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Founders First
Job Creators Quest Grant - Chicago.

Creating an inclusive economy where Chicago's diverse business leaders
thrive, scale and create jobs.

Thank you for your interest in the Chicago Job Creators Quest Grant program. Applications are now closed. This is an annual grant and we are happy to notify you when the 2022 application window opens. Founders First CDC also offers other grant programs throughout the year, as well as webinars and accelerator programs you may find helpful as you continue to grow your business. Please look for emails regarding future events, or reach out to us at jobcreators.chicago@foundersfirstcdc.org with any questions. We look forward to connecting with you soon!


Program Qualifications.

  • Must be located in the Chicagoland area (counties include: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will)
  • Must have a current staff of 2-20 employees
  • Will have the ability to add 1-2+ net new premium wage jobs in the next 12 months
  • Must be a service based business, light manufacturing, B2B or have a service component
  • Founder must be Black, Indigenous, Person of Color, LGBTQIA+, Military Veteran, Woman, or located in a Low to Moderate Income area
  • Have annual revenues between $100K and $3 million
  • Provide a narrative and a 90 second video about your business
  • Provide a narrative on how your business was impacted by COVID and what you are doing to sustain your business
  • Agree to provide information on intended use of funds if awarded
  • Agree to provide financial documentation to verify revenues and current employment base
  • Agree to participate in one of Founders First accelerator programs at a discounted rate
  • Agree to provide documentation that will show how you plan to add 1-2+ net new jobs to your organization in the next 12 months


Registration for the Job Creators Quest Grant - Chicago has ended.

Please signup to our email list (see below) to be informed when new grants become available!

The application deadline was April 30, 2021.  Please email us at jobcreators.chicago@foundersfirstcdc.org with any questions about the Job Creators Quest Grant.

Founders First is committed to increasing the number of diverse founder-led businesses generating over $1 million dollars in revenues and creating premium wage jobs. 

The Job Creators Quest Grant provides eligible small businesses in the Chicago area the chance to win one of 10 grants totaling $30,000.

Grant recipients will be selected based on their demonstrated ability to maintain and grow their workforce despite the pandemic, as well as their ongoing commitment to creating premium wage jobs in their communities. 

This grant opportunity is paired with access to one of Founders First CDC’s stellar business accelerator programs at a reduced rate. Over
400 diverse-led small businesses have gone through Founders First programs to increase  revenue, profitability and team members.

Funding for this program was facilitated by a $1 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and support from The Chicago Community Trust through the Benefit Chicago Initiative, in conjunction with Founders First Capital Partners’ recent $9 million Series A financing led by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Surdna Foundation. Additional support is being provided by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC).

                                       

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