The Money They Didn't Tell You About: A Fireside Chat on Funding Models

We don't need to tell anyone in the room that the funding landscape is rough right now. ESOs are stuck chasing the same shrinking pool of grants, trying to reinvent the wheel to keep their critical programs running while ensuring entrepreneurs have the support they need to build and scale. But capital doesn't only move through grants. Untapped resources and funding structures exist that can help when applied creatively.

In this fireside chat, three Richmond-region practitioners compare notes on funding structures often overlooked: CDFI dollars leveraged 10x, a CD product where dividends — not principal — fund a cause, and a county micro-grant that requires a 3:1 match and depends on ESOs to get applicants ready. Join us for a lively chat on how these resources can help unlock impact in your ecosystem.