In an effort to support the community it serves, SheaMoisture Canada continues its dedicated support to Black female entrepreneurs and salon businesses. Last year, SheaMoisture launched the Salon Relief Fund. Its goal was to help female business owners survive Covid-19 challenges through a $10,000 grant, salon gift baskets and educational workshops. This year, the global beauty leader and award-winning brand launches The Dream Fund. This is the second edition of its grant program which will offer financial support to a community that has been disproportionately affected. The Dream Fund continues the brand’s commitment to serving those who have been underserved and comes during a time when salons, especially those owned, led and operated by the Black community in Canada face some of the most challenging times in recent years.
This year’s Dream Fund
The Dream Fund aims to provide grants to black-owned businesses that demonstrate how their services and offerings support their community. Businesses show how they have adapted their business models in recent times and how funds will support their staff and elevate future business goals. “We are a brand with a deep commitment to overserve the underserved black community. Our community commerce model not only invests in, but helps build, transform and regenerate communities locally and globally by directly impacting equitable systemic change”, said George Umoh, Associate Brand Manager, Unilever Canada.
This year’s grant program offers $10,000 to 5 winners for a full $50,000 in total. It isn’t exclusive to just Black-owned salon establishments. Instead, SheaMoisture Canada has opened its program applications to Black Female entrepreneurs across the following categories:
- Beauty: Encapsulating the entire beauty industry and encouraging hairdressers and barbers who are significant contributors to the black business community in Canada.
- Professional Services: This category includes “Solopreneurs” who are doing incredible work and deserve an opportunity to apply for funding for support and expansion. This category is open to event planners, doctors and wellness professionals, artists, musicians and more.
Application details
Applicants should submit detailed applications for eligibility including video submissions. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of well-established Black professionals curated by The Diversity Agency. Visit the application page here to learn more.
About The Diversity Agency
SheaMoisture is thrilled to partner with The Diversity Agency. For the second time, the agency will bring top talents to the judging table from Canada’s diverse professional Black community. The Diversity Agency is a Speaker’s Bureau representing Black speakers and business professionals from diverse backgrounds skilled in many industries. The agency’s speakers include business leaders, thought leaders, artists, and successful entrepreneurs.
“Women of color are among the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in Canada. There are very few funding programs for women-owned businesses and even less for Black women-owned businesses. I’m proud to partner with SheaMoisture’s Dream Fund as a judge. We need more programs like this that support Black female entrepreneurs” said Andria Barrett, Founder of The Diversity Agency & Co-Founder of Black Female Funders.
The Diversity Agency panel will also host a series of monthly informative workshops along with SheaMoisture. These programs will educate and inform black female entrepreneurs and the diverse Canadian Black community on a series of topics. These topics include: Rethinking Your Business Model, Future Proofing Your Business and more.
More about SheaMoisture
The Dream Fund is just another addition to SheaMoisture’s list of global community givebacks. As part of their Community Commerce business model, SheaMoisture partners with women-led co-ops in Ghana to source its shea butter. Their core belief is that commerce can bring economic independence and empowerment to women, breaking cycles of poverty. The brand further reinvests into both the co-ops and the communities it serves globally. SheaMoisture continues to create economic opportunities for women and minority entrepreneurs in Canada within its ecosystem with The Dream Fund.
Fore more funding opportunities, check out 16 Funding and Money Resources on Lioness.
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