Google and Visa Offer Grants to Support Social Justice and Black Entrepreneurs

The recent occurrences of Black killings by police officers have caused quite a stir in American society. The Black Live Matter movement which started out to protest the killings of unarmed Black civilians by the officers of the US police department has led to a lasting protest against systemic racism as well. Many people have outrightly condemned systemic racism and racial injustice, as well as supporting their words with possible actions that can be taken to curb the issue of social and racial injustice in America.

Many organizations, corporations, and individuals have taken it upon themselves to support Black-owned businesses and the Black community at large to bridge societal and wealth gaps. Some of these corporations have also released statements stating that they do not support social injustice, as well as taking responsibility for marginalized Black and minority employees. Google and Visa recently joined in the wagon of organizations pledging solidarity to the Black community.

Visa has announced that it will be creating a new grant program worth $100,000, targeted at supporting Black women-owned small businesses across the United States. This program is in partnership with the IFundWomen organization, slated to kick off by the end of June. The program will award $10,000 grants to 10 Black women entrepreneurs who desire to expand their businesses. In addition, the recipients will also receive additional resources, as well as, networking opportunities and mentoring programs with private coaches.

According to Visa CEO and chairman Al Kelly, “small businesses on the frontlines of the global economy deserve extraordinary support in this extraordinary time.” She also said the company was putting its “network to work to help 50 million businesses globally not to only survive, but also thrive, along with the communities they serve.”

Like Visa, Google has also announced its plan to show more support for social justice by giving $1 billion in ad grants, targeted at non-profit organizations dealing with Covid-19 related issues and racial injustice in line with the nationwide protests. Some organizations like the United Negro College Fund, Equal Justice Initiative, Houston Food Bank, Rethink Mental Illness, and the NAACP Legal Defense, has received the Google ad grants.

“Since 2003, ad grants have provided nonprofits with up to $10,000 per month in free search ads to help them attract donors, recruit volunteers, and promote their missions,” Head of Google Ad Grants Michelle Hurtado said in a blog post.

“The increased funding will go toward nonprofits tackling pressing issues like Covid-19 response and recovery—especially in hard-hit developing economies—and fighting racial injustice around the world.”