The Equity Fund for Queer Entrepreneurs of Color in the U.S.

This program invests in in queer entrepreneurs and small businesses from across the Upper Midwest, with a particular focus on queer entrepreneurs of color and queer-owned businesses in rural areas. PFund and Quorum are offering a record $435,000 in grant fundings across three distinct cohorts this year. Each grant recipient receives:

• Grants ranging from $5,000 up to $30,000 to be used to support building small business capacity and developing queer entrepreneurship across the region.
• Access to five training sessions customized to the needs of small business owners. Grantees from the Twin Cities metropolitan area will be expected to attend in-person trainings organized by PFund. Trainings for grantees from greater Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin will be expected to attend virtual learning sessions organized by Quorum.
• A one-year membership to Quorum, Minnesota’s LGBT chamber of commerce. Grantees from outside Minnesota will be given modest stipends to purchase an annual membership from a local queer chamber of commerce (for example, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce).

Eligibility Criteria

• The Equity Fund for Twin Cities Queer Entrepreneurs of Color
  • Grantseekers must meet all of the following criteria to apply:
    • You identify as LGBTQ+ and as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color.
    • Your business is located within the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area.
    • Your business has been in operation for at least one year.
    • The annual gross revenue of your business for your most recently completed fiscal year was $250,000 or less.
    • Your business has 20 or fewer employees.
• The Equity Fund for Minnesotan Queer Entrepreneurs
  • Grantseekers must meet all of the following criteria to apply:
    • You identify as LGBTQ+.
    • Your business is located within Minnesota.
    • Your business has been in operation for at least one year.
    • The annual gross revenue of your business for your most recently completed fiscal year was $250,000 or less.
    • Your business has 20 or fewer employees.
    • Queer entrepreneurs of color and rural queer businesses are especially encouraged to apply.
• The Equity Fund for Midwestern Queer Entrepreneurs of Color
  • Grantseekers must meet all of the following criteria to apply:
    • You identify as LGBTQ+ and Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color.
    • Your business is located within North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin or the First Nations therein.
    • Your business has been in operation for at least one year.
    • The annual gross revenue of your business for your most recently completed fiscal year was $250,000 or less.
    • Your business has 20 or fewer employees.

For more information, visit PFund Foundation.