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Inclusion Open

Grants to level the playing field for entrepreneurs

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation works with communities and organizations to level the playing field for entrepreneurs who have been systemically left behind due to demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic barriers. The Foundation awards grants to organizations that have exceptional track records in removing barriers that make starting and growing a business more difficult.

We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to turn an idea into an economic reality, regardless of who you are or where you’re from, with zero barriers in the way. To that end, we see opportunities to spur new business creation in local economies by funding quality entrepreneurship support programs to all entrepreneurs.

To find uncommon solutions that accelerate the rate of business starts and growth in all communities, the Kauffman Foundation invites proposals from nonprofit and for-profit organizations that can either test new ideas or scale already-proven programs to remove barriers that make starting and growing a business more difficult.

Grantees are selected after demonstrating that they have helped entrepreneurs meet challenges in areas such as developing business models, obtaining funding, and building management teams. The grants will help them expand and widen their reach.

Meet the 19 new organizations whose projects will be funded by the 2019 Inclusion Open:

View the previous Inclusion Open grantees here