Dream Makers Founder Grant
Black women-owned businesses have been driving business formation nationwide over the last few years - representing 14.8% of all women owned businesses, and generating $98.3 billion in revenue. Despite this growth, Black entrepreneurs continue to face systemic barriers when it comes to accessing funding to grow their businesses. At the end of 2022, Black startup founders received just $264 million of $33.6 billion in capital allocated - less than 1%.
For more than three years, the Fifteen Percent Pledge has been working alongside major corporations to re-evaluate their organizational structures, funding streams, and supply chains, in order to create greater equity for Black businesses, and close the racial wealth gap.
To date, 29 companies have taken the Pledge, signing multi-year contractual commitments and helping create the potential to shift more than $14B to Black businesses. Despite this progress, there is still so much work to do to ensure an inclusive economy and an equitable future for Black entrepreneurs.
At the Pledge, we believe that adequate access to capital lies at the heart of closing the racial wealth gap. That is why we are excited to be partnering with the Dream Makers Founder Grant, a $1 million grant fund established by Nancy Twine to drive a dedicated effort to support female entrepreneurs, particularly spotlighting the talents and innovations of Black and BIPOC founders. As part of the two year commitment, the Pledge will award $125,000 annually, distributing $25,000 grants to five business owners each year.
As part of this grant, we hope to give underrepresented, female entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their business, and continue our mission of building an ecosystem where more businesses can thrive.
Eligibility Criteria
- Business MUST be a member of the Fifteen Percent Pledge's Business Equity Community
- In order to be eligible businesses must sign up and submit full business details, any missing business data will render applicant ineligible
- Business must have an annual revenue of at least $100K and no greater than $1 million
- Business must have between 2-10 employees, including the founder.
- Business fosters inclusivity and showcases community impact by pushing against systemic infrastructures that have not prioritized unique consumer needs
- Business must sell a product or good.
- Business must have at least 51% female ownership.
- Business must sell a CPG product that is NOT in the Beauty Category: skincare, makeup, hair care, body care, nail care, fragrance, wellness products such as supplements, ingestibles, and nutritional powders
- Winning businesses must use grant dollars only towards marketing, manufacturing, R&D
- Businesses must be based in the United States.
- Please see terms and conditions for full details.
Application Process + Timeline
Applicants must create, update, or complete their business profile in our Business Equity Community in order to be eligible for this grant. You can find the sign up link in the top right hand corner of our site, click “join our community” and follow the prompts. Once you have completed your profile, that’s it! You have successfully applied for the grant. Please be sure to add your correct financial information and semi-finalists will be required to share proof of revenue. If you are selected as a semi-finalist our team will reach out to you for further business information.
March 25th
Application opens
Application opens
April 30th
Application closes
Application closes
August 2024
Finalists announced
Finalists announced
Frequently Asked Questions
To provide emerging businesses with no-strings-attached access to capital.
- Any registered member of the Fifteen Percent Pledge Business Equity Community.
- In order to be eligible businesses must sign up and submit full business details, any missing business data will render applicant ineligible
- Business must have an annual revenue of at least $100K and no greater than $1 million
- Business must have between 2-10 employees, including the founder.
- Business fosters inclusivity and showcases community impact by pushing against systemic infrastructures that have not prioritized unique consumer needs
- Business must sell a product or good.
- Business must have at least 51% female ownership
- Business must sell a CPG product that is NOT in the Beauty Category:
skincare,
makeup,
hair care,
body care,
fragrance,
nail care,
wellness products such as supplements, ingestibles, and nutritional powders - Winning businesses must use grant dollars only towards marketing, manufacturing, R&D
- Businesses must be based in the United States.
- Please see terms and conditions for full details.
Business must only use grant dollars towards marketing, manufacturing and R&D
- Sign up to be a member of the Fifteen Percent Pledge Business Equity Community. You can join by clicking "join our community" in the top right corner of our homepage.
- If already a member, ensure your account is updated as there have been new fields added in 2024
- Please note, only businesses that have completed profiles, with no missing data will be eligible to receive this grant.
Yes, applications will close at 11:59PM EST on April 30th.
Winners will be announced in August, though we may reach out before then to request additional information.
Finalists will be notified through the main contact email provided in the Business Equity Community profile.
The winner will receive a cash award. Please note grants are paid out in quarterly disbursements.
Grant funds will be disbursed quarterly after winners are notified.
No.
We do not accept product samples during the call for applications.
The information you provide will be available to the Fifteen Percent Pledge team and members of the review committee only. Please note that all committee members have signed a non-disclosure agreement.
Yes, but your business must be incorporated and legally operating in the United States of America.
It may be subject to local taxation. Payment of all and any taxes in relation to the cash award is the sole responsibility of the award winner.
English.
We will not accept any applications after the deadline.
Please email brands@15pp.org with a short description and screenshot of your issue.
Due to the overwhelming amount of applications we receive, our team does not have the capacity to provide feedback on individual applications.
If selected as a finalist, we will share a form to upload attachments and videos.
Given the size of this award, it’s important that the winner has a business idea that has demonstrated success in the market.
No, all businesses must produce and sell a physical product.
Donations
Are you are a founder, venture capitalist, corporate employee, or other leader who wants to invest or contribute to funding a grant for a Black business owner?
Individuals can also donate here to support the Pledge's general operations and long-term organizational growth.
About the Fifteen Percent Pledge
The Fifteen Percent Pledge is a racial equity and economic justice non-profit organization addressing the inequities that exist throughout the American consumer economy and working towards closing the racial wealth gap. In recognition that Black people in the U.S. comprise nearly 15% of the population, the Fifteen Percent Pledge calls on major retailers and corporations to commit a minimum of 15% of their shelf space, sales revenue, and annual spend to support Black-owned businesses. In 2022, the Pledge was the recipient of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Company of the Year Award.
About the Dream Makers Founder Grant
The Dream Makers Founder Grant is a $1 Million grant fund that has been established by Nancy R. Twine to drive a dedicated effort to support female entrepreneurs, particularly spotlighting the talents and innovations of Black and BIPOC founders in the consumer goods industry. This grant aims to bridge the resource gap and help emerging businesses flourish, reach new audiences, and achieve their full potential.