The Artisan Entrepreneurs Academy is a six-week virtual program providing creative entrepreneurs with capital, coaching, and connections to help grow their business. We will welcome 100 existing creative businesses who are eager for sustainability and growth.

In 2025, this program will provide these business owners with:

• Six weeks of interactive webinars led by experienced business coaches
• Small group discussions with growth-minded creative entrepreneurs
• Access to one-on-one coaching appointments to address individual business needs
• A $5,000 business grant upon successful completion of the program

Application Deadline: April 25, 2025, at 5:00 pm CST

To be eligible, a business must:

1. Agree to participate in a 6-week virtual Artisan Entrepreneurs Academy consisting of weekly education sessions followed by small-group discussions.
2. Click here for the specific dates (FAQ)
3. Be a for-profit business located and registered in Illinois or Indiana.
4. Contribute to the creative economy, including crafters, artists, makers, musicians, and more. See “What types of businesses are eligible for this program?” below.
5. Click here for the full list of eligible businesses (FAQ)
6. Have an existing product or service currently on the market.
7. Be operational for at least 12 months and have filed a 2024 or 2023 business tax return.
8. Show annual revenue between $10,000 and $500,000 on the tax return submitted.
9. Have a business bank account

Required Documentation:

1. Valid form of photo identification: (e.g., driver’s license, State ID, Chicago CityKey, passport, permanent resident card, consular ID)
2. All pages of your business' most recent federal tax return
3. e.g., Form 1040 with Schedule C, Form 1065, or Form 1120
4. Must be either for 2023 or 2024
5. Business bank statement from 2025

Businesses will be evaluated based on criteria which include:

1. Your vision for the business over the next 2 years.
2. How participation in this program will enhance your business growth.

Please be prepared to answer the questions below and upload the required documents before beginning, since you will not be able to save a partial application and return to it later.

Questions? Contact granthelp@a4cb.org or (312)-275-3000.

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A note about data security:

Allies for Community Business holds individual data security in the highest regard, as we understand the profound importance of safeguarding the personal and sensitive information provided by applicants. We prioritize security to ensure that each applicant's data remains confidential and protected from unauthorized access, ensuring their trust in our process. By upholding strict data security measures, we aim to not only comply with regulatory requirements but also to demonstrate our commitment to maintaining the privacy and integrity of all applicant information, fostering a secure and trustworthy environment for all involved. The platform used for this grant program, Smartsheet, is secured via a series of best-in-class protocols including NIST-approved ciphers, proven transport layer security (TLS 1.2), AES 256 at-rest encryption, and Amazon’s S3 service to store and serve uploaded files.

Learn more here: https://www.smartsheet.com/trust/security

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