IFundWomen's community of entrepreneurs does not benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth. Please support the Stand With IFundWomen Fund via PayPal, Credit Card, or Apple Pay.
*Please note that IFundWomen is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your contribution is not tax-deductible.
Dear IFundWomen Community,
It's no secret that women-owned businesses have long struggled to access the capital they need to start and grow, which is precisely why we founded IFundWomen—to address this critical issue. However, recent Supreme Court rulings have exacerbated the challenge. The rollback of Affirmative Action and the blocking of grants for Black entrepreneurs by the Fearless Fund have significantly impacted women-founded businesses nationwide.
"Most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward. We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth." - First Lady Michelle Obama.
These divisive decisions have fueled a growing DEI backlash, creating a culture of corporate hesitation where support for women and people of color in business is increasingly scarce. Since these changes took effect over the past 15 months, grant funding from corporations earmarked for women and diverse founders has taken a dramatic nosedive.
With corporate grant funding stalled, IFundWomen's ability to continue funding women entrepreneurs is at risk, so I ask for your help. Corporate grant dollars not only funded our members but also, separately, provided capital for IFundWomen to operate. Learn more in this video.
Our Mission and Impact
IFundWomen's mission is to close the funding gap for women-owned businesses. As the go-to funding marketplace for entrepreneurs, we provide access to capital through crowdfunding, sponsored grants, and SBA loans; expert business coaching on all the topics entrepreneurs need to know about; and lucrative connections through a network of business owners that spark confidence, accelerate knowledge, and ignite action.
Our commitment is evident in the success of our members. Since launch, IFundWomen has facilitated access to over $500M in early-stage capital, funding that our members would not have had access to otherwise. This funding has enabled entrepreneurs to build businesses, create jobs, support their families, and contribute to the economy.
Over the past four years, our corporate grant initiatives have distributed over $170 million to business grants to IFW's members. This support, alongside the backing of our corporate partners, has been crucial in covering both grant distributions and, separately, IFW's operational costs.
Challenges and Turning Points
However, we're now at a critical juncture. The funding from brand partners that have supported our grant initiatives has stalled. As a result, our ability to sustain operations and support women entrepreneurs is at risk. This is more than just a setback for IFundWomen; it threatens progress and the survival of countless communities that rely on these small businesses.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Without the necessary funding, businesses and communities across the nation will suffer, leading to job losses and a reduction in vital resources. We cannot afford to let this happen, and I know you won’t let it happen with us.
The Power of Diversity
I know I do not need to educate this audience on why DEIB–diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging–matters, but I can't write a blog post without at least one data source, so bear with me.
It's highly researched and well-documented that diverse teams perform better financially, whether in corporations or startups. Research from McKinsey highlights that diverse teams boost productivity and innovation, improving financial performance by nearly 40% compared to less diverse companies. At IFundWomen, we focus on ensuring that diversity—whether gender, ethnic, or racial—is at the heart of entrepreneurship and the services we offer to support it. This is not just our mission; it’s our passion.
And yes, you read that right: gender diversity is critical. Fun fact: we have men on IFundWomen! Always have, always will. Why? Because diverse teams make more money. Period.
How You Can Help
We need money. We are calling on our community to Support the Stand With IFundWomen Fund. We are raising the funds necessary to continue our operations, innovate new ways to get grants into the hands of women entrepreneurs, and advance progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion within the startup landscape. Your support will help us keep the doors open, drive forward meaningful change, and ensure that women-owned businesses thrive.
Every dollar you contribute will directly impact our operational costs and the expansion of our grant offerings. This means we can reach more partners, including smaller brands and individuals, and not just Fortune 500 companies. Your support of the fund will lead to more grants, which in turn means more funding for women-owned businesses. Our community's success is IFundWomen's success, and vice versa.
Every dollar counts. Let's win this thing.
Karen Cahn
Founder & CEO, IFundWomen
Please support the Stand With IFundWomen Fund via PayPal, Credit Card, or Apple Pay.
*Please note that IFundWomen is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your contribution is not tax-deductible.