The Acceleration Project

What The Acceleration Project does

The Acceleration Project (TAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 and headquartered in Scarsdale, New York, that delivers pro bono business consulting and financial coaching to under-resourced small business owners across the United States. Services are provided at no cost through a multi-tiered program architecture consisting of free 1:1 coaching (60-minute expert sessions), small group coaching, monthly topical webinars, intensive Deep Dive engagements pairing each owner with two consultants, and the EDGE (Economic Development & Growth for Entrepreneurs) program, an eight-month financial coaching curriculum built on the Financial Health Network's FinHealth Score framework covering four pillars: spending, saving, borrowing, and planning. Delivery relies on a volunteer-consultant model comprising 200+ vetted professionals across 21 states and 2 countries, speaking 19 languages, with 60% holding advanced degrees; TAP itself maintains a small employee base of 11-50 supported by named Directors of Campaigns and Finance.

TAP's revenue model is that of a grant- and donation-funded nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise. Income streams include foundation grants (most notably Truist Foundation for EDGE expansion across six markets and Citi Foundation for the NYC/Westchester EDGE launch via the 2025 Community Finance Initiative), corporate sponsorships (PNC, Apollo, Latham & Watkins, RXR, SoFi, Mastercard, PwC), individual donations with employer matching, and an annual Spring Benefit event with sponsorship tiers ranging from $500 to $100,000+. Distribution is community-led: TAP receives referrals from chambers of commerce, CDFIs, SBA resource partners, the Community Reinvestment Fund's Connect2Capital platform, and corporate partners such as Johnson & Johnson/New Brunswick Tomorrow and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. There is no commercial product, no equity structure, and no disclosed revenue. Cumulative impact metrics include 11,900+ business owners served with customized engagements, 100,000+ individuals reached online, 68,400+ volunteer hours donated, a 95% client satisfaction rate, and a Bridgespan-validated $10 return in economic and community value per $1 invested.

Name

The Acceleration Project

Legal name

The Acceleration Project, Inc.

Website

https://theaccelerationproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Acceleration Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, pro bono business consulting and financial coaching to under-resourced small business owners nationwide, delivered through a network of 200+ volunteer consultants and funded primarily by foundation grants and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Business Consulting Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance (EDAMAHAE), Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Small business consulting
• Nonprofit business advisory
• Pro bono coaching
• Entrepreneur education programs
• Small business financial coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Scarsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: TAP operates as a nonprofit organization funded primarily through foundation grants from organizations such as Truist Foundation and Citi Foundation. These grants support specific programs like the EDGE financial coaching initiative.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and matching gift programs from employers. The organization hosts an annual Spring Benefit event with various sponsorship levels ranging from $500 to $100,000+.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Acceleration Project is a nonprofit organization that provides free, pro bono business consulting and coaching services to small business owners, particularly those who are under-resourced. Its service model is built around five core programs: 1:1 Coaching (60-minute expert consultations), Small Group Coaching (peer learning sessions for up to three owners), Webinars (monthly educational masterclasses), Deep Dives (intensive multi-week engagements with two hand-selected consultants), and the EDGE Program (an eight-month financial coaching initiative built on the Financial Health Network's FinHealth Score framework covering spending, saving, borrowing, and planning). All services are delivered at no cost to entrepreneurs.

Product overview

The Acceleration Project (TAP) is a nonprofit organization that provides structured, results-oriented, pro bono business consulting services to small businesses at no cost. TAP operates a multi-tiered service model consisting of four core coaching programs: 1:1 Coaching for personalized expert guidance, Small Group Coaching for collaborative peer learning, Webinars for masterclass educational sessions, and Deep Dives for intensive high-touch consulting. Additionally, TAP offers the EDGE (Economic Development & Growth for Entrepreneurs) Program, an eight-month financial coaching initiative using the Financial Health Network's FinHealth Score framework. Services are available nationwide with a focus on under-resourced small business owners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EDGE (Economic Development & Growth for Entrepreneurs): A free eight-month financial coaching program built around the Financial Health Network's FinHealth Score framework, focusing on spending, saving, borrowing, and planning to help entrepreneurs build stronger financial habits.

Products and services

• 1:1 Coaching

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,900+ business owners served with customized engagements
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Financial Health NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAP uses the Financial Health Network's FinHealth Score framework as the core methodology for the EDGE program. The framework organizes financial health into four pillars: spending, saving, borrowing, and planning.
• Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAP partners with CRF to introduce entrepreneurs to CRF Connect (formerly Connect2Capital), an online resource-matching platform that helps small business owners engage with trusted lenders and explore financing options.
• Johnson & Johnson / New Brunswick TomorrowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Deep Dive programs to small businesses along New Brunswick's Esperanza Corridor, a Hispanic-owned business hub near J&J headquarters. TAP provided tailored growth plans to three underserved businesses.
• Arizona Hispanic Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring expert-led webinars and 1:1 mentoring to entrepreneurs in the Arizona Hispanic business community. 75+ small business owners gained practical tools for sustainable growth.
• Makahakama FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Makahakama Foundation to present 'Money In, Money Out: Basics for Financial Clarity' webinar, with opportunity for participants to get matched with a professional bookkeeper for 4 months at no cost and qualify for a $500 grant.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• America's SBDC (Small Business Development Centers): America's SBDC network is an SBA-funded nationwide system providing free business consulting, training, and resources to small businesses. It is a direct public-sector comparator to TAP's pro bono consulting and educational programs.
• Tory Burch Foundation: The Tory Burch Foundation runs the Founders Program providing education, mentorship, and access to capital for women entrepreneurs. It is comparable to TAP in its targeted support of under-resourced, often minority women-owned small businesses.
• SCORE: SCORE is the largest volunteer business mentoring network in the US, offering free 1:1 mentoring, workshops, and webinars to small business owners. It is the closest direct peer to TAP given its volunteer-driven, pro bono consulting model serving similar SMB and entrepreneur segments.
• Accion: Accion is a global nonprofit providing financial services, capital, and advisory support to small business owners excluded from traditional finance. It is comparable to TAP in combining financial education/coaching with outreach to under-resourced entrepreneurs.
• SBA Women's Business Centers: SBA Women's Business Centers deliver training, mentoring, and consulting tailored to women entrepreneurs. They overlap directly with TAP's emphasis on minority and women-owned businesses and its coaching-based service model.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a multi-week education and coaching program for underserved small business owners, often combined with access to capital. It mirrors TAP's focus on under-resourced entrepreneurs and structured cohort-based business education.
• Opportunity Finance Network (CDFI Network): Opportunity Finance Network is the national association of CDFIs providing capital, coaching, and financial services to underserved small businesses. It is a relevant peer given TAP's mission overlap with financial inclusion and the under-resourced entrepreneur segment.

Emerging players

• Hello Alice: Hello Alice is a digital platform providing education, resources, and grant programs to small business owners. It is comparable as a tech-enabled peer providing free business education and capital access to similar SMB segments.

Broad incumbents

• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA): MBDA is a federal agency operating Business Centers that provide consulting, access to capital, and contracting opportunities to minority-owned businesses. It overlaps with TAP's minority-owned business focus at larger, federally funded scale.
• Kauffman Foundation: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a major philanthropy focused on entrepreneurship education and research. It is comparable as a larger, well-capitalized funder and thought leader in the small business and entrepreneurship support ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TAPthepotential
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theaccelerationproject
• Facebookfacebook.com/The-Acceleration-Project-351181685004354
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-acceleration-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/theaccelerationproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 The Acceleration Project