The Wells Fargo Small Business Fellowship is a fully-funded 16-week program for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders who uplift and amplify their community’s small business ecosystem in Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington D.C..
Donor Name: Watson Institute
State: Maryland, Illinois
City: Baltimore, Chicago and Washington D.C.
Type of Grant: Fellowship
Deadline: 01/08/2026
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
Through expert-led training, capital connections, and leadership development, Fellows gain the tools to scale their impact while building stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems in their communities.
- Business & Leadership
- Mentorship & Capital Connections
- Basecamps: Creating Lasting Impact
- Pitch Training & in-person
Eligibility Criteria
Who you are
- You are a small business owner, nonprofit leader, or entrepreneur with proven results supporting other businesses or connecting individuals to financial products and services in underserved communities. They prioritize
- Small Business Owners Who Amplify Other Small Businesses You lead a business that uplifts and amplifies your community’s small business ecosystem (e.g., selling products to small businesses, tech, business consulting, marketing services, training, among others). Your work connects other entrepreneurs to resources, growth opportunities, and financial products like business checking accounts, business loans, merchant services, and more.
- Small Business Owners Who Increase Access to Financial Products and Services You connect individuals in your community to tangible financial products and services like checking accounts, home mortgages, home equity lines, financial literacy, credit building, and more.
Your Business Stage
- You have engaged customers and measurable results. You have generated approximately $100,000 in revenue or operating budget. All legal business structures are welcome: for-profit, nonprofit, social enterprise, etc.
Your Commitment
- You must be able to commit to the full 16-week program. Includes the mandatory one-day in-person Immersive. Weekly workshops: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM Eastern Time. They prioritize participants who are fully committed to active engagement throughout the entire program. The program’s success depends on building a strong community where all participants are enthusiastic about learning and sharing their experiences.
Where You Work:
- Located in and creating impact in: Baltimore Chicago Washington, D.C.
What You Are Looking For
- You seek expert-guided entrepreneurial training, points of connectivity with Wells Fargo, a supportive community for feedback, a broad mentor network to enhance your leadership, and opportunities to challenge yourself by leading a Basecamp event and other initiatives that benefit your venture and community. You bring an entrepreneurial spirit and growth mindset to this work.
For more information, visit Wells Fargo.
