You’re ambitious. You know your goals. We’ll help you achieve them.

We’re dedicated to helping entrepreneurial (super) women build businesses to enable upward financial mobility. Simply put, we want to see you ELEVATE.

Why Elevate?

We offer Black women a hand up, not a handout.

Mitzie

Hair Salon Owner

“The women [at Grameen America] encourage me to be a better entrepreneur. We talk about networking, setting goals and we help each other build our businesses.”

About Us

We provide support and small loans from $500 up to $2,500 for first-time borrowers to start or grow your businesses.

We’ve invested in more than 176,000+ women to help them grow their dreams with microloans and enlisted the help of the BeyGOOD Foundation and Robert F. Smith to help Black women ELEVATE their business goals.

Shanté

Jewelry Business Owner 

“What I appreciate about Elevate is being able to build a business with like-minded people. This is exactly what I need because I’m at a place in my life where I’m expanding a lot. I love it. I love being able to hop onto meetings and get all the encouragement I need.”

We Make it Easy For You

  • No collateral

  • No credit check

  • No application fees

  • No formal business plan

1. Find Your Group

A woman with a dream finds four people she trusts to form a group.

2. Begin Training

Groups learn about loans, saving, and credit-building.

3. Receive a Microloan

Member receives a microloan to start or build a small business, allowing her to increase her income.

So, how does it work?

We keep it simple with a 6 step process to keep you motivated.

4. Attend Weekly Meetings

Groups meet weekly to get peer mentorship, make repayments, continue their education, and build support networks.

5. Elevate

With these tools in hand, Black women - just like you -  increase their incomes, build their credit scores, and create jobs in their communities.

6. Gain Ongoing Support

Women continue in the program and receive larger loans to invest in continuing to grow their businesses.

Ready to Get Started?

  • I am a woman who wants to start or grow a small business

  • I am looking to join a supportive network of women building businesses

  • I want to strengthen my credit history and build my score

You may not be ready to apply, and that’s ok. We’ll be here, waiting, when you need us. In the meantime, let’s stay connected.

Grameen America Inc. is required to be licensed in certain states due to its loan operations.

LOANS IN NEW YORK ARE MADE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 9 OF THE NYS BANKING LAW, SECTIONS 340-361 MAIN LICENSE NUMBER LL103768; CALIFORNIA PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA FINANCE LENDERS LAW, DIVISION 9 (COMMENCING WITH SECTION 22000) OF THE FINANCIAL CODE. THAT LICENSE IS ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL PROTECTION AND INNOVATION, MAIN OFFICE LICENSE NUMBER 60DBO35876. FOR INFORMATION OR COMPLAINTS, CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL PROTECTION AND INNOVATION, STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT 1-866-275-2677 OR WWW.DFPI.CA.GOV; THE STATE OF NEBRASKA PURSUANT TO THE NEBRASKA INSTALLMENT LOAN COMPANY ACT AND THE STATE OF TENNESSEE UNDER ITS RESPECTIVE FINANCE LAWS.