Circle Foundation Announces Inaugural CDFI Grants to Accion Opportunity Fund and Pacific Community Ventures

New funding backs AI-powered tools that expand access to capital for small businesses left behind by traditional lenders‍

NEW YORK - [September 22, 2026] - Circle Foundation, a philanthropic initiative supported by Circle Internet Group, Inc.'s (NYSE: CRCL) 1% equity commitment, today announced its first round of domestic grants, directed to Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) and Pacific Community Ventures (PCV) - two of the nation's leading Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that are using AI and other technology to dramatically improve outcomes. CDFIs are mission-driven lenders that fill critical gaps left by traditional finance, giving small business owners access to the capital, tools, and support they need to grow. The announcement was made at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York City.

The CDFI grants represent Circle Foundation's inaugural domestic philanthropic donations and reflect its theory of change: the most scalable interventions in financial inclusion are investments in the systems, platforms, and data infrastructure that allow mission-driven lenders to reach further and prove their impact more clearly. The Foundation also supports global humanitarian finance work, including support for the UN Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions (DHoTS), developed through donations to UNHCR and UNDP to help fund technological advancements in cross-border aid delivery.

Accion Opportunity Fund: Making the Path to Capital Visible

Circle Foundation's grant to Accion Opportunity Fund supports Credit Compass 2.0, a next-generation tool that seamlessly connects loan applicants with highly personalized financial education based on information from their application. The project addresses one of the biggest barriers small business owners face: not knowing where they stand or what steps to take next.

Credit Compass 2.0 has the potential to make a lasting difference in the long-term success of prospective small business borrowers. Importantly, applicants who aren't yet ready for a loan receive a plain-language explanation of why, along with a personalized roadmap to help them get there. AOF's own data shows the power of this approach: applicants who engage with its educational resources are 84% more likely to qualify for a loan.

Pacific Community Ventures: Building Shared Infrastructure for the CDFI Sector

Circle Foundation's grant to Pacific Community Ventures supports the Radiant Data Hub, a first-of-its-kind AI-enabled data infrastructure platform built for community lenders. The Hub provides data and AI governance, predictive modeling, and impact storytelling tools, capabilities that allow CDFIs to operate with the analytical sophistication of institutions three times their size. PCV is also launching the first-ever CDFI industry Data Commons in 2026: a shared benchmarking and analytics platform that will let community lenders compare performance, sharpen their models, and make a more compelling case to funders and policymakers.

"At Circle Foundation, we're looking for opportunities that don't just help one borrower, but rather improve the entire ecosystem," said Elisabeth Carpenter, Chief Strategic Engagement Officer, Circle Internet Group, and Founding Chair, Circle Foundation. "Accion Opportunity Fund and Pacific Community Ventures are building exactly that kind of AI-powered infrastructure. Credit Compass 2.0 gives small business owners a real roadmap to capital, and the Radiant Data Hub gives community lenders the tools to find, fund, and prove impact at scale."

"Access to capital only matters if small business owners can reach it, and too many still can't," said Luz Urrutia, CEO, Accion Opportunity Fund. "Credit Compass 2.0 gives them a clear, honest picture of where they stand and a real path forward. Circle Foundation's donation lets us build that at scale, and it's exactly the kind of assistance that closes the gap between aspiration and access."

"Technology innovations should increasingly help remove barriers between entrepreneurs and the capital they need, not create new ones," said Bulbul Gupta, President and CEO, Pacific Community Ventures. "With Circle Foundation's support, Pacific Community Ventures is expanding our ethical AI, data analytics, and data-driven deep impact work to support the field of CDFIs to accelerate access to affordable capital to underserved small business owners nationwide, and building shared tools to strengthen our impact and communities' resilience."

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About Circle Foundation

In 2025, Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE:CRCL) established Circle Foundation, a donor-advised fund managed by Fidelity Charitable, to advance financial resilience and inclusion through strategic grantmaking and systems-level investments. Seeded by Circle's Pledge 1% equity commitment, Circle Foundation channels Circle's financial resources, expertise, and partnerships toward creating lasting economic impact.

About Accion Opportunity Fund

As a leading national nonprofit small business lender and Treasury Department-certified CDFI, Accion Opportunity Fund provides affordable loans, free business advising, educational resources, and support networks to fuel long-term success. More than a lender, the organization champions underserved small business owners who are ready to grow, thrive, and build a better future. For over 30 years, Accion Opportunity Fund has expanded access to economic opportunity by creating pathways to both financial and knowledge capital. For more information, visit aofund.org.

About Pacific Community Ventures

Pacific Community Ventures is a nonprofit CDFI, impact investor, and policy innovator dedicated to building an economy that works for everyone. PCV makes loans to small businesses, provides free business mentorship, and conducts research on what makes impact investing work for low-income workers and communities. For more information, visit pacificcommunityventures.org.

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