Cohort 1 Grantees
Seven visionary businesses transforming their communities through capital, capacity, and care.
Co. Odyssey (Sugahoney Glam)
Building a workforce development pipeline for stylists of color - transforming beauty culture into a vehicle for economic mobility.
Technical Assistance Provided
- •Mentorship Program Pitch Deck
- •Program Framework with implementation steps
- •School Partnership Facilitation with Manual Arts High School
- •Professional Photo & B-Roll Capture
Impact
- •Launched first mentorship pilot with Manual Arts High School
- •Created clear pipeline model linking students, stylists, and industry partners
- •Elevated brand visibility through professional photography
- •Celebrated first graduate completing the mentorship track
"It was a dream come true… To finally have a team to strategize with has been life changing."
The Suckle Center
A maternal health product brand and emerging nonprofit created to support Black mothers through culturally inclusive postpartum care and lactation support.
Technical Assistance Provided
- •Signature Brand Story anchoring origin, mission, and vision
- •Mini Messaging Kit with positioning and audience definitions
- •Customer Impact Stories highlighting real families
- •Research Brief + Indexed Quotes for grants and advocacy
- •Funder and Retail-Facing Story Adaptations
- •Event Photography and Website Design
Impact
- •Built consistent storytelling foundation for funders, buyers, and partners
- •Strengthened credibility as both product business and nonprofit
- •Enhanced brand visibility through professional visuals and web presence
- •Accelerated grant applications with reusable messaging
"I have been able to use this information to apply for several grants since completion. It makes the process so much faster… It's all a true gem!"
SÜPRMRKT
A Black-owned grocery cooperative bringing fresh, affordable produce to underserved communities while ensuring accessibility for all.
Technical Assistance Provided
- •Operational Excellence Toolkit outlining comprehensive operational strategy
- •Digital inventory systems transition support
- •Staff roles clarification
- •Juice bar and delivery service launch preparation
Impact
- •Installed handicap accessible ramp for ADA compliance
- •Transitioned to digital inventory systems
- •Launched juice bar and delivery service
- •Created jobs and expanded community reach
- •Built trust with customers and partners through consistent operations
"We never had the infrastructure to scale. The toolkit helped us grow with intention."
SEED
An agtech organization advancing food justice and sustainability through innovative soil testing tools - the SEED Radicle.
Technical Assistance Provided
- •Storytelling Toolkit with farmer interviews
- •Pitch Decks for funders and investors
- •Narrative Frameworks
- •Video Templates
- •Branded Case Studies
Impact
- •Scaled up production of SEED Radicle soil testing tool
- •Increased visibility and funder engagement
- •Gained confidence to approach new funders with clarity
- •Created durable content tools without hiring outside contractors
"The storytelling toolkit gave us confidence to approach new funders with clarity."
Bean Bar
A Black woman-owned coffee brand expanding from local sales into retail partnerships with confidence and strategy.
Technical Assistance Provided
- •Partnership Playbook with 20+ retail targets
- •Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool for partner lifecycle
- •Engagement Strategy customized by lead type
Impact
- •Purchased equipment to enter retail space
- •Secured new retail partnerships
- •Automated outreach process with CRM tracking
- •Expanded capacity and made partnership path more efficient
"Even in operational work, keeping our story at the center made the growth real."
The Healing Sp-ce
A physical hub where women and their communities can access wellness, healing, and collective care - creating sanctuary spaces.
Technical Assistance Provided
- •Grand Opening Event Planning and Launch Support
- •Community Space Design for Resting Sp-ce
- •Meditation and relaxation space buildout
Impact
- •Designed and built the Resting Sp-ce for meditation and rest
- •Successfully launched grand opening event
- •Established as gathering point and sanctuary for community wellness
- •Created infrastructure for community care and sustainability
"Supporting Healing Sp-ce's launch was about building a foundation for community care. Their opening wasn't just about a business milestone — it was about anchoring a space that belongs to and serves the people around it."
Bloom Strategies
A consulting practice bridging vision and execution - helping social impact practitioners practice care and reduce burnout.
Technical Assistance Provided
- •Wellness Toolkit for nonprofit organizations
- •Comprehensive Strategic Plan for organizational structure
- •Program Offerings and Brand Strategy
- •Client Interviews and Peer Company Analysis
- •Collaborative Workshops and Implementation Plan
- •Messaging Refinement
Impact
- •Created wellness toolkit to help nonprofits reduce burnout
- •Gained clarity and infrastructure to articulate value
- •Expanded partnerships and positioned as creative and operational leader
- •Bridged strategy and execution for social impact organizations
"We are not just support — we are structure. We hold both the vision and the logistics. Our sweet spot is bridging strategy and execution."
Grantmaking Impact
Total Grants Distributed
- • $83,000 in core grants (7 grantees)
- • $40,000 in rapid response (40 businesses)
Technical Assistance
- • 300+ hours of tailored support
- • Delivered across all grantees
Core Grant Types
Capital Grants
2 awarded
Capacity Grants
3 awarded
Catalyst Grants
2 awarded