Contribute to the Tanna Fund

Sustain Black Women and Women of Color Entrepreneurs

Grant applications are now live!

We’re now accepting applications for the 2024 Tanna Fund grant program! Learn more about the process and eligibility requirements via our application guide. The submission deadline is Saturday, August 31 at 5:00 PM. Awards will be announced by October 14.

Contribute to our 2024 Campaign

Ìpàdé believes in the ingenuity and innovation of Black women, women of color, and gender-expansive people of color. Our communities and society function and thrive with their expertise and genius. We acknowledge that communities of color have been historically under resourced and that disparity in funding continues today. We are committed to correcting that disparity, righting that wrong, and achieving economic justice. 

To that end, Ìpàdé has established the Tanna Fund, a giving circle that awards microgrants to early-stage Black women and gender-expansive innovators who need capital and support to launch their transformative business idea in the Washington, DC metro area.

Like Ìpàdé, “Tanna” is a word from the Yoruba language that means “blossom.” As a collective, we will help Black women entrepreneurs bring their early business ideas to life, firmly rooted with the resources, support, and care they need to thrive. 

We run on the power of contributors who:

  • Put their money where their heart is. 

  • Believe in the power of the collective.

  • Give their time, talents, and treasure with an Abundance mindset, gladly sharing what they have to set others up for success.

  • Believe in the ingenuity, creativity, and power of Black women and gender-expansive people. 

  • Care about Black people and want to see us blossom and flourish.

  • Trust Black women. 

Meet our 2023 Tanna Fund Recipients

VinBohême

Fully Bloomed

Equity Leadership Institute

Clean R US

Brij Coffee House & Lounge

BOOKED Trips

Health Whiz

JDavis Proposals

We’re committed to providing the resources Black women need to bring their ideas to reality and create transformational change.

Through the Tanna Fund, we are contributing to the growth and success of Black innovators with bold ideas. Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs, but for various historical and modern reasons including systemic racism, they earn less and have difficulty securing funding. Black business owners who apply for funding are more likely to get rejected than white business owners.

Black women entrepreneurs need our support, time, attention, and our money.

Some need a vote of confidence that their ideas matter. Some need money to purchase equipment or file application fees. Some need connections, guidance, and mentorship. The Tanna Fund is here to meet those needs.

We believe that a gift of any size can make a big difference. Many entrepreneurs put their personal funding on the line to see their dreams come true. We can ease that responsibility and help them overcome at least one hurdle on their journey to success.  We know that when we invest in Black women, we’re investing in so much more than one person. Black women make their money work to create businesses, programs, and services that our communities need. 

We go farther together, and we trust Black women to lead the way.

The Tanna Fund provides a unique opportunity for contributors to demonstrate their trust by directly pouring into Black women and into the Ìpàdé community. Contributors to the fund are also able to more deeply connect with Black women innovators through giving, networking, and mentoring. 

When we invest in Black women and people of color, we transform the world.

People Power

Thank you to our Founding Sustainers!

Olajumoke Samen

Brienne Adams

Khadeejah Honesty

Miata Sannoh

Shannon Jeffries

Khadeejah Honesty

Nicole Andonie

The Marigold Effect

Sophia Kerby

Stephanie Kimou

Kate Cockrill

  • Shannon Jeffries

    Shannon Jeffries

    Co-Creator, The Tanna Fund

    Grants Committee Lead

  • Nicole Andonie

    Nicole Andonie

    Grants Committee Co-Lead

 FAQs

  • At this time, contributions to the Tanna Fund are not tax deductible.

  • Sustainers of The Tanna Fund are invited to join the grants committee. The committee designs and releases the grant application and reviews all applicants for eligibility. Eligible applicants are then reviewed by the full giving circle and all members will vote. Grant funds will be disbursed shortly after awardees are selected.

  • Absolutely! We are creating multiple opportunities for Sustainers to connect with each other and with Innovators.

  • Please note that Sustainers do not earn income or receive any financial returns from this fund. The returns you can expect are non-monetary - the knowledge and satisfaction of supporting Black women innovators; growing your network with other Sustainers and Innovators; and personal growth in philanthropy.

  • No. We do not retain any profits from the Tanna Fund. All gifts are granted to Black women business owners or used to cover administrative costs associated with managing the grantmaking process.