#FEARLESSFIVE

Commit TODAY to one or more of our #FEARLESSFIVE actions

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Invest

By allocating additional capital to WOC-led businesses and fund managers, institutions can play a crucial role in addressing the systemic inequities that have hindered WOC's access to capital and ability to succeed as entrepreneurs. This can be through LP or direct investments, and/or by supporting foundations and grant programs supporting this founder demographic.

Mentor

Invest time offering guidance to a WOC founder. Provide business-specific guidance, fundraising advice, hiring support, etc.

Hire

Evaluate the diversity within your existing organization. Make an effort to make sure there's diverse representation amongst your organization's overall team, leadership, advisors, vendors, etc.

Data Transparency

We can’t measure change without measuring data. It is challenging gathering data on the intersection of women of color entrepreneurs. We encourage founders and funders to publicly report the composition of your team's diversity across leadership, senior and overall team categories.

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Policy Advocacy

Nonprofit foundations, pension funds and endowments benefit greatly from both favorable tax treatment and state and federal funding. These institutions (LPs) invest heavily in venture funds to gain diversification (Olins Brookings Commission). We encourage policy makers to advocate for additional government-backed incentives to support investing in diverse founderspolicies such as the Community Reinvestment Act and tax incentives to support underrepresented, small businesses. The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1977 to encourage banks and other financial institutions to meet the credit needs of low- and moderate-income communities where they operate. The law aims to prevent discriminatory lending practices, such as redlining, and promotes fair access to financial services and investment opportunities for all qualified individuals and businesses within these communities.