The North Carolina Black Entrepreneurship Council (NC BEC) is launching the 2024 NC BEC ECOSYSTEM Grant with $300,000 in total funding to support and partner with organizations throughout the state executing on innovative and transformational ideas that will elevate Black entrepreneurship.
Donor Name: NC IDEA
State: North Carolina
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/15/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The NC BEC ECOSYSTEM Grant is designed to:
- Identify (and support) partners doing inspired things to serve the entrepreneurial aspirations and economic potential of North Carolina’s Black community
- Encourage more organizations and individuals to support and participate in efforts to elevate Black entrepreneurship in North Carolina
- Support and promote Black leadership of entrepreneurial support organizations
- Better understand how we may (collectively) support more Black people in their ambition to start and build growth-oriented companies that will strengthen the economy of North Carolina
- Provide a means for NC IDEA to foster relationships, dialog, and learning between all NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM and NC BEC ECOSYSTEM partners
Funding Information
Applicants may request up to $50,000 in total funding.
Eligibility Criteria
They invite proposals from 501(c)(3) and for-profit organizations within North Carolina that are in
service to, or have programs specifically focused on, helping Black entrepreneurs and growth oriented Black-owned firms start and grow scalable businesses. They are open to new programs and ideas that are being disruptive and driving change, as well as existing programs and
initiatives. It is required that ALL grant dollars be allocated toward specific programs and
activities serving the Black entrepreneurial community of North Carolina.
Priority consideration will be given to organizations that:
- are Black-led and reflective of the community being served;
- have demonstratable intent to focus grant activities and initiatives toward Black female founders; and/or
- are actively working in rural and/or economically distressed counties.
Evaluation Criteria
NC IDEA does not presume how to best serve the Black entrepreneurial community of North Carolina. We have however, supported dozens of organizations around the state and have observed common practices with promising results that will factor into our evaluation. These include, but are not limited to:
- Education and training (accelerator) programs wherein participants work specifically on their company, whilst following some curriculum or structure
- Coaching and mentoring to help participants focus on long-term value creation, culture, work-life balance and other founder related topics
- Entrepreneurship competitions, Demo Days or Hackathons offering scholarships or prize money to participants (excluding overhead or indirect costs payable to run program on behalf of other organization)
- Technical assistance for specific tasks:
- Hiring
- Networking communities of common entrepreneurial interest
- Sharing learnings from all of the above and generally promoting entrepreneurship
For more information, visit NC IDEA.
