The D2D Story

Doorways to Dreams ("D2D") emerged from research conducted in the late 1990s by then Harvard Business School professor Peter Tufano. In his study of financial innovation, Professor Tufano noted an emerging policy trend to provide structured incentives for saving and asset building by lower-income families.  But Tufano recognized that creating broad based wealth building opportunities for working families would require innovation, such as a substantial reduction in the cost to serve these customers, imaginative new products delivered in creative ways, subtle changes in public policy and new tools to help consumers find their way.  

Such innovation was not likely to occur in the private sector, where conventional wisdom holds that no money can be made serving poorer Americans.  Yet traditional non-profit agencies often lack the resources and experience to foster new financial products and innovations.  Operating at the intersection of the private, non-profit and public sectors, D2D incubates and promotes practical applications with social impact that might otherwise lack a champion to nurture and bring them to market. 

D2D was incorporated as a 501(c)3, non-for-profit organization in 2000. The D2D office has recently moved to 114 Western Avenue in the Allston, MA neighborhood across from Harvard's recently opened Innovation Lab and home to Harvard Business School. D2D's board, staff and business partners have deep experience in financial services, legal and regulatory matters, technology, and community services (including asset building programs).