modifications, weatherization, and smart home technologies; rate set by the Board.
- Hearing Aid Loans Loans up to 5 years at 5% fixed APR with no fees for purchasing hearing aids and assistive listening devices; average loan $3,247 over 35 months at $99.89/month.
- Denture Loans No-fee loans up to 5 years for purchasing dentures, partial dentures, and associated dental work costs; average loan $2,426 at $76.46/month.
- Opportunity Loans Loans up to $10,000 with up to a 5-year term at 5% fixed APR for building credit, business/self-employment funding, and one-time expenses such as moving costs, security deposits, and car repairs.
- Small Business Loans Business loans up to $60,000 with up to a 10-year term at 5% interest, no minimum credit score, with business equipment or assets as collateral, for startup, expansion, and enhancement.
- Financial Coaching Free one-on-one and group financial coaching by Certified Benefits Planners and Accredited Financial Counselors covering credit, debt, disability benefits, budgeting, savings, and resource navigation, delivered by email, phone, and Zoom.
- Small Business Supports Business coaching, training, and inclusion programming for entrepreneurs with disabilities covering pre-business planning, business formation, financial management, and access to capital.
- Foundational Community Supports (FCS) Services Contracted benefits planning and financial coaching services for individuals participating in Washington's Foundational Community Supports program, billed at $100/hour for the first 5 hours per client and $75/hour thereafter.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of borrowers say the AT they purchased improved their quality of life
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Northwest Access Fund
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Northwest Access Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Northwest Access Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.
- Foundational Community Supports (FCS) Program (Washington State)coreNorthwest Access Fund serves as a subcontractor for organizations providing supported employment and/or supportive housing services through Washington's Foundational Community Supports program. Provides benefits planning and financial coaching as part of FCS service delivery.
- Developmental Disabilities Endowment Trust Fund (Washington)regionalJoint webinar partnership on asset protection and disability benefits. The Developmental Disabilities Endowment Trust Fund discusses Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) and DDETF programs in Washington state while NWAF covers ABLE accounts vs SNT differences.
- Business Support Organizations (Inclusive Entrepreneurship)regionalNWAF's Inclusive Entrepreneurship program works in partnership with other business support organizations to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes and types. Includes referrals to lending partners throughout the region.
- Disability:INregionalPartnership for Disability Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) certification education. NWAF webinar featuring Phillip DeVliegher, VP of Supplier Diversity at Disability:IN, sharing benefits and steps to becoming certified as a disability-owned business.
- Griffin-Hammis AssociatesregionalJoint webinar presenters on self-employment income and Social Security disability benefits. Griffin-Hammis Associates specialize in disability employment and self-employment support services.
Scale indicators20 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Northwest Access Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Disability:IN: National nonprofit driving disability inclusion and equality in business, including the Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) certification. Partial overlap with NWAF's inclusive entrepreneurship and small business programming through direct partnership.
Direct peers
- National Disability Institute: National nonprofit focused on financial education, asset building, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. Operates similar benefits planning and financial empowerment programming, making it the closest mission-aligned peer to NWAF.
- Ascendus (formerly Opportunity Fund): National CDFI offering small business loans and capital to underserved entrepreneurs, including people with disabilities through partnerships. Closely matches NWAF's small business lending and inclusive entrepreneurship model.
- Accion: Global nonprofit microfinance and CDFI-style lender serving small businesses and underserved borrowers. Comparable mission and lending infrastructure, though broader geographic and demographic scope than NWAF.
- Grameen America: Nonprofit microfinance organization providing small-dollar loans and financial services to low-income entrepreneurs in the U.S. Comparable model of trust-based lending to underserved populations using a CDFI-style structure.
- Kiva: Crowdfunded microloan platform providing 0% interest loans to underserved borrowers globally. Comparable nonprofit lending model and target population focus, with digital-first distribution analogous to NWAF's Lenderfit portal.
Broad incumbents
- Easterseals: Large national disability services nonprofit offering assistive technology, employment, and community living programs. Overlaps with NWAF on assistive technology access but operates a much broader service portfolio and does not focus specifically on lending.
- AARP Foundation: National nonprofit providing financial resilience, employment, and benefits navigation services primarily to older adults. Overlaps with NWAF's senior and benefits planning segments but with much broader program scale.
- Goodwill Industries International: Major nonprofit with workforce development, financial coaching, and asset-building programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Comparable mission population and coaching offerings, but far larger and broader than NWAF.
Others
- Opportunity Finance Network: National CDFI industry association and intermediary providing capital, policy advocacy, and capacity building to member CDFIs. Not a direct competitor but the awarding body of NWAF's 2025 OFN41 award and a key ecosystem partner.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Northwest Access Fund social profiles
Digital presenceNorthwest Access Fund compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Northwest Access Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northwest Access Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Northwest Access Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northwest Access Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northwest Access Fund
What does Northwest Access Fund do?
Northwest Access Fund is a nonprofit CDFI that issues low-interest, no-fee loans to people with disabilities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho for assistive technology, adapted vehicles, home modifications, hearing aids, dentures, credit-building, and small business needs, paired with free financial coaching delivered by Certified Benefits Planners and Accredited Financial Counselors. Revenue comes from loan interest plus federal, state, and private grants, with FCS contract services billed hourly.
Is Northwest Access Fund a public or private company?
Northwest Access Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Northwest Access Fund founded?
Northwest Access Fund was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Northwest Access Fund based?
Northwest Access Fund is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Northwest Access Fund make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Loan Interest Revenue is the primary driver. The others are grants and Donations.
Who are Northwest Access Fund's main competitors?
Disability:IN is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are National Disability Institute, Ascendus (formerly Opportunity Fund), Accion, Grameen America and Kiva. Broad incumbents are Easterseals, AARP Foundation and Goodwill Industries International. Opportunity Finance Network is listed as an others.
Does Northwest Access Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northwest Access Fund.
What industry is Northwest Access Fund in?
Northwest Access Fund's product category is Community Development Finance (Disability-focused specialty lending). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKANAJ, Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 6111.