Business Start-up & Growth

The Outcomes We Seek

  • Increased Access to Capital

    We aim to influence the flow of financial capital to better meet the business growth needs within communities of color.

  • Reformed Procurement Practices

    We aim to accelerate the growth of existing and established businesses owned by people of color by making opportunities to attain contracts with public agencies, anchor institutions and other large entities more accessible.

  • Improved Business Support Systems

    We aim to strengthen the effectiveness, accessibility, and capacity of support networks available for business owners and entrepreneurs of color.

We believe that increasing the number and percent of stable and established firms owned by people of color will lead to the longer-term outcomes of greater income, stronger influence, and wealth creation for these communities, enabling them to more fully participate in the economy.

To achieve these outcomes, we aim to increase the amount of capital that people of color-owned firms can access, as well as explore opportunities to change the racial and gender dynamic of investors. This aspect of our strategy is critical, because despite founders of color having high-potential business models, they are commonly overlooked for growth capital often due to implicit biases and a lack of cultural understanding of their products and potential markets.

We will target anchor institution strategies, corporate initiatives and shifts in government policy that create more opportunities for firms owned by people of color to generate revenue and scale operations. Additionally, we continue to value targeted support systems for people of color that nurture entrepreneurs’ growth through mentors, capital, skill development and information.

Selection Criteria

Improvements to Investing

We will support efforts that change the lens through which investment decisions are made and will explore opportunities to change the racial and gender dynamic of investors by supporting early-stage fund managers of color and funding leadership development opportunities designed to diversify the finance sector.

Inclusive Institutional Change

We will support initiatives that aim to shift the policies that guide procurement within large institutions to be more inclusive.

Professional Development Programs

We will support projects that build professional networks and organizations that help people of color scale their businesses and more fully participate in high-growth sectors.

Business Start-up & Growth

You can see recent Business Start-up & Growth grants below.

And browse all of our Inclusive Economies grants in our database.

 

Year Approved
Organization
Status
Amount
Duration
2024 Community LIFT Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is project support to support the operations of River City Capital; support Loan Loss Reserve; and train Memphis CDCs and POC-owned businesses to create thriving business associations.

Active $360,000 24 months
2024 ICA.Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $400,000 24 months
2024 Didtechnology, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $50,000 12 months
2024 Founders First Community Development Corporation Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this gran is general operating support.

Active $48,000 12 months
2024 Opportunity Finance Network Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $250,000 24 months
2024 Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

The purpose of this grant is to support the Minority Business Accelerator program.

Active $400,000 24 months
2024 Latino Business Action Network Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $440,000 24 months
2024 Revolve Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to provide general program support to Revolve Fund to support its efforts to increase capital access for BIPOC-led businesses and nonprofits.

Active $300,000 18 months
2024 Rosebud Economic Development Corporation Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $250,000 18 months
2024 Pacific Community Ventures, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is for general operating support.

Closed $300,000 12 months
2023 Mission Driven Finance Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to provide general program support for Mission Driven Finance. With this support, MDF will continue to build more accessible investment infrastructure for community-rooted funds and expand access to capital for overlooked and underestimated individuals.

Active $300,000 24 months
2023 Urban Manufacturing Alliance Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $400,000 36 months
2023 Metropolitan Economic Development Association Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $675,000 36 months
2023 Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development Path Created with Sketch.

To support the Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development as it continues two effective programs and creates two new programs aimed at helping entrepreneurs of color start and expand business in growth sectors and attract capital.

Active $370,000 24 months
2023 Inclusive Capital Collective

The purpose of this grant is to advance the strategic objectives of the Inclusive Capital Collective (ICC) as it transitions from an affiliate network of BIPOC fund managers, entrepreneur support organizations, and their allies in practice, to a cooperatively owned entity that will house the products and services it is developing for and with its member-owners, partners, and clients.

Active $300,000 24 months
2023 National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant request is general operating support.

Active $525,000 36 months
2023 Accelerate 500 Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support 1863 Venture’s business development program that seeks to accelerate new majority entrepreneurs from high potential to high growth through coaching, mentoring, online tools, a tracking platform, and fund development. 

Active $600,000 24 months
2023 Black Innovation Alliance Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $450,000 36 months
2023 ICA.Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of the grant is general operating support.

Active $300,000 24 months
2023 Higher Purpose Co Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support. 

Active $380,000 24 months
2023 The Greenlining Institute Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to fund The Greenlining Institute’s support of the POC Small Business Network in East Oakland which will provide capacity building support for local Business Serving Organizations to bolster technical assistance and capital readiness preparation for low- and moderate-income Black-, Latinx-, and immigrant-owned small businesses. Through engaging with small businesses and the small business ecosystem, we will identify needs and priorities, and strengthen small business ownership as a viable pathway to intergenerational wealth building for communities of color.

Active $310,000 24 months
2022 Center For Black Innovation Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support to Center for Black Innovation (formerly Code Fever Miami).

Active $350,000 24 months
2022 CapEQ Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support Path to 15|55 efforts to grow Black businesses and increase wealth in the Black community.

Closed $175,000 12 months
2022 Didtechnology, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $400,000 24 months
2022 Boston Impact Initiative Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is for general operating support. BIIF seeks to expand Integrated Capital practices both locally and nationally to close the racial wealth divide.

Active $500,000 36 months

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You can see recent Business Start-up & Growth grants below.

And browse all of our Inclusive Economies grants in our database.

 

Year Approved
Organization
Status
Amount
Duration
2024 Community LIFT Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is project support to support the operations of River City Capital; support Loan Loss Reserve; and train Memphis CDCs and POC-owned businesses to create thriving business associations.

Active $360,000 24 months
2024 ICA.Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $400,000 24 months
2024 Didtechnology, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $50,000 12 months
2024 Founders First Community Development Corporation Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this gran is general operating support.

Active $48,000 12 months
2024 Opportunity Finance Network Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $250,000 24 months
2024 Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

The purpose of this grant is to support the Minority Business Accelerator program.

Active $400,000 24 months
2024 Latino Business Action Network Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $440,000 24 months
2024 Revolve Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to provide general program support to Revolve Fund to support its efforts to increase capital access for BIPOC-led businesses and nonprofits.

Active $300,000 18 months
2024 Rosebud Economic Development Corporation Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $250,000 18 months
2024 Pacific Community Ventures, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is for general operating support.

Closed $300,000 12 months
2023 Mission Driven Finance Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to provide general program support for Mission Driven Finance. With this support, MDF will continue to build more accessible investment infrastructure for community-rooted funds and expand access to capital for overlooked and underestimated individuals.

Active $300,000 24 months
2023 Urban Manufacturing Alliance Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $400,000 36 months
2023 Metropolitan Economic Development Association Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $675,000 36 months
2023 Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development Path Created with Sketch.

To support the Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development as it continues two effective programs and creates two new programs aimed at helping entrepreneurs of color start and expand business in growth sectors and attract capital.

Active $370,000 24 months
2023 Inclusive Capital Collective

The purpose of this grant is to advance the strategic objectives of the Inclusive Capital Collective (ICC) as it transitions from an affiliate network of BIPOC fund managers, entrepreneur support organizations, and their allies in practice, to a cooperatively owned entity that will house the products and services it is developing for and with its member-owners, partners, and clients.

Active $300,000 24 months
2023 National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant request is general operating support.

Active $525,000 36 months
2023 Accelerate 500 Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support 1863 Venture’s business development program that seeks to accelerate new majority entrepreneurs from high potential to high growth through coaching, mentoring, online tools, a tracking platform, and fund development. 

Active $600,000 24 months
2023 Black Innovation Alliance Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $450,000 36 months
2023 ICA.Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of the grant is general operating support.

Active $300,000 24 months
2023 Higher Purpose Co Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support. 

Active $380,000 24 months
2023 The Greenlining Institute Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to fund The Greenlining Institute’s support of the POC Small Business Network in East Oakland which will provide capacity building support for local Business Serving Organizations to bolster technical assistance and capital readiness preparation for low- and moderate-income Black-, Latinx-, and immigrant-owned small businesses. Through engaging with small businesses and the small business ecosystem, we will identify needs and priorities, and strengthen small business ownership as a viable pathway to intergenerational wealth building for communities of color.

Active $310,000 24 months
2022 Center For Black Innovation Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support to Center for Black Innovation (formerly Code Fever Miami).

Active $350,000 24 months
2022 CapEQ Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support Path to 15|55 efforts to grow Black businesses and increase wealth in the Black community.

Closed $175,000 12 months
2022 Didtechnology, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $400,000 24 months
2022 Boston Impact Initiative Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is for general operating support. BIIF seeks to expand Integrated Capital practices both locally and nationally to close the racial wealth divide.

Active $500,000 36 months