One Percent for America

What One Percent for America does

One Percent for America (OPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2022 and affiliated with BlueHub Capital, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The organization operates a digital lending platform that offers a 1% fixed APR personal installment loan ranging from $380 to $1,385 to help eligible immigrants cover USCIS citizenship application fees (Form N-400 or N-600). Approved loan funds are disbursed via a virtual payment card restricted to USCIS fee payment, and the platform is built on TurnKey Lender for loan origination, servicing, and borrower account management. OPA reports having supported over 2,300 citizenship journeys since launch and is licensed to lend in 10 states (CA, FL, IL, KS, MA, ME, NJ, NY, SC, TX).

OPA's business model combines subsidized lending with philanthropic support. Loan interest revenue at 1% APR is intentionally modest (approximately $7–$14 lifetime interest per borrower on a $1,385, 12-month loan), while the capital base is sustained through Program Related Investments from foundations (e.g., a $250,000 PRI from Eastern Bank Foundation in November 2023) and individual/corporate donations. The organization employs a pay-it-forward model in which repaid principal is recycled into new loans, creating a self-replenishing capital pool. Go-to-market is a hybrid of direct-to-consumer digital acquisition (content marketing through The Guide, organic social, earned media including NYT DealBook and Fast Company) and partnership-driven referral channels through immigrant-serving nonprofits, workforce development programs, and employer benefit programs.

The target customer is an adult immigrant (18+) residing in a licensed state who is eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, holds a Social Security Number and U.S. debit card, and meets minimum credit requirements (or qualifies with an employed co-borrower). OPA reports 11–50 employees, bilingual English/Spanish support, and leadership continuity drawn from BlueHub Capital, including CEO and Board President Elyse Cherry (BlueHub CEO since 1997) and General Manager Autumn McLaughlin. Customer segments also include employer partners and institutional donors, though individual borrowers represent the primary user base.

Name

One Percent for America

Legal name

One Percent for America, Inc.

Website

https://onepercentforamerica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

One Percent for America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers 1% interest installment loans ($380–$1,385) to eligible immigrants to cover USCIS citizenship application fees, operating across 10 U.S. states via a TurnKey Lender-powered digital platform with pay-it-forward recycling of repaid principal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Lending

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Benefit & EBT / Social Program Cards (FSAMANAF)

Keywords

• Citizenship loans
• Immigrant lending
• Nonprofit lending
• USCIS fee financing
• Community development finance

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Revenue: 1% fixed annual percentage rate (APR) on loans ranging from $380 to $1,385 with a 12-month repayment term. Monthly installments begin within 45 days of loan approval.
2. Donations and Philanthropic Support: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting donations from individuals, organizations, and companies. Donations support the pay-it-forward model and help lower barriers to citizenship.
3. Program-Related Investments (PRIs): Low-cost capital from foundations (e.g., $250,000 from Eastern Bank Foundation) to support loan programs for low-to-moderate income immigrants in specific geographic areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

One Percent for America (OPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers 1% fixed APR personal installment loans ranging from $380 to $1,385 to help eligible immigrants pay U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) application fees for Form N-400 or N-600. Approved funds are disbursed via a Virtual Payment Card usable only for USCIS fees, with a 12-month repayment term. The organization runs a pay-it-forward model in which repaid principal is recycled into new loans for future borrowers.

Product overview

One Percent for America operates a single core product—the OPA 1% Interest Loan—designed to reduce financial barriers to U.S. citizenship for immigrants. The loan is supplemented by educational resources through The Guide, a borrower management portal (Loan Center) for loan servicing and payments, and Virtual Payment Card for fee disbursement. The company uses a pay-it-forward model where repaid loans are reinvested into new loans, creating a sustainable cycle of support. Spanish language support is available throughout all offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OPA 1% Interest Loan A 1% fixed APR personal installment loan designed to help adult immigrants (18+) in licensed states pay USCIS citizenship application fees for Form N-400 or N-600. Loan amounts range from $380 to $1,385 over a 12-month repayment schedule, with monthly installments beginning within 45 days of approval. Funds are loaded onto a Virtual Payment Card that can only be used with USCIS. Repayments are recycled under a pay-it-forward model to fund future borrowers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,300+ citizenship journeys supported since 2022
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Immigrant-Serving OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOPA partners with immigrant-serving nonprofits, workforce development programs, and mission-aligned businesses to expand access to citizenship and financial opportunity through referrals and community outreach.
• Employer PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCompanies can offer OPA's 1% loan as an employee benefit for eligible employees and their family members. Program includes co-branded materials, information sessions, and impact reporting.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stilt: Stilt is a digital lender focused on providing personal loans and financial products to immigrants and underserved borrowers in the U.S., often without requiring a Social Security number. It is a direct competitor to OPA in serving immigrant credit needs.
• Possible Financial: Possible Financial offers small-dollar installment loans to thin- and no-credit borrowers via a mobile app. It is comparable to OPA in providing affordable, mission-driven consumer credit to financially underserved populations, though targeting a broader demographic.
• Kiva: Kiva is a nonprofit crowdfunding platform that enables 0% interest loans to underserved borrowers globally. Like OPA, it leverages a community-driven, donor-funded model to deliver affordable credit to populations excluded from mainstream finance.
• Mission Asset Fund: Mission Asset Fund operates Lending Circles, a nonprofit zero-interest social lending model for low-income immigrants. It is a direct peer to OPA's pay-it-forward, community-financed approach to immigrant financial inclusion.
• Grameen America: Grameen America is a nonprofit microfinance organization providing small loans to women entrepreneurs in low-income U.S. communities. Comparable to OPA as a mission-driven nonprofit lender using community-trust models to reach populations bypassed by mainstream banks.
• DreamSpring (formerly Opportunity Fund): DreamSpring is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution providing small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable to OPA as a CDFI-style nonprofit lender serving immigrants and other financially excluded populations.

Others

• BlueHub Capital: BlueHub Capital is OPA's parent CDFI and operational incubator, with 40+ years of community development lending. While not a direct competitor, it is the structural and capital backbone that makes OPA's model viable.
• Immigrants Rising: Immigrants Rising is a nonprofit organization supporting immigrant professionals through legal, financial, and career resources. It is comparable to OPA as a referral and ecosystem partner serving immigrant communities pursuing citizenship and economic mobility.

Broad incumbents

• LendingClub: LendingClub is a large online consumer lending marketplace offering personal installment loans. It is comparable to OPA as a digital personal-credit provider, though it serves a much broader, higher-credit-quality borrower base.

Emerging players

• Tala: Tala is a mobile lending platform serving underbanked consumers in emerging markets using alternative credit data. It is comparable to OPA in targeting thin-file borrowers with digital-first credit products, though primarily outside the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCP7QfBQcEQ9qvBAZkFFqJoQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/OnePercentforAmerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/one-percent-for-america/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/onepercentforamerica

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about One Percent for America