Red Letter Relief Fund

5 May 2020

The Red Letter Grant launches a Relief Fund today aimed at supporting existing womxn-owned businesses throughout the ten county region of western Wisconsin we currently serve. The Relief Fund will give preference to minority owned business owners – persons of color and the LGBTQA population. We know that nearly 90% of minority and women business owners were shut out of the Paycheck Protection Program – leaving gaps that we’re feeling in a big way regionally and across the country. CDFIs are also sparse in western Wisconsin, giving our region less access to the support provided by WEDC’s SB 20/20 program.

As a nonprofit that has primarily served women in the start-up phase, the Board voted to pivot this application period to serve a more pressing issue – keeping doors open.

We are launching a fundraising campaign today as a part of Giving Tuesday to raise funds we will disperse to 15 business in the form of $1,000 grants. The application process will run similarly to our typical cycles with a diverse judging team overseeing the application process and conducting interviews. The Red Letter Grant will still award one start-up grant this period for women who had already been working on applications and because times like this often foster innovation. All grant applications – both start-up and relief applications – are due by May 18th. This is a quicker turn-around period than normal as we are working to meet needs quickly. Open to anyone no matter the life of their business – 30 years open to five years open. Click below to learn more or send on to a small business owner who you know could use the support: