Coalition to Back Black Businesses (CBBB), co-founded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, American Express, and four leading national Black business organizations – announced 491 Black-owned small businesses across 39 states were each awarded a $5,000 grant as part of a multi-year grantmaking and mentorship initiative. The recipients will be eligible to apply for enhancement grants of $25,000, which will be provided to a select number of 2021 grantee recipients in July 2022. The CBBB was formed in September 2020 to address the needs of businesses impacted by the pandemic and support their long-term growth. Since its launch, CBBB has awarded grants to more than 1,000 Black-owned small businesses. “From nationwide supply chain disruptions to worker shortages, Black small business owners are facing new and daunting challenges brought on by the pandemic,” said Carolyn Cawley, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “The strength of our economy depends on the...

This time last year, Black Women Photographers (BWP) was busy launching a global community and database to help Black women get paid for their work. One year later, the platform is celebrating its anniversary with a new fund that’s continuing that mission. Over the last year, founder Polly Irungu has been a vocal advocate encouraging companies to invest in and hire Black women photographers for various projects through her ever-growing digital database. The movement she started disrupted industries in a way that finally made the world wake up to this overlooked group of creatives, but now its revolutionary nature is taking it a step further with a $40,000 grant fund — in partnership with NikonUSA — and an additional $10,000 worth of photography gear. According to Irungu, there will also be an additional $1,250 grant opportunity from Flickr who is also partnering with BWP. “One year ago today, we launched this global community and directory. ? ,” the platform announced on its...

The PSEG Foundation — the philanthropic arm of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. which prioritizes investments in environment, safety, STEM education & workforce development and diversity & inclusion — has announced plans to provide $1 million in grant funding for three esteemed HBCUs to support STEM education. Recipients of this grant funding are Hampton University, Howard University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. According to a press release, PSEG Foundation aims for these grants to diversify the STEM workforce through each university’s respective programs. As a result, the funding will help generate a talent pipeline of underrepresented students to prepare the next generation of Black STEM leaders to create change in fields like environmental science, sustainability and social justice. “HBCUs have a long history of offering an exceptional educational experience while enriching the lives of Black students and families and providing the resources...

As part of its ongoing Black Community Commitment, NIKE, Inc. has found a new partner in the National Urban League (NUL) — alongside Converse and Jordan Brand — where it will donate $1 million to help the organization further its mission to champion Black employment and home ownership. According to an announcement, the NUL has established a strong legacy of helping Black Americans and other underserved communities receive job training, education, workforce development, housing and community development and entrepreneurship to achieve economic independence. “The National Urban League has been championing the elevation of Black lives and empowerment of Black communities for over 110 years,” Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of National Urban League, said in a statement. “With NIKE, Inc.’s investment, we’ll be able to both get more people to work in living wage jobs soon after incarceration and expand homeownership opportunities for Black individuals and families across the United...

Be Nimble Foundation has received a $300,000 grant from Microsoft to launch an upskilling program for Black tech professionals, according to a press release. The foundation is an Indianapolis-based social enterprise helping to build inclusive tech ecosystems. Microsoft awarded Be Nimble Foundation the grant as part of its community skills program, a commitment it made to invest $15 million over three years into 50 nonprofits working to increase skill development and economic opportunities. The program has a focus on accelerating Black-led nonprofits providing digital skills and workforce development to Black communities, a press release states. “Last June, our CEO Satya Nadella committed Microsoft to put its data, technology, and partnerships to work to help improve the lives of Black and African American people across the country,” said Kate Behncken, VP and lead of Microsoft Philanthropies, in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with Be Nimble Foundation, led by and serving Black...

Metro Detroit company Flagstar Bank is continuing its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity in U.S. communities of color by pledging $1 million worth of grants to help small Black, Brown, and Indigenous-owned businesses who have been hit hard by COVID-19. According to a news release , Flagstar Bank has opened applications up to qualifying small businesses now through Nov. 20 for grants valued up to $5,000. “We have a commitment to our communities and to keeping our promises to them,” said Alessandro DiNello, CEO of Flagstar Bank, in a statement . “Reversing decades of systemic inequities is a marathon, and we are in it to the finish. These grants are an important milestone along the way to making our communities and our company better and more equitable for all.” Business qualifications to receive Flagstar’s grants include diverse ownership, revenues of no more than $1 million, and a location within Flagstar Bank’s footprint of Michigan, Fort Wayne and South Bend, Indiana;...

The next generation of journalists is on the rise as universities all-around work to shape a more diverse future to present equal opportunities for all. As part of a commitment to establish more equity, diversity, and inclusion, the Scripps Howard Foundation has pledged to award $600,000 to institutions of higher learning to advance or create journalism programs that support high school students on their career paths in media. “Advancing equity, diversity and inclusion within the journalism industry is a priority of the Scripps Howard Foundation, its benefactors and its parent company, The E.W. Scripps Company,” said Scripps Howard Foundation President and CEO Liz Carter . “We know the industry has a long way to go toward hiring talent and editorial staff that reflects the make-up of its increasingly diverse audiences. We believe these programs, with their emphasis on mentorship and real-world reporting experience, are an important step toward that goal.” The Foundation and its...

Black women entrepreneurs receive more support as Visa announces a new program to distribute $100,000 in grants to U.S.-based Black women-led businesses as part of their newest series of initiatives to help small businesses, Forbes reports . Grant recipients will be able to receive mentorship from private coaches, educational resources, access to a network of women business owners, and an annual membership for IFundWomen , a platform that provides funding and coaching to women-owned businesses. The grant program will give out ten $10,000 grants via iFundWomen with a goal to close the funding gap for Black women entrepreneur recipients. “The $10,000 is not a random number,” says Suzan Kereere, Visa’s global head of merchant sales and acquiring. “For many entrepreneurs, when they look for seed funding or funding to go from proof of concept to launch, the sweet spot is about $10,000. The $8,000 to $14,000 range is the amount of capital you need to get an ordinary small business off the...