September 29, 2025
SheaMoisture marks the tenth anniversary of its Dartmouth Fellowship program.
As SheaMoisture marks the tenth anniversary of its Dartmouth Fellowship program, the corporate has partnered with Aurora James’ Fifteen P.c Pledge to increase each entry and alternative for companies owned by Black ladies. For its 2025 cohort, 20 ladies will likely be chosen to take part someday after the appliance deadline on Oct. 10.
The 2025 cohort will embrace 10 entrepreneurs chosen by means of an open utility course of and 10 who’re handpicked by the Fifteen P.c Pledge.
Per the 15 P.c Pledge’s web site, James, a Toronto native and clothier, based her nonprofit advocacy group in 2020 as a solution to help in “closing the racial wealth hole by partnering with retailers to diversify their cabinets and commit 15 p.c of their buying energy to Black-owned companies.”
James’s group has, up to now, partnered with greater than 30 main firms, firms like Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, and Ulta Magnificence, to call a number of. By 2030, the group goals to generate $1.4 trillion in wealth for Black entrepreneurs and enhance Black enterprise illustration to 14.6%.
In accordance with The Grio, the Dartmouth Fellowship, named for the establishment that homes it, Dartmouth Faculty, has supported greater than 100 fellows over the course of its lifetime, offering them with an avenue to ease $400,000 in tuition and charges whereas additionally giving them a mean of a 6% enhance and a 14.3% income progress.
Initially, the fellowship was created in partnership with the college’s Tuck Government Schooling. The intention behind this new partnership is to assist underresourced companies increase and scale as they serve Black communities.
This system will run from Dec. 7-12 in Hanover, New Hampshire, the place the chosen fellows will take part in Dartmouth Faculty’s program, entitled “Constructing a Profitable Enterprise,” the place they may discover subjects like financing and money move administration, in addition to advertising technique and efficiency evaluation, in depth.
“We take immense pleasure within the achievements of the SheaMoisture Dartmouth Fellowship over the previous decade, staying true to our model DNA of supporting our group and empowering entrepreneurs,” mentioned SheaMoisture Chief Model Officer Obinna Keke in an announcement. “In at present’s difficult financial local weather, supporting small companies is extra necessary than ever. With this context, for the tenth anniversary of the Dartmouth Fellowship, we’ve strengthened the impression of this system by partnering with trade trailblazer Aurora James and Fifteen P.c Pledge, to mix assets, experience, and networks to increase our attain and help of entrepreneurs.”
James, in her personal assertion, famous that though the funding format is new for her group, she is wanting ahead to serving to present a community to the cohort that can profit from the partnership between Dartmouth, SheaMoisture, and her firm.
“We’re completely thrilled to associate with SheaMoisture for the tenth 12 months of its Dartmouth Fellowship,” James mentioned. “This partnership is a model new format for us, and an thrilling step ahead in our mission to increase alternatives for rising companies. By aligning our efforts with SheaMoisture and Dartmouth, we are able to present deserving founders with entry to academic assets and a community of friends that can maintain their progress for years to return.”
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