Black women business owners are breaking barriers with the aid of grants.
There are few government grants specifically for black women who want to succeed in the business world. However, there are grants to be found offered by nonprofit organizations and foundations. While some of these programs are not solely for the advancement of black women, they do target members of minority groups and support the advancement of their business endeavors through continuing education. These grants are provided to aid black women to enter professional fields where they have been underrepresented in the past.
American Association of University Women
For 2009-2010, the AAUW provided 48 career development grants with a large percentage of them going to minority women. The association awarded around a total of $500,000 among winners. These grants are intended for adult women who hold a bachelor’s degree and want to re-enter the work force, change careers or advance their business in the fields of education, public health or international business. The association gives consideration to women of color for this grant.
AAUW
Career Development Grant
301 ACT Drive
Iowa City, IA 52253
785-7800-900
aauw.org
Thurgood Marshall College Fund Student Entrepreneur Grant
The TMCF grant is open to black women who attend one of the 47 historical black colleges or 6 black law schools in the United States. The grant is awarded to black business entrepreneurs. In 2010, each winner was gifted $10,000 in grant money to start a business.
TMCF
90 Maiden Lane, Suite 2203
New York, NY 10028
212-573-8888
thurgoodmarshallfund.net
Raise the Nation
Raise the Nation awards scholarships and grants to minority women who are also single parents to continue their education. The grant is to be used to improve the living conditions of minority women by giving them the ability to afford a college degree and advance their careers. The grant money is to be used to pay for tuition, books, dependent care and living expenses.
Raise the Nation
PO Box 9058
Albuquerque, NM 86188
505-275-1302
raisethenation.com
Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation
AKA is one of the oldest sororities for black women in America. Their educational foundation awards grants to more than 100 career projects each year. Qualifying for funding include education, business, mentoring and research. Candidates must be enrolled in a college degree program, have a 3.0 GPA and demonstrate community service experience. Applicants can download an application from the AKA website. Deadline for applications is August 15.
AKA
5655 S. Stony Island
Chicago, IL 60736
akaeaf.org
United Negro College Fund Social Entrepreneurship
The UNCF award is a nontraditional grant used to give recent college graduates full-time leadership positions with nonprofit organizations rather than cash money. Working with New Sector Alliance, the fund offers employment with high consideration targeted at black women with 10 years of business experience. This program provides minority participants with leadership and management experience and opportunities to network with leading corporations to give them the tools to develop and open their own businesses. Deadline for applications is April 9.
UNCF
8210 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive
PO Box 10434
Fairfax, VA 22131
uncf.org
Tags: black women, minority women, Raise Nation, advance their, black women, college degree, College Fund