PFund awards $423,000 in small business grants to queer entrepreneurs from across the Upper Midwest
Minneapolis—PFund has awarded a record $423,000 in Equity Fund small business grants to queer entrepreneurs from across the Upper Midwest. A total of 33 businesses were selected to be members of the 2023-24 Equity Fund cohort. Grant recipients receive flexible cash funding in support of their business, as well as virtual and in-person networking and training sessions. All Equity Fund grantees identify as LGBTQ+. 70% of this year’s grantee cohort identify as people of color, 52% identify as transgender or gender-expansive, and 39% of grantees are from Greater Minnesota.
The Equity Fund was originally conceived as a grants program to help queer entrepreneurs of color in Minneapolis following the twin 2020 crises of COVID-19 and the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police. Over the past three years, the program has expanded from a small pilot program into PFund’s largest grantmaking initiative.
Thanks to funding provided by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, and the Minneapolis Foundation, 2023 is the first year that PFund has been able to offer Equity Fund grants to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs from across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. “We are excited to be able to offer grants and resources to queer-owned small businesses from across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin,” stated PFund executive director Aaron Zimmerman. “Supporting local and regional queer economies is key to keeping our LGBTQ+ communities strong, and we are excited to partner with these remarkable small businesses in the coming year.”
2023-24 Equity Fund Grantees
66 Wands Consulting | Minneapolis, MN | $15,000
Addi’s Lawn Care | Grimes, IA | $5,000
Black Garnet Books | Saint Paul, MN | $25,000
Bottomless Coffee | Minneapolis, MN | $15,000
Coach Shor | Minneapolis, MN | $7,500
The Donut Trap | Saint Paul, MN | $10,000
Ellis Transit, LLC | Fargo, ND | $5,000
Homebody MN | Minneapolis, MN | $8,000
Human Horizon Films, LLC | Edina, MN | $15,000
Investoration Real Estate | Minneapolis, MN | $15,000
Lindsey Cherek Waller, LLC | Red Wing, MN | $5,000
The Little Wedding Company, LLC | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000
The Melanated Remedy | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000
Minks by Monique | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000
Misfit Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, LLC | Northfield, MN | $15,000
motivPT | Duluth, MN | $5,000
Mudluk Pottery | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000
Nopalli Rebelde, LLC | St. Louis Park, MN | $10,000
Peach Tattoo | Duluth, MN | $25,000
Queermunity Collaborative | Minneapolis, MN | $15,000
Randii Waddell Consulting & Services | Red Wing, MN | $7,500
The Red Raven | Moorhead, MN | $15,000
Rooted Healing, Voiced Centered | Minneapolis, MN | $15,000
Route to India, LLC | Minneapolis, MN | $30,000
Ski Hills Cabins and Saunas, LLC | Lutsen, MN | $5,000
The Transgenda | Duluth, MN | $25,000
Urnest Endeavors, LLC | Saint Paul, MN | $10,000
The VajLooj Collective | Minneapolis, MN | $15,000
Vibrant Life Therapy, LLC | Minneapolis, MN | $15,000
Visions OutLoud | Milwaukee, WI | $5,000
Waabooz Beading | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000
West Forty RV Park and Campground | Gilbert, MN | $25,000
Wholesome Management, LCC | Columbia Heights, MN | $10,000