This July, Divas of Colour has dedicated their efforts to curating funding opportunities to help you advance your ideas. Whether you’re non-profit organisation, or more, these funding opportunities provide a helpful path to a diverse range of funding options.
Important Note: Divas of Colour is not affiliated with any of the funding organisations mentioned in this guide. However, we’re here to equip you with the knowledge and resources needed to reach out and present a compelling case for your cause.
Micro grants are open to Caribbean and African women + women of African and Caribbean descent, who are entrepreneurs, creatives and non-profit founders, based in their home countries or anywhere around the world. Applicants must demonstrate that their projects are positively impacting culture and community. Funding of $500. Applications due in June 2024.
The free service offers lessons in finance, marketing, procurement and operations, along with tips from founders. Apply here:
The Zendesk Impact Awards are open to registered nonprofit organizations that would like to use Zendesk software to serve their beneficiary communities and help organizations scale their service response. Funding up to $50,000. Apply by 8/15/2024
To help mothers take the first step toward entrepreneurship, ZenBusiness is covering business formation costs and will help entrepreneurs form an LCC, track expenses, secure a business name, and more. Apply here:
You must be a Black-owned business with a brick-and-mortar shop within the United States and less than 20 employees. If selected for the program, you must join Wish Local (which is free). Grants for up to $2000. Apply here
She’s Connected by AT&T is open to U.S.-based small-businesses that are women-owned and have fewer than 51 employees. The grand prize winner will receive a $50,000 grant and a year of free AT&T service alongside a new device. Four runner-up businesses will receive $5,000 microgrants. Funding up to $50,000. Apply by June 10
The Next 1B program from McKinsey is designed to support Black-owned brands in the United States. Eligible businesses are typically more than one year in maturity with anywhere from $250k-$5M in annual revenue, and sells consumer products. Apply here:
Must be a women-owned or led business that ss a social enterprise that is intentional about supporting women’s economic empowerment, climate resilience, or the intersection of both and have at least $20K in income. Apply by 8/15/2024
The Josephine Collective looks at deals on a rolling basis, and founders can apply to be considered at any time. Goal is to have the entire process take no more than 3 weeks from presentation to wire. They invest anywhere from $10K to $100K depending on the Collective’s interest. JC prefers early-stage tech-enabled businesses. Companies must be for-profit, US-domiciled, and have an expectation of becoming large-scale businesses. “Lifestyle” businesses, single location businesses with no current plans to scale, and non-profits will not be considered. Apply here:
Idea Cafe, an online resource center for women-owned businesses, has been awarding Idea Cafe Small Business Grants of $1,000 to women entrepreneurs who either own a business currently or want to start their own business. Applications are now being taken for women who would like to apply for the grant money. (no fee but must sign up to be part of Idea Cafe) Apply here:
The Gucci North America Changemakers Impact Fund awards grant funding to community-based 501(c)(3) organizations across the select Changemakers cities. Gucci Changemakers North American focus cities include Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington, DC. Funding for $50,000. Apply by 9/30/2024
The program offers ten selected businesses an opportunity to receive comprehensive consulting on Strategy, Marketing, Operations, and Technology— worth $25,000, and a promotional technology bundle to help with implementation. Apply here