Michael Schlein Appointed Chair of the Board at Accion Opportunity Fund
San Jose, CA – August 18, 2025 – Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF), a leading nonprofit lender and advocate for underserved small businesses in the United States, is proud to announce the appointment of Michael Schlein as Chair of its Board of Directors.
Michael joined the organization’s Board in 2020 following the combination of Opportunity Fund and the Accion U.S. Network—a transformational merger of two nonprofits with decades of experience expanding credit and business advising for small business owners. The combination unlocked new capacity and ambition, transforming AOF into a national force for inclusive finance—one that delivers greater impact for small businesses and drives innovation across the industry.
As Board Chair, Michael will help guide AOF into its next chapter: one focused on innovation, scale, and system-level change to advance financial inclusion in the US.
“Michael has long been a champion for inclusive finance globally,” said Luz Urrutia, CEO of Accion Opportunity Fund. “He has been a vital supporter and partner in AOF’s evolution, and now, as Board Chair, he will help us evolve into our next phase—a scalable, financially self-sufficient, mission-driven organization for underserved small business owners across the country.”
Michael Schlein has served as President and CEO of global nonprofit Accion since 2009, where he has helped build and invest in inclusive, technology-enabled financial services that reach hundreds of millions of people globally. His background spans global finance, policy, and development, with prior leadership roles at Citigroup, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and New York City government.
“I’m excited to take on this role at such an important moment in AOF’s journey,” said Michael Schlein. “This organization was born from a bold merger and now stands as a national leader in lending and learning for underserved small businesses. Across the US, demand for AOF’s services remains high, creating a huge opportunity to innovate and scale responsible financial services that enable underserved small businesses to benefit from the digital economy.”
About Accion Opportunity Fund
Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) is committed to advancing economic mobility for underserved small businesses and low-income communities through affordable capital, knowledge resources, networks, and policy. For more information, please visit aofund.org.
About Accion
Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy for the nearly two billion people who are failed by the global financial system. We develop and scale responsible digital financial solutions for small business owners, smallholder farmers, and women, so they can make informed decisions and improve their lives. Through targeted investment strategies, advisory solutions, and expert thought leadership, we work with local partners to develop and scale cheaper, more accessible, and customer-friendly financial solutions. Since 1961, Accion has helped build 285 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 77 countries, reaching 478 million people. More at accion.org.
Media Contact:
Accion Opportunity Fund
media@aofund.org
Accion
Thessa Mooij
tmooij@accion.org
Phone: +1.917.631.2518
