An organization for women entrepreneurs is doubling down on D.C.
BEACON: The D.C. Women Founders Initiative now is accepting applications for its second annual grant program for local companies and organizations.
The 2018-2019 program will award $50,000 in grants to D.C.-based companies to fund projects that support women entrepreneurs. The grants range from $2,500 to $10,000, depending on the scope of the proposal.
Beacon hosted a formal launch for this year’s program Wednesday at WeWork on M Street. Some notable attendees were Lisi Whitworth, founder of event marketplace Eventida; Kate Lucey, VP of woman-founded tech support firm H.S. Dracones; and Christine Brooks-Cropper, president and CEO of the DC Fashion Foundation.
“There’s power in numbers and expertise across the board,” said Deloris Wilson, Beacon's Inclusive Innovation Fellow. “These in-person engagements are a key part of that.”
There are a few requirements for applying:
The organization’s principal office, CEO or high-level management must be housed in D.C. And though they don’t need to be headquartered here, participating companies must have boots on the ground within the District.
Qualifying applicants with a physical local presence will have preference over those with no direct location in D.C. And for better odds, applicants that plan to partner with another D.C.-based organization will be evaluated more favorably, according to Beacon.
Individuals are ineligible for funding – awards will only be made to legally incorporated entities.
Beacon launched in November 2016 and has since registered over 300 women-owned businesses and organizations that support them. The DC Mayor’s Office provides financial backing for the grant, and Beacon also receives strategic, operational and financial support from Google and Georgetown Law.
Out of 88 applicants last year, the grant program funded 19 projects that combined have produced over 30 programs in partnership with area service providers.
“The Beacon grant provided credibility for their organizations,” Wilson said. “Having that stamp of approval helped amplify their message and allowed them to go out to find partners as a result.”
Applicants are first reviewed and assessed by Beacon, and eligible applicants will then advance to a community voting round. The company that garners the most votes in that round will receive a two-hour strategy session with members of DC Pipeline Angels, as well as a feature on the "Get Found, Get Funded Podcast." Following community voting, Beacon’s Grant Selection Committee will score and select final awardees.
Applications for the program opened June 27 and will close July 31. Community voting on the grant proposals will run Aug. 12-25 with awardees selected in September.
