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Fundraising and Finance Strategies for Entrepreneurs

Thank you to CO–U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Midnight Oil for providing the content on Fundraising and Finance Strategies for Entrepreneurs

CO by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

MIDNIGHT OIL
EDITION 242
RESOURCES & TIPS

Get tips for starting, running, and growing a Black-owned business in 2024..

Get the tools you need for tax season at our FREE virtual event!
Tune in tomorrow Thursday, February 22, at noon ET for Ready. Set. Scale — Smart Tax Tips for a Stress-Free Filing, where our panel of experts will discuss essential strategies and money-saving deductions for a seamless tax season. Secure your spot ASAP!

Top 5 user-friendly financial planning tools
Managing finances for your small business just got easier! These affordable, user-friendly financial planning tools can help you track performance and stay on top of your money.

Early tax prep for small business owners
Tax season is upon us, and if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to get your finances in order. Check out our brief overview for the latest IRS guidance and ways you can reduce this year’s tax bill.

QUOTABLE MOMENT
“Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint—almost everything is going to take much longer than you thought.”
— Jessica Young, Founder and CEO of online food marketplace Bubble Goods, divulges the keys to fundraising and the top strategies that helped her score millions in funding for her business.
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BY THE NUMBERS

4/15
The April 15 tax deadline is quickly approaching! Before you file your taxes, tap into these game-changing deductions that may save you money this tax season.

5
Fostering employee creativity is key to driving innovation and business growth. Here are five strategies to encourage creativity and inspire your team.

68%
The percentage of small business owners that prefer to spend less time managing their business’ cash flow. Discover free and low-cost tools that can help automate business tasks (i.e. cash flow, marketing, sales, and more) to simplify operations.

CONTENT FROM MASTERCARD

Make the most of the new year with these hacks from Mastercard partners Rahama Wright, Talia Boone, and Mandy Bowman.

7 Small Business Hacks for a Successful 2024
CO— spoke with Mastercard partners Rahama Wright, founder of Shea Yeleen; Talia Boone, founder and CEO of Postal Petals; and Mandy Bowman, Founder and CEO of Official Black Wall Street, to discuss their top strategies for starting off the year strong. Here are their seven recommended hacks for tackling challenges head-on and setting your small business up for success in 2024.

A MESSAGE FROM U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Access capital with strategies from our (virtual) fireside chat
February 26th at 10:30 a.m. ET
Join experts from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Treasury Department on February 26th at 10:30 a.m. ET for a virtual fireside chat about access to capital for small and underserved businesses. You’ll learn more about the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and the $500M Technical Assistance (TA) Grant Program that helps small businesses access SSBCI lending.

Tune in to get insights from Jessica A. Milano, Chief Program Officer for the Office of Capital Access, U.S. Treasury Department.

Jessica A. Milano
Chief Program Officer for the Office of Capital Access

U.S. Treasury Department

Tune in to get insights from Tom Sullivan, Vice President, Small Business Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Tom Sullivan
Vice President, Small Business Policy

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

GRANTS & AWARDS
The Sage “Invest in Progress” Grant Program will provide over $1.5 million to support Black women entrepreneurs in breaking down barriers and building scalable, growth-focused businesses. Applications for the fund are open until February 23.

Skip Monthly Grants offer $1,000 to U.S.-based small business owners and entrepreneurs. To be considered, you must have a Skip account and add the monthly grant to your Funding Assistant, as well as be subscribed to Skip’s YouTube channel. The deadline to apply is February 26.

The FedEx Small Business Grant is set to award over $230,000 in grants and services to 10 U.S.-based small businesses. One grand prize winner will receive $50,000 and nine additional recipients will be granted $20,000 — along with various perks, including print credit, consultation services, and more. Applications open March 1 and close April 1.

The National Black Business Pitch competition aims to connect Black-owned businesses with corporations looking to diversify their supply chain by opening doors and fostering long-term relationships that can lead to sustainable contracts. Thirty finalists will pitch to corporate procurement and supplier diversity professionals, with three companies receiving cash prizes of up to $10,000 to promote business growth and opportunity. Applications are due by June 3.

The SheaMoisture Fund pledges to provide $1 million in direct funding annually to eligible Black-owned businesses in the U.S. through various different business development programs and  grants. With several programs available, applications are available on a rolling basis.

More grant & program information can be found here.

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“U.S. Chamber” and “U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE” are registered trademarksof the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America

CO- U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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