Started in January 2016, JLNO’s Woman Entrepreneur (WE) Fellowship is a yearlong program supporting a female business owner with funding as well as mentoring and in-kind services sourced through JLNO’s membership. Women with at least a 50% stake in an enterprise that has been in operation between one to five years and making less than $750,000 are eligible to apply.
The WE Fellowship Committee reviews the submissions and selects up to six finalists. Each finalist will meet with a growth consulting firm to craft a 10-minute pitch. A judging panel selects the Fellow, and JLNO members develop a plan to secure in-League mentors and resources. Our WE Fellows have scaled their businesses, increasing staff, revenue, and industry recognition, and the finalists have gained knowledge, connections, and exposure through the pitch process.
The WE Fellowship goes beyond giving financial support to a small business. It aligns with the Junior League mission tenet to “develop the potential of women” by offering mentoring, training, and support. The program is innovative, specific, and impactful. Most importantly, WE Fellowship emphasizes the unique capacity women have for creative endeavors and perseverance, providing examples to which women and girls can aspire.
Eligibility
The business-owner should be:
- A woman who is the majority stakeholder in the enterprise or 50/50 with a spouse/partner and functions as its daily manager
- Aged 21 years and older
- A legal resident of the United States
The business can be in any industry and should:
- Have been formed under U.S. law and is currently operating within 40 miles of New Orleans, Louisiana
- Have between 1 year minimum and 5 year maximum of continuous operations
- Be an established business generating annual revenues greater than $0 and less than $750,000
The business must be in good standing at the time of the application submission and shall upload a screenshot confirming the Secretary of State filing. Nonprofit organizations or subsidiary or franchise businesses are not eligible.
The WE Fellow should represent the same personal and professional commitments as the Junior League, namely it embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion, and reaches out to all women who demonstrate an interest in improving their community.
Application Process and Timeline
Fellowship Components
- Mentoring and support services from Junior League of New Orleans Members
- $5,000 cash grant provided by Fidelity Bank
- Access to meeting space in Uptown New Orleans (not to be used as retail space; a value of
- $350)
- Tuition to JLNO’s Get on Board nonprofit board training program (a $250 value)
- Business coaching and evaluation by Trepwise consulting
- Feature in Lagniappe, JLNO’s quarterly magazine to 5,000 readers
- Opportunities to market to JLNO members
- One year of membership dues (a $220 value) should the WE Fellow meet eligibility criteria
- and elects to join JLNO; meeting the membership curriculum and subsequent membership renewals would be the fellow’s responsibility.