Programs & Resources

At Accompany Capital we create paths to success and self-sufficiency for immigrants & refugees – as well as other fellow New Yorkers. We don’t just support our clients with affordable loans, we continue to support them with:

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

If you are a woman with her own small business, we help you navigate some of the special challenges that entrepreneurial women face by offering you targeted loans, tools, and training, as well as networking and support from other New York businesswomen who have shared, and understand, your journey.

Click here to read our report on women’s entrepreneurship in New York City.

Click here to see the 12 finalists for our 2023 Pitch Fest Business Competition.

Show more

Through our partnership with organizations like New York Women in Business, we sponsor and participate in events that highlight women entrepreneurs’ stories and bring together women who are starting, building, or expanding business to learn from each other’s journeys.

Women who are not our clients are also welcome to take advantage of the many workshops we offer on every phase of entrepreneurship, from starting a business, to marketing it successfully and take it to the next level.

We have also created a speaker bureau – AC Voices – highlighting Accompany Capital clients who have successfully navigated the very diverse challenges they have faced and can tell the story compellingly at meetings, conferences, and panels to uplift other women – and men – on their journeys. Contact us to learn more about this program.


Accompany Capital works closely with Women’s Enterprise Action Loan Fund (WEALF) to benefit from referring our clients to WEALF for mentoring while WEALF refers their clients to us for larger loans. WEALF was founded 7 years ago to help women founders and their businesses become financially self-sufficient through interest-free loans of up to $10,000 and one-on-one mentoring from experienced businesswomen to maximize the impact of the loan. Since then, WEALF has been proving –  with each loan they grant – that zip code & ethnicity are no barriers to success for women entrepreneurs.

Show less

Refugee IDA Savings Program

For over 20 years, Accompany Capital has been administering a specialized savings program for refugees & individuals with approved asylum-status who successfully save money and complete a financial literacy course. Individual Development Account (IDA) programs, funded by The Office of Refugee Resettlement, provide matched savings accounts designed to help refugees save for a specific purpose.

 

Accompany Capital currently offers two IDA Programs:

 

  • For Refugees, Asylees, Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees, and Iraqi SIVs, among others:
    • Click here to learn more. Translated materials will be made available.
    • Click here to download an application in English.

 

  • For Afghan Asylees, Parolees, and SIVs who entered the US after July 31, 2021:

 

For more information about Accompany Capital’s IDA Programs, please see below or contact Francess Smith at [email protected] or at 212-898-7850.

 

Show more

Achieving Savings Goals

The IDA program is a specialized savings program for refugees and asylees who complete a financial literacy course and save money in a targeted account. The program matches each dollar you have saved with a dollar in grant money.

You still have control over the money you have saved, while the “matching grant” is kept in a separate account that can only be used for down payments, investment in your small business, or your education. Eligible saving goals include microenterprise, vocational training, recertification, further education, and homeownership.

Rental assistance is also available specifically for Afghan asylees, parolees, and SIVs who entered the U.S. after July 2021.

Financial Literacy Seminars

Accompany Capital’s seminars help ensure that you are prepared for the financial responsibilities of entrepreneurship, home ownership, continuing education or vocational training. All classes are free and held at our offices. Topics include:

  • Budgeting
  • Goal setting
  • Managing credit
  • Investment and saving
  • The home-buying process
  • Starting a business

FAQs

Are the matching funds deposited into my account?

No. The matched money is kept in a separate, Accompany Capital-controlled account. When you are ready to use your IDA savings to buy your first home, or begin a business, the matching funds plus your savings are paid directly by Accompany Capital to the bank you are working with. You have no access to the matching funds at any time.

Will I be taxed on the matching funds?

No. You will not be taxed on the matched income.  However, you will be taxed on any interest earned in your individual savings account.

What if I am not able to use my IDA money as I had originally planned?

You may keep the money in your IDA account for up to 12 months after completing the program until you are ready to use it for the specified purpose. After 12 months, your savings will be automatically returned to you, and your matching funds will be withdrawn by Accompany Capital.

What if I change my mind? For example, what if I get a full-time job and decide not to start my own business?

You will get back the money you saved but lose any matching funds.

This sounds too good to be true. How is it possible?

Most people have never heard of the Individual Savings Account (IDA) program and are surprised to learn that they can be rewarded for saving money.

IDA was designed by the Federal government to encourage low-income individuals and families to get into the habit of saving money. The hope is that by learning about money management, then using their own talents and energies to make and save money, people will become self-sufficient faster.

The U.S. government believes this goal of self-sufficiency is so important that it is willing to reward those who attend money management classes, make a savings goal, stick to their savings plan, and achieve their savings goal.  The government believes that those who successfully complete the IDA program will have the skills needed to be more financially successful, then pay enough additional taxes, so that the program will pay for itself.

For more information on IDAs, visit Prosperity Now’s website, formerly The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED).

Can anyone get an IDA?

IDAs are designed for low-income families and individuals, as defined by the federal government. To qualify for an IDA through Accompany Capital, you must be a refugee, asylee, parolee, or SIV.

I need a new car. Can I use an IDA to buy one?

No. You can only use IDA to purchase a first home, further your education, or fund a business. If you own a car or taxi service, you may use the IDA to purchase a vehicle for that business.

For more information, contact:

Francess Smith, Asset Development Program Specialist
[email protected]
212-898-7850

For information about IDA resources for refugees residing outside of New York City please click here.

Show less

Term Life and AD&D Insurance

Accompany Capital—in partnership with Resilient—is proud to be among the first CDFIs in the country to provide its clients with insurance products that help them protect their families’ finances while they are repaying their loans and for which the cost is completely covered by Accompany Capital. Clients who have a loan of over $10,000 are eligible to receive $25,000 of LifeGuard Term Life insurance coverage and $25,000 of LifeGuard AD&D (accidental death and dismemberment) coverage; clients with loans of $10,000 and under will receive $10,000 of LifeGuard Term Life insurance coverage and $10,000 of LifeGuard AD&D coverage.

To qualify for this pilot program, you must be a new or returning Accompany Capital client, a resident of New York State, and 18-64 years old.

Show more

LifeGuard Insurance Protection for New and Returning Clients

 

Up to $25,000 of LifeGuard Life Insurance and up to $25,000 of AD&D Insurance at no cost to you

 

At Accompany Capital, we understand that supporting financial health goes beyond providing access to low cost, high-quality loans. That’s why—in partnership with Resilient—we are providing our new and returning clients with LifeGuard insurance coverage and covering the cost to help protect you from unplanned financial challenges and support their financial health. Without insurance, the death or critical injury of you or a family member can be financially devastating. But with an Accompany Capital loan, new and returning clients who qualify can receive $25,000 of LifeGuard Term Life insurance and $25,000 of LifeGuard Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance for loans over $10,000, and $10,000 of LifeGuard Term Life and $10,000 of LifeGuard AD&D for loans $10,000 and under, to protect their household from the financial impacts of a serious accident.

 

How to Receive No-Cost LifeGuard Insurance

Step 1: To be eligible you must be:

  • A new or returning Accompany Capital client
  • 18-64 years old.
  • A resident of New York State

Step 2: Sign up for an account after closing your loan, which will allow you to name your beneficiary and receive notifications of your status. You will not be asked any medical questions or need to take any tests.

Step 3: Make your first loan payment. Insurance coverage will become active the following month.

Step 4: Make on-time loan payments every month to keep your coverage active and continue to receive LifeGuard Term Life and AD&D coverage with no additional cost to you for the entire duration of your loan. If you miss payments on your loan, however, you will lose the benefit.

 

LifeGuard Insurance from Accompany Capital and Resilient—where planning for your financial future just got that much easier.

Show less

Leonid Ostrovsky Lending Fellowship

We are pleased to announce the recipient of the first Leonid Ostrovsky Lending Fellowship, a role created in memory of our beloved late colleague who served at Accompany Capital from 1997 to 2023.

Show more

We are very pleased to welcome Ivan Momin, the first recipient of our new Leonid Ostrovsky Lending Fellowship. Ivan is a native New Yorker whose parents are first-generation immigrants from Bangladesh, currently pursuing his Bachelor’s in Finance and Economics at Queens College.

About the Fellowship:

The 12-month fellowship is an early-career opportunity for candidates with an interest in small business lending to immigrants and refugees to receive on-the-job training in leads management, underwriting small business loans, collections, reporting, and community outreach and marketing. The Fellow will also engage in research projects and receive mentoring from senior loan officers.

On-the-job training will include the following key responsibilities:

  • Assisting in the preparation of comprehensive credit memoranda for Loan Committee review based on loan application data and other pertinent information collected from the loan applicant(s) and various sources.
  • Preparing spreadsheets and analyze loan client financial statements and tax returns.
  • Ensuring that all credit memoranda are accurate and complete with proper loan structuring, identify risk analysis and risk mitigation strategies, and adhere to Accompany Capital’s Loan Policies and Procedures.
  • Attending Loan Committee meetings and, as needed, participate in credit discussions with Loan Committee members.

Fellows will be selected based on:

  • Keen interest in small business lending.
  • Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business, finance, or economics.
  • Proficiency in English, both verbal and written.
  • Fluency in a second language, particularly one that is helpful to communities we serve, is highly desirable.
  • Desire to work in a multicultural environment.
  • Interest in technology and how to adopt new systems to increase efficiency.
  • Willingness and ability to travel within New York City to engage in marketing and outreach activities.
  • Authorization to work in the US.

Please email [email protected] or call 212-898-7815 if you have any questions about the fellowship or application process.

 

This Fellowship is named in memory of Accompany Capital’s Chief Lending Officer from 1997 to 2023, who left an indelible mark on the CDFI sector. Leonid’s passion for small business lending to underserved communities inspired us to create an opportunity for early career professionals, or those wishing to make a career change, to learn and gain paid experience. The Leonid Ostrovsky Lending Fellowship will learn how to provide access to capital to immigrant, refugee, and other underserved entrepreneurs, the importance of which he understood as a Ukrainian refugee.

If you’re interested in supporting the Leonid Ostrovsky Lending Internship, please contact Claire Gohorel for more information or donate here.

Show less

Home Buying Programs

At Accompany Capital, we can help you become a first-time home – or apartment – buyer through saving programs which provide financial incentives, advice on saving money for a down payment and closing costs, and seminars about the mortgage process and the benefits & responsibilities of home ownership.

Show more

Saving for a First Home

If you are a low to moderate-income New Yorker, we can help you qualify for one of these government-sponsored savings programs:

  • The HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides a grant up to 6% of a home’s purchase price (or $100,000, whichever is greater) to be used towards down payment and closing costs.
  • The First Home Club Matched Savings Program, which provides incentives for home buyers to open and fund a first home savings account. Qualified individuals can receive $4 for every $1 saved, with a maximum grant of $7,500.

Understanding Home Ownership

Accompany Capital’s home ownership seminars will help you understand the home purchasing process and what is involved in home ownership. The seminars are offered four times a year and fulfill the education requirement for both the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program and the First Home Club Matched Savings Program, including:

  • Understanding mortgages and the mortgage application process
  • Special down payment assistance programs
  • Benefits and responsibilities of home ownership
  • The home inspection process

For more information, contact:

Francess Smith, Manager of IDA Program
[email protected]

Show less

Workshops & Webinars

Our workshops and webinars will guide you through many of the processes and skills you need to make sure your business continues to grow and thrive.

Show more

Upcoming Webinars:

Webinar: ADA and Website Accessibility

Wednesday,  December 11 
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM  

Title III of the American Disability Act mandates that websites, provide equal access to individuals with disabilities. With over 91 million people in the U.S. living with disabilities and a combined disposable income of $500 billion, inaccessible websites risk missing out on a significant market. Additionally, businesses face growing lawsuits, averaging over $25,000 in settlement costs for ADA violations. Compliance is not only mandatory but also a responsible business practice.
Join this webinar to learn:
  • Why website accessibility matters and whom it impacts.
  • The types of disabilities impacted, their related challenges, and the assistive technologies they use
  • Accessibility laws
  • Learn the definition of Accessibility and Barriers to Accessibility.
  • Understand the Accessibility Process and Common Accessibility Issues
Presenter(s): Kim Alfonso, CEO of Results One

REGISTER HERE

For more information, please contact Tshering Gurung at [email protected]  

This workshop is provided in partnership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Wells Fargo.

       


Webinar: Social Media and Accessibility

Thursday,  January 16
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM  

This workshop on social media accessibility will equip you with the skills and knowledge to make your content as inclusive as possible, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can engage with and benefit from your posts. Despite limitations on many social media platforms, there are proactive steps you can take to enhance accessibility. In this workshop, you will learn tips to make your social media content as compliant as possible so everyone can participate.
In this webinar, we will cover:
  • how to create accessibility by platform
  • Understand the language of Inclusive posting
  • how to ensure accessible readability, color, contrast, and font size
  • how to create accessible Descriptions and Alt Text
  • how to create accessible Hashtags
  • how to use Emojis for accessibility
  • how to create accessibility policies
Presenter(s): Kim Alfonso, CEO of Results One

REGISTER HERE

For more information, please contact Tshering Gurung at [email protected]  

This workshop is provided in partnership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Wells Fargo.
       

 


Past Webinars:

Click here to watch our collection of free recorded webinars.

 


Homebuyer Education

**This program will be online until further notice, accessible from any device 24 hours a day, 7 days a week**

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s HomeFirst
Down Payment Assistance Program provides qualified homebuyers with up to $100,000 toward the down
payment or closing costs on a 1-4 family home, a condominium, or a cooperative in one of the five boroughs
of New York City.

The following topics are covered:

  • Steps in the home buying process
  • Preparing for the expenses
  • Financial management of homeownership
  • Post-purchase tips

REGISTER HERE

Discount code: ACCOMPANYCAPITAL50
Eligibility Requirements: Click here

For more information, please contact Francess Smith at (212) 898-7850 or [email protected]

This workshop is put on through the Housing Partnership Development Corporation

Show less

Accompany Capital Marketplace

At Accompany Capital we measure impact by the people whose journeys we have been able to support, as their businesses, their families, and their communities grow and as New York’s economy and culture is enriched by their success.

Here are some of the wonderful small NYC businesses we have helped grow: please click to enjoy their wonderful products and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that makes New York the thriving, creative community it is!

Show more

Buunni Coffee

Offering simple, delicious, natural Ethiopian coffee and blends that allowing the unique flavors of each type of single origin bean to shine through. Many of our Ethiopian coffees are certified fair-trade and organic. Others are sourced from small farms that are committed to responsible practices but cannot afford the costs of certification. All of our Ethiopian coffees come from small-holder farms and farmers cooperatives.

Website

Inca Heritage

Inca Heritage offers beautiful women’s hats, capes, coats, shawls, and dresses as well as fun children’s hats and toys, all made with 100% Premium Baby Alpaca and organic cotton from natural, organic sources, environmentally safe, and 100% free of animal cruelty.

Website

Spadét

Olive oil-based, gentle, all-natural skincare, body care, and hair care products that are safe and effective to combat early signs of aging, allergies, or skin sensitivities, giving you beautiful skin and stronger hair.

Website

Balkan Bites

Balkan Bites is a female and family-owned business that specializes in wholesome Southeast European comfort foods made with premium ingredients and authentic recipes, such as Burek, a portable stuffed phyllo swirl.

Website

Harlem Chocolate Factory

Harlem Chocolate Factory is an artisan chocolate company that strives to convey the cultural experiences of Harlem through their chocolate products, sharing their love for Harlem & Chocolate and bringing diverse voices to the forefront of the chocolate industry. Try their Brownstone Bars and their delicious bonbons and truffles!

Website

The Gilded Grape

The Gilded Grape has a strong focus on local producers, featuring wines from the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley & North Fork- even Brooklyn – and artisanal spirits such as gin, whiskey, single malts, and vodka from New York State craft distilleries, as well as other popular brands and producers.

Website

NaTakallam

Award-winning language learning, translation, interpretation & cultural exchange services, powered by refugee talent & host community members.

Website

Butcher Girls

Butcher Girls Co. is a virtual butcher shop, hand-delivering curated boxes of local, sustainable, and humanely sourced meat and fish as part of a weekly, biweekly or monthly subscription program.

Website

The Bark Shoppe

The Bark Shoppe is a premier pet care facility in Harlem, dedicated to fostering great relationships between pets and their owners. Featuring signature soap-free shampoos for your pet’s coat and sensitive skin; water-based hydrating body sprays infused with natural essences to provide a long-lasting deodorizing scent without sacrificing the natural oils in your pet’s fur; and gentle but effective combs and brushes.

Website
Show less

AC Voices

Accompany Capital is proud to bolster women entrepreneurs with inspiring stories to tell. Some are refugees, others are immigrants; all share their compelling journey towards the American Dream. Having overcome many challenges to establish profitable and growing businesses, hearing about their firsthand knowledge and experiences enrich and empower communities and organizations. The Accompany Capital Voices program features compelling women small business owners who are available for speaking engagements and interviews in many different languages and locations.

Show more

Please contact Claire Gohorel at [email protected] or 212-898-7815 for more information.

Natalia Konovalova

The owner of Le’Bulga Inc., a luxury handbag company, Natalia tells an impressive story of building a successful business from the ground up in the highly competitive fashion industry. After immigrating to the United States in 1995 from Uzbekistan, she graduated from FIT with a degree in Fashion Design. Upon graduation, she worked for various high-end fashion brands, which led to her passion for handbag design.

Le’Bulga handbags have been worn by celebrities and fashion insiders, and have been featured in fashion magazines alongside luxury brands including Burberry and Chanel.

Annabelle Santos

The daughter of Filipino immigrants and the owner of SPAdét, Annabelle tells an inspiring story about leveraging entrepreneurship to solve real-world problems. Using her background in biochemistry, she began experimenting with natural personal care products in 2008 to heal her daughter’s eczema. Once she perfected a formula that worked for her daughter, she founded SPAdét, which is best known for its O’Live Castile Soap – a pure, safe, and environmentally friendly liquid cleanser for sensitive skin.

SPAdét has secured large contracts with educational institutions, medical facilities, child learning centers, and specialty pharmacies.

Alimata Zabsonre

The owner of Alima Hair Braiding in Brooklyn, Alimata tells her moving story about making the best of challenging circumstances – and uplifting other women along the way. A refugee from Burkina Faso who arrived in New York with her husband and children in 2012, she opened two hair braiding salons after putting herself through school.

Alimata’s salons employ eight women from her community. She is also the founder and president of the Association of African Women, a nonprofit networking group for African women entrepreneurs.

Archana Pokhrel

Archana came to the US from Nepal in 2003 and studied chemistry and sociology at Hunter College, graduating in 2010. She worked in sales, marketing, and training at Time Warner and Verizon before becoming the business manager at a Manhattan day spa. She was able to save enough money to open her own business on the Upper East Side in 2018: Lenox Spa and Nails, a spacious day spa specializing in manicures, pedicures, and facial treatments. A loan from Accompany Capital helped finance completion of construction and the purchase of spa equipment. Lenox Spa and Nails has created 11 full-time jobs.

As a member of the Accompany Capital Voices Speakers Bureau – women entrepreneurs who are ambassadors for Accompany Capital and experts in their business sectors – she is available to speak to groups about entrepreneurship.

Marieme Keita

Marieme Keita, who came to New York from the Ivory Coast in 1992, speaks eloquently about work life balance, including making time for the joy her four children bring while still managing employees and a thriving business.

She began work as a hair braider in 1992, later opening her own own storefront braiding salon. Learning by doing, she gained the experience and confidence she needed to open her next business in 2015 – Keita West African Market – and has saved enough to purchase a home for her family as well. Located on a street with extremely high foot traffic in Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn, the Keita West African Market now carries over $200,000 in merchandise and has recently expanded to include Lycamobile and money transfer services as well.

Her goal is to continue to expand and provide the most value she can for her customers, employees, and community while enjoying life and her beloved family as well.

Millie Carbajal

Millie Carbajal started M&M 24HR Daycare when she was 30 years old, a single mom, and a hotel worker. Dissatisfied with the day care choices she found for her young children – particularly for her night shift work – she started researching how to open her own. When she discovered her home didn’t meet state requirements, she found one that did and moved.

The first three years after she opened were hard. She had to cash out her 401k and apply for food stamps to make ends meet while paying for training classes for a Child Development Associate (CDA) degree. She was soon able, however, to open a second location, M&M Preparatory, and then M&M 24HR Daycare, both ow which are affiliated with the New York City’s 3K and Pre-K programs.

Today she serves over 40 families and, in 2019, she and M&M’s 24-hour services were featured in Time Magazine. She now sits on the Board of the UFT as a first Chair, representing child care providers from the Bronx.

Special thanks to the New York Women’s Foundation for supporting this project. Contact us at [email protected] for booking information.

Show less

Immigrant Heritage Week Awards

This year we held our 12th annual Accompany Capital’s Immigrant Heritage Week Awards. Immigrant Heritage Week is a week-long celebration to commemorate April 17, 1907, a day in which over 11,000 people entered through Ellis Island, the largest number in history. Each year, we honor outstanding business owners who demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and leadership. Click to enjoy highlights from this and previous years!

Show more