KC GIFT’s $100K grant — its largest-ever — aims to help boost Black-owned job creator

A newly opened $100,000 grant represents a significant step in Kansas City GIFT’s mission to close the racial wealth gap — investing in Black-owned businesses that have the potential to become significant employers and economic drivers in their communities, said Brandon Calloway.

“We exist to right the wrongs of the past and create the economic equity that our city needs in order to be the truly great city that it has the potential to be,” said Calloway, co-founder of Kansas City G.I.F.T. (Generating Income For Tomorrow).

And that means ramping up the organization’s efforts even as trends show a nationwide rollback of diversity and equity-focused initiatives, he added.

“Our mission does not change or sway when someone new takes over the White House,” Calloway told Startland News. “We do what we do because it is the right, logical, and compassionate thing to do and nothing will get in the way of that.”

Applications are officially open for the new grant, which is specifically aimed at accelerating the growth of a high-performing Black-owned business in Kansas City, Missouri. The grant is industry agnostic, though Calloway noted, the ideal company has the potential to create a significant number of jobs (25 or more).

Click here to apply. The application deadline is July 8.

Eligibility criteria includes:

• Ownership: At least 51 percent Black-owned.
• Location: Based in Kansas City, Missouri (preference for businesses east of Troost Avenue).
• Operational history: Minimum of one year in operation.
• Revenue: Annual revenue of at least $100,000.
• Employment: Employ a minimum of two full-time W-2 employees, excluding the owner.
• Financial documentation: Submission of a Statement of Financial Activity and relevant tax returns (2023 and 2024 for businesses operating over two years; 2024 for those operating for one year).

Since its inception in 2020, KC GIFT has distributed more than $1.8 million in grants to 77 Black-owned businesses, resulting in the creation of more than 135 new jobs.

Most grants have ranged between $25,000 and $50,000 with notable recipients including such local businesses as Haul Pros, Friends & Family Lawn Care, Blueprint KC, Ruby Jeans Juicery, The Combine, Sweet Peaches Cobbler, Urban Restaurant, 1st Priority Heating & Cooling, Equal Minded Cafe, and Vine Street Brewing.

Click here to see some of KC GIFT’s success stories.

“Our focus has always been to support Black-owned businesses that can become significant employers on the east side of Kansas City and this grant will help us do that more aggressively,” said Calloway. “It will be another step in creating the economic engine that the east side needs, as it will facilitate business growth and job creation.”

KC GIFT recently was announced as a grant winner itself, earning an award through the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s project funding pathway to support expanded technical assistance from KC GIFT, allowing the organization to boost the number of Kansas City businesses served by 33 percent.

“Every grant that we give to a business on the east side comes with a year of free bookkeeping, business coaching, legal consulting, and a marketing package,” Calloway explained. “The Kauffman grant ensures that we can do that for this grant and so many others.”