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EforAll nets Facebook grant to support its entrepreneurship programs

EforAll is one of 36 grant recipients chosen from a pool of more than 400 organizations. It was selected for its proven approach to helping underrepresented individuals start and grow businesses in a variety of industries, according to a news release. 
2020_08_26_EforAll_pitch_contest
Karen Veraza participates in a past EforAll Longmont pitch contest. (Courtesy photo)

The national nonprofit Entrepreneurship for All, an organization that supports the creation of local businesses, recently received a $277,777 grant from Facebook as part of a $10 million racial justice initiative.

EforAll is one of 36 grant recipients chosen from a pool of more than 400 organizations. It was selected for its proven approach to helping underrepresented individuals start and grow businesses in a variety of industries, according to a news release

Among the businesses started by EforAll participants, 74% are owned by women, 58% are owned by people of color, and 46% are owned by immigrants, according to the website.

“We’re excited to help bring much-needed funding, on behalf of Facebook employees, to nonprofits working to advance racial equity and racial justice in the United States,” Marcy Scott Lynn, director of global impact partnerships at Facebook, stated in the release. “Our employees recognize the important work EforAll is doing, and we are glad to be able to make these donations on their behalf while also continuing on our equity and inclusion journey.”

The grant will help EforAll and its Spanish program, EparaTodos, support more underserved entrepreneurs looking for assistance in starting and growing a business, said Julie Smith, EforAll director of marketing. 

“The plan will be to use these funds in both current communities such as Longmont and new communities across the U.S. as we work to support as many entrepreneurs as possible,” she said, adding it is too soon to have detailed plans for the money at this point. 

EforAll Longmont hosts programs to support local business owners including the Business Accelerator, a one-year program offered twice a year that provides immersive business training and mentorship; and Pitch Contests, community events that allows entrepreneurs to share business ideas with an audience and the opportunity to win cash prizes. 

EforAll’s mission is to accelerate economic and social impact in the community through inclusive entrepreneurship, Harris Rollinger, executive director for EfroAll Longmont, told the Leader earlier this year. 

“We really are trying to help underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs with their businesses,” he said this fall. “We work with population groups that have traditionally been left out from entrepreneurship but that is one of the largest chunks that are looking to start their own business.”

EforAll held its first program in Longmont in April 2019 and launched a Longmont Spanish-language program in November. 

Two new cohorts, in English and Spanish, are currently being selected to kick off the local Winter Accelerator program that starts in January. 

“If we can support diverse business creation in Longmont and make sure that businesses are representative of the large community, we would have accomplished your goal,” Rollinger said this fall.


Silvia Romero Solís

About the Author: Silvia Romero Solís

Después de viajar por el mundo, Silvia llegó a establecerse en Longmont. Ella busca usar su experiencia en comunicaciones y cultura para crear más equidad y diversidad en las noticias de Longmont.
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