Help us empower mid-life visionaries

 

Threadneedle Alley Foundation is built upon a multi-generational legacy of entrepreneurship. Through our founder’s annual monetary support, the generosity of donors like you, and ongoing support from our mentors, we can help aspiring midlife entrepreneurs in financial need pursue their passions, embrace their potential, and bring their ideas to life.

 

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Why entrepreneurs in midlife?

 

Entrepreneurship is our passion. We want to help every small business, but Threadneedle Alley Foundation focuses on this small sector of those aged 40 and up, which has a unique set of superpowers and challenges:

 

• Midlife is an island between young adulthood and old age. You’re not young, but you’re not old, either.  You may be feeling a pull to do something different.

• You have gained emotional maturity and experience from spending more than a decade in a profession or caring for a family.

• You are in a period of transition. Perhaps you've aged out of your job or are facing age discrimination while seeking employment.  If you have kids, perhaps they have reached an age where they don’t need you every minute. 

• You are in the “sandwich generation,” where you are responsible, often financially, for kids AND your elders.   

 

We are here to help this select and special group make that big idea HAPPEN.

 

Our commitment

 

We will award a minimum of three $5,000 grants every year. Winners will be hand-selected by our board from the pool of entries. 

 

First and foremost, entrants should be in midlife and from underserved communities or in financial need. Grant winners will then be chosen based on additional criteria, including the potential of their idea, their mission, and their presentation.

 

Our winners

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In addition to the one-time monetary grant, each winner will be assigned a lead mentor, who is also an entrepreneur.  The mentor and mentee will meet virtually once per month, as schedules allow, to discuss progress and tackle challenges.  

 

The winners will also have access to our bench of entrepreneur mentors, who have a broad range of expertise, including brand building, marketing, and finance. Our mentors are passionate about helping their fellow visionaries.

 

The impact of your donation

 

These are challenging times for small businesses, especially those from underserved communities, who are starting their second act. A monetary grant can help to propel–or save–a small business.

 

Imagine, providing funds to help a new brand launch a game-changing product. Or learning that an engineer was able to bring a new and essential innovation to the marketplace, thanks to a grant you provided.  Or a former teacher-turned-fitness instructor launch their digital course.  
 

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How to give

 

Our founders have committed to a total cash donation of $20,000 per year, which will cover three cash awards of $5,000 and minimal operating expenses, but we need your help. Your donations will help provide funding for additional grants & support for entrepreneurs, as well as the support we need to run and grow Threadneedle Alley Foundation, such as grant writing & research, podcast production, ongoing web design, and more.

 

All donations are tax-deductible. With every donation, we will provide a receipt for tax purposes.  

 

You can donate by accessing our secure portal below and you can choose between a one-time donation or a recurring donation. 

 

We welcome donations from individuals, other non-profits, and businesses. Have an idea about how we can partner?  Would you like a Threadneedle Alley Foundation grant in the name of your business or foundation?  Reach out to us at info@threadneedlealley.org. We welcome your ideas.  

 

To learn more about the Threadneedle Alley Foundation story, click here.