Ripple Commits $25M to Boost American Small Businesses and Veteran Career Success
SAN FRANCISCO – Ripple, a financial technology company that offers crypto solutions for businesses, today announced a $25 million commitment to leading nonprofits Accion Opportunity Fund and Hire Heroes USA. This funding, delivered in Ripple USD (RLUSD), Ripple’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, will expand access to capital for underserved small business owners and create career pathways for veterans and military spouses. It will also equip entrepreneurs with digital payment tools so communities across the U.S. can thrive in today’s rapidly evolving economy. This marks Ripple’s second $25 million donation this year, underscoring the company’s ongoing commitment to giving back and expanding economic opportunity.
Small businesses employ nearly half of the American workforce and generate 43.5% of the nation’s GDP, yet many face significant barriers to accessing the capital they need to grow. At the same time, of the 16 million veterans currently living in the United States, roughly 200,000 transition to civilian life each year, with 80% doing so without employment lined up. This gap between military service and civilian career opportunities, coupled with persistent funding challenges for entrepreneurs, underscores the urgent need for targeted resources, training, and support that Ripple will help deliver in partnership with Accion Opportunity Fund and Hire Heroes USA.
“Small businesses and veterans are two of the most powerful engines of American progress, yet both face barriers that limit their full economic impact,” said Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple. “Through our $25 million commitment to Accion Opportunity Fund and Hire Heroes USA, we’re delivering funding, training, and the resources required to help these communities grow, compete, and lead in the next chapter of our digital economy.”
Ripple and its partners will roll out a series of high-impact initiatives designed to expand access to capital and create new career pathways. Powered by Accion Opportunity Fund, Ripple’s grant is expected to generate $125 million in lending impact for small businesses, and the new Ripple Digital Leap Forward accelerator program will equip underserved entrepreneurs across the U.S. with training and $500,000 in immediate funding. In partnership with Ripple, Hire Heroes USA expects to generate 14,000 employment opportunities for veterans and military spouses, and launch a new Fintech Pathways program to build careers in financial technology, entailing over $900 million in annual economic impact. Combined, these partnerships are estimated to create $1 billion in total impact.
“Ripple’s investment is a powerful affirmation of our mission to ensure veterans and military spouses never have to face the civilian workforce alone,” said Ross Dickman, CEO of Hire Heroes USA. “Through this partnership, Hire Heroes USA will expand access to personalized career coaching and introduce initiatives that create pathways into emerging fields like financial technology while also strengthening veteran-owned businesses—helping thousands achieve lasting career success and economic stability.”
Accion Opportunity Fund and Hire Heroes USA will receive the $25 million commitment in RLUSD through The Giving Block’s cryptocurrency donations platform with support from digital asset trading venue Uphold, providing both nonprofits with hands-on experience managing digital wallets on exchanges and using crypto. Leveraging stablecoins enables faster, lower-cost, and more transparent disbursement of funds, ensuring resources reach small business owners, veterans, and military spouses without the delays of traditional payment systems.
“Our partnership with Ripple goes beyond philanthropy—it’s a bold investment in AOF so that we can provide a larger number of small businesses with affordable capital, coaching, and networks to help them improve financial well-being, grow, and succeed,” said Luz Urrutia, President and CEO of Accion Opportunity Fund. “This investment will also enable AOF to accelerate the development of its digitization and educational programs for small businesses, creating a ripple effect of innovation and jobs within communities nationwide.”
This builds on Ripple’s May $25 million RLUSD donation to the DonorsChoose and Teach For America, reinforcing the growing role of stablecoins in nonprofit operations. To date, Ripple’s commitment to education has helped DonorsChoose and Teach For America fund over 30,000 classroom projects in 14,000 public schools, and provide stipends to 2,500 new teachers across all 50 states. The just announced Ripple STEM Innovation Challenge with DonorsChoose is matching $4 million in donations to STEM classroom projects and will award five winning teachers a $100,000 grant for their schools, totalling $4.5 million to expand access to STEM resources and empower educators nationwide.
About Ripple
Ripple is a financial technology company that offers crypto solutions for businesses. Ripple Payments uses blockchain to make cross-border payments faster, more transparent, and widely accessible. Ripple Custody offers customers a secure way to store and manage digital assets. Ripple’s stablecoin (RLUSD) and the cryptocurrency, XRP, are leveraged across these solutions to make traditional finance more efficient and enable new ways to utilize digital assets.
About Accion Opportunity Fund
As a leading national nonprofit small business lender, 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 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.
About HireHeroes USA
Hire Heroes USA is a national nonprofit that empowers U.S. service members, veterans, and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce. For 20 years, we have provided personalized career coaching, professional resumes, mentoring, workshops, career fairs, and job board access—services that have helped more than 110,000 clients secure meaningful employment. Recognized with a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, Hire Heroes USA delivers all services at no cost, funded through public donations and federal and private grants.
