Dream Investment Program 2026-27 (Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium)
Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium (with Kindred Futures; Kellogg Foundation support)
$2,500 to $5,000 on completion
Seed money for Black girls, women and femme entrepreneurs in 13 Southern states, paid on completing a 16-week cohort. Cohort 2 applications closed October 22, 2026; the next cohort is not announced.
The Dream Investment Program is a 16-week cohort for Black girls, women and femme-identifying entrepreneurs in 13 Southern states. It has a Youth Entrepreneur Track (ages 13 to 17, idea or business under two years old) and an Early-Stage Entrepreneur Track (age 13 or older, business operating two to five years). The program page lists $2,500 for young entrepreneurs and $5,000 for early-stage entrepreneurs upon successful completion. The Cohort 2 application closed October 22, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT. The cohort runs November 14, 2026 to April 17, 2027, with seed money paid on completion.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Foundation
- Amount range
- $2,500 – $5,000
- Realistic amount
- $2,500 (youth track) or $5,000 (early-stage track); paid on completion.
- Deadline
- Cohort 2 applications closed October 22, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET (or earlier, at 150 applications; the form already showed closed on October 20). The next cohort is not announced.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, TN, TX, SC, WV, VA
Who qualifies
- The program centers Black girls, women and femme-identifying entrepreneurs and welcomes applicants from historically underserved and under-resourced communities
- Must be 13 or older
- Reside and provide service in one of 13 Southern states
- Youth Track: ages 13 to 17; business idea, newly launched business, or an established business operating for less than two years
- Early-Stage Track: age 13 or older; an established business operating 2-5 years
- For-profit business located in one of the 13 states
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Business seed money (use restrictions not published)
Ineligible expenses
- See official program guidance
How to apply
-
1
Check your track
Youth Entrepreneur Track (13-17) or Early-Stage Entrepreneur Track (2-5 years in business).
~10 min
-
2
Answer the narrative questions
What inspired you to start your business; what products or services; where in five years; how the program helps; anything else (optional).
~1.5 hrs
-
3
Complete the 16-week cohort
Seed money is paid on successful completion.
~40 hrs
The form has four required narrative questions with word limits of 100 to 200, so the deadline of October 22 is the constraint, not the writing.
Deadline & timing
"Application deadline is October 22, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT." The 16-week program runs November 14, 2026 to April 17, 2027. The 2024-25 window was November 1 to 30. Seed money is paid on successful completion. No AI policy found on the program page or form.
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Required documents
- Online form with four required narrative answers and one optional
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