Boundless Futures Foundation, a private foundation founded by Soon and McKeel Hagerty, is awarding $100,000 in EmpowHer grants to eight female founders of six businesses during its latest round of giving. The companies, located in six states (California, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas and Wisconsin), address social issues related to sustainability and the environment, with a focus on supporting female entrepreneurs through grants for their impactful work.
This round of EmpowHer grantees includes a company turning waste wool into a soil amendment and fertilizer. It serves as an alternative to peat moss and petroleum-based hydrogels in gardens. Two companies focus on urban composting. One company makes eco-friendly, waterless cleaning products. Another offers feminine hygiene products made with all-natural and skin-friendly materials. A coffee company rounds out the group by giving back to local animal rescue organizations.
Since its inception in late 2023, Boundless Futures Foundation has awarded $545,000 in EmpowHer grants to 39 female company founders across the country. It has also awarded $240,000 in Her Village grants to nonprofits that support female entrepreneurs.
New partnership with Kiva expands support for female entrepreneurs and social impact
Most recently, the foundation awarded a $100,000 Her Village grant to Kiva, a global nonprofit unlocking capital through crowdfunded loans for individuals and entrepreneurs. The new partnership will establish a revolving loan fund; fund a co-sponsored impact study to gauge the effects of social entrepreneurs, particularly female founders, on society; and collaborate on strategic approaches to the systemic issues female founders face.
“At Boundless Futures Foundation, we focus not only on providing funding and leadership resources to these inspirational female founders who are doing social good in our communities and the world, but we also aim to eliminate barriers for female entrepreneurs,” said Soon Hagerty, founder and president, Boundless Futures Foundation. “We are excited about this year and the possibilities it will bring for our female founders and others, who we know will draw inspiration from these talented and passionate women, doing amazing work.”
Each of the grantees is a female entrepreneur in the early stages of starting a business that addresses a social issue or has a purpose-driven concept embedded in its business model. The foundation, therefore, carefully selects the grant recipients as business owners. These recipients align with Boundless Futures Foundation’s mission to empower and uplift female entrepreneurs dedicated to solving social problems.
EmpowHer grant recipients (in alphabetical order)
- Carter’s Compost (Traverse City, Mich.) was founded by Megan Alexander. The company is a compost collection and delivery service that hauls food scraps from your kitchen or business for processing. The company returns the finished compost to subscribers or donates or sells it to community gardens, farms and local gardeners.
- Cozy Canine Coffee (San Diego, Calif.) was founded by Caroline Manimtim. The company makes high-quality coffee and supports and spreads awareness of local animal rescue organizations.
- Demi (Chicago, Ill.) was co-founded by Lily Wang and two others. The company uses its system of storage and tech and partners with apartment buildings and local haulers to improve urban composting.
- Element Essentials (Plainfield, N.J.) was founded by Jennifer Benjamin. The company has developed an eco-friendly, waterless line of home cleaning products that reduces plastic waste and conserves precious resources.
- Happy Pads (Houston, Texas) was co-founded by Kalkidan and Wubit Hailemichael. The company offers safe, biodegradable feminine hygiene products made with all-natural and skin-friendly materials.
- Woollets (Argyle, Wis.) was co-founded by Elaine Becker and Karen Mayhew. The company turns waste wool from Wisconsin farmers into a sustainable and green peat moss alternative. Wool pellets are an all-natural soil amendment and slow-release fertilizer meant to replace peat moss and petroleum-based hydrogels in a soil mix.
An Advisory Circle of seasoned female entrepreneurs embraces each grantee and provides optional resources, including leadership development, skills-building assistance, mentorship and networking opportunities. The female entrepreneurs grants support women-led businesses by providing resources and opportunities for growth and impact.
BFF proudly announces Jeanne Wang as a new 2025 Advisory Circle member. She is the founder of Village Search Partners, a fund that partners with exceptional female search fund entrepreneurs.
Learn more about past grantees and Boundless Futures Foundation, apply for funding, or obtain other resources by visiting boundlessfutures.org.
About Boundless Futures Foundation
Founded in September 2023 by Soon and McKeel Hagerty, Boundless Futures Foundation provides financial support and leadership resources. It serves aspiring female entrepreneurs 22 years of age or older. The goal is to help them have a boundless impact on society. The Foundation empowers women entrepreneurs in the United States. It offers grant funding to individuals in the early stages of building businesses that solve social issues. It also funds mission-aligned nonprofits. Grantees gain access to the Advisory Circle, a supportive network that offers mentorship and guidance throughout their entrepreneurial journey. For more information, visit boundlessfutures.org and follow Boundless Futures on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
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