The Equity Fund (Twin Cities Queer Entrepreneurs of Color, Minnesotan Queer Entrepreneurs, Midwestern Queer Entrepreneurs of Color)

The Equity Fund (Twin Cities Queer Entrepreneurs of Color, Minnesotan Queer Entrepreneurs, Midwestern Queer Entrepreneurs of Color) is sponsored by PFund Foundation / Twin Cities Quorum. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Building. Connecting. Strengthening.

Minnesota. Invest with Quorum-Donation Page The Equity Fund (originally known as the Twin Cities Queer BIPOC Business Capacity Fund) was created in 2020 in direct response to the dire economic circumstances created by COVID-19 and the civil unrest and burning of Lake Street following the murder of George Floyd by the police.

PFund and Quorum distributed $90,000 in microgrants in 2020-21 to help Minneapolis queer small business owners of color with flexible cash assistance and remote business capacity training resources.

Grant recipients participated in a series of hour-long remote educational sessions on vital business development topics such as human resources best practices, sources of capital, understanding legal liabilities and protections, and use of technology. In late 2022, PFund made a second round of Equity Fund grants to queer entrepreneurs of color.

We’re excited to announce the launch of our 2024-2025 PFund Foundation and Quorum Equity Fund. This program is a joint initiative between PFund Foundation and Quorum (Minnesota's LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce) and aims to foster the growth of queer entrepreneurs across the Upper Midwest. This program focuses on small business development, particularly for queer entrepreneurs of color and queer-owned businesses in rural areas.

Together, PFund and Quorum are offering more than $400,000 in funding and comprehensive support across three distinct cohorts this year. Applications are due by 5 pm central on July 22, 2024 . Each grant recipient receives: Grants ranging from $5,000 up to $30,000 to support building small business capacity and developing queer entrepreneurship across the region.

Five customized training sessions led by Quorum, tailored to the needs of small business owners. Training for grantees from greater Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin will meet virtually. A one-year membership to Quorum.

Grantees from outside Minnesota will receive modest stipends to purchase an annual membership from a local queer Chamber of Commerce (for example, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce). For more information and to apply, please visit our website: https://www. pfundfoundation.

org/equity-fund . 2023-24 Equity Fund Grantees 2023-24 Equity Fund Distribution 2023-24 Equity Fund grants were awarded across three major categories: The Equity Fund for Twin Cities Queer Entrepreneurs of Color. 10 grants to queer small business owners of color based in the Twin Cities.

The Equity Fund for Minnesotan Queer Entrepreneurs. 13 grants to Minnesotan queer small business owners. LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who live in rural Minnesota (outside the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area) or identify as gender-expansive (transgender, nonbinary, or genderqueer) were encouraged to apply.

The Equity Fund for Midwestern Queer Entrepreneurs of Color. 10 grants to queer small business owners of color from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the First Nations therein. Click here to download a PDF with full program eligibility requirements and step-by-step instructions on how to apply for an Equity Fund grant.

We will be updating the FAQ section of this document throughout the application period; the document was last updated 08/15/23. You can also watch the video of the recent informational webinar PFund held regarding the Equity Fund by clicking here . For more information: click here: https://www.

pfundfoundation. org/equity-fund 2446 University Avenue West, Suite 112 Email: info@twincitiesquorum. com Quorum is a Minnesota 501(c)6 non-profit organization.

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