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Achieva Family Trust was established in 1998, born from conversations among Achieva leaders who shared a common concern: families wanted to protect their loved ones’ futures.

The challenge was clear. Many individuals with disabilities rely on Medicaid or Social Security, but even modest savings or inheritance can jeopardize those essential benefits. At the same time, professional money management and estate planning were often out of reach for families with limited resources.

Achieva Family Trust was created to change that — offering a pathway to financial stability without sacrificing access to critical supports.

Today, the organization is one of the largest and most respected nonprofit corporate fiduciaries for special needs trusts in Pennsylvania, utilizing highly regarded investment managers and operating as part of the Achieva family of organizations.

For families like Ava and her mom, Lauren, the Trust’s impact is deeply personal.

“It’s been a pretty amazing journey,” Lauren said. “Achieva Family Trust has been there with us for over 10 years already. They help us with so many pivotal moments.”

Those moments include experiences many families dream of, but worry may never be possible.

“We brought her to Disney, we have a beautiful [accessible] home for her, and none of that would be possible without Achieva Family Trust,” Lauren shared. “It eases my mind knowing that her finances are managed and her taxes are taken care of through an attorney. It takes so much burden off of me.”

Accessibility is at the heart of Achieva Family Trust’s mission. Anyone with a disability can participate in the pooled trust with as little as $500, making it attainable for families who might otherwise be excluded from traditional trust services.

Trust administrators have backgrounds in social services, allowing them to navigate available resources and respond to beneficiaries’ real-world needs. The Trust also offers benefits counseling, helping people make informed decisions about work and income without fear of losing essential benefits.

“It’s amazing to see how we’ve been able to change the lives of our trust beneficiaries,” said Amy Dolan Strano, President of Achieva Family Trust. “Protecting their government benefits, protecting the funds they have in a trust, and using those funds to enhance their lives.”

Achieva Family Trust offers three types of low-fee special needs trusts — Pooled Trusts, Payback Trusts, and Third Party Trusts — all designed to protect assets while allowing beneficiaries to make life-enhancing purchases such as medical care, clothing, and transportation.

For thousands of families, Achieva Family Trust is more than financial management:  it’s peace of mind, independence, and the ability to live a full life – today and in the future.