Founders First CDC, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that empowers expansion in diverse founder-led, revenue-generating businesses, announced the winners of its Kitty Fund Grant on Thursday, May 9, 2024  during a virtual press conference. More than 4,000  businesses applied for the grant and 25 recipients were selected, with women business owners receiving $1,000 each in cash. The grant recipients were selected from throughout country, including New York, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, California, and Oregon, serving a variety of industries – from energy consulting and creative strategy and graphic design to virtual bookkeeping, cleaning services, bakeries, eco-friendly tableware  and more.

The Kitty Fund  recipients are as follows:

The Kitty Fund makes small investments in “Mompreneurs” – moms who are running employer-based small businesses with two or more employees – and was created in honor of Mother’s Day and Founder’s First CEO Kim Folsom’s late mother, Catherine “Kitty” Abrams Tadlock Webster.  The purpose of the fund is to create opportunities for mothers to enhance, grow and sustain their businesses while also maintaining their family lives.

“As we wrap up another impactful year with the Kitty Fund, these Mompreneurs stand as beacons of resilience, courageously navigating the dual roles of community leaders and mothers.” said Shaylon Scott, Executive Director, Founders First CDC. “We’re truly privileged to award another group of 25 exceptional Mom business owners.”

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About Founders First CDC 

Founders First CDC is a not-for-profit 501c3 that was founded in 2015 and has received significant support from the regional community reinvestment banks to empower diverse founder-led, revenue-generating small businesses through three primary programs: (1) Founders Challenge; (2) Founders Bootcamp; and (3) Founders FastPath. By building recurring revenues, tech-enablement, and essential solution focus, Founders First serves as a catalyst for positive change to entrepreneurs of color and female founders to become leading employers in their communities. www.foundersfirstcdc.org