Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: America’s New Business Plan

Entrepreneurs are underrepresented in policy debates. Whether attributable to a lack of financial resources to advocate, a lack of time, pessimism, or some combination of factors, this underrepresentation has left policymakers without a proper understanding of the unique needs and challenges associated with entrepreneurship. Without information about entrepreneurship and new ideas for helping entrepreneurs, policymakers will continue to lack an important perspective.

The America’s New Business Plan opportunity is intended to support policy engagement and advocacy projects that increase awareness of America’s New Business Plan (https://www.startusupnow.org/) and generate support for policies that reduce barriers to new business creation, thereby contributing to more supportive environments for entrepreneurs. This grantmaking initiative is focused on soliciting proposals that demonstrate or meet the intended objectives of this program, including:

• Policy Engagement: Increasing policymakers’ understanding of entrepreneurship and the barriers to new business creation lays the groundwork for policymakers to take action
• Entrepreneur Advocacy: When entrepreneur voices inform policy debates, policymakers are more likely to understand the needs of entrepreneurs

Projects may be local, regional, or national in scope. All proposals must demonstrate alignment with America’s New Business Plan.

Amount: Approximately $1,500,000 is available. Applicants may request funding up to $250,000; the average grant size will be $150,000 for an 18-month project period.

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to nonprofit organizations that have prior experience engaging in public policy. Additionally, eligible applicants must demonstrate the following organizational requirements:

• Capacity to successfully execute or have a record of successfully executing advocacy or policy engagement projects
• Commitment to supporting entrepreneurs
• Located in the United States

Link: https://www.kauffman.org/grants/current-opportunities/americas-new-business-plan-rfp

Note: December 6, 2019 is the deadline to register. Semi-finalists will be notified by January 15, 2020, with full proposals due on January 31, 2020.

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