Learn More About Our New Impact Partner Grant!

What is an Impact Partner Grant?

The City of Raleigh has placed a priority on helping innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to start, stay, and grow in Raleigh, with an added emphasis on underrepresented entrepreneurs. As such, the City adopted the Impact Partner Grant program to partner with local organizations to create a more equitable and sustainable impact throughout the entire business community in Raleigh. The program provides grants to Impact Partners to help strengthen, develop, implement, and scale new or existing programs and resources to assist entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the local workforce in Raleigh.

What is an Impact Partner?

For the purpose of the grant, we are using the Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Playbook to help inform our definition of an Impact Partner. An Impact Partner, referred to as an Ecosystem Builder in the Kauffman Playbook, are critical stakeholders within the community ensure the success of a healthy, sustainable, and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Ecosystem Builders are creating an invisible infrastructure in their communities to allow entrepreneurs and small business owners to quickly find knowledge and resources they need to succeed. They advocate for local entrepreneurs and their companies, bring them together in collaboration, challenge them to grow, and push everyone forward. They are the catalysts, connectors, co-creators, and changemakers. Eligible sectors targeted by the program include:

• Technology and Internet of Things
• Consumer Packaged Goods and Products
• Design and Creative Industries
• Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals
• Social Impact and Social Innovation
• Professional Services
• Workforce Development
• Manufacturing and Distribution
• Transportation and Logistics
• Retail and retail-related services
• Non-Profit (non-religious programs)

Learn more about our Impact Partner Grant program.