Phillip W. Dunn

“A US federal court of appeals panel has suspended Fearless Fund, an Atlanta-based, Black woman-owned venture capitalist firm, from continuing the firm’s Fearless Strivers Grant Contest, a grant program for Black female business owners. In the 2-1 ruling, the panel of three judges, two appointed by Donald Trump and one appointed by Barack Obama, ruled that the grant program “is substantially likely to violate” section 1981 of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits the use of race in making contracts. The panel of judges ruled that Fearless Fund is unlikely to enjoy first amendment protection and that its program “inflicts irreparable injury”. The INJURY IS THAT BLACK WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS RECEIVE ONLY .06% OF ALL PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTMENT! Trump appointed judges are abusing the intent of civil rights laws that were created (in part) to rectify historic INJURY to Black women and deny them even a sliver of the pie. The INJURY is that 400 years of systemic racism, laws and legal practices in the United States have denied jobs, homes, land and life to Black Americans and created a 14-1 wealth gap between white and Black Americans. The average net worth of a Black American today is $10,000 whereas that of a white American is $140,000 - and the gap is growing. Fearless Fund bringing private capital to the table for Black women are the BEGINNINGS of REPAIR for 400 YEARS OF INJURY.

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As Black women assume more leadership positions across industries they are coming under attack in a variety of ways. The goalpost for success and credibility is constantly being moved backward or redefined. Therefore, the way attacks are crafted and deployed is also changing. We are ready to Clapback and Get the Facts.   #SistersLead #SistersVote @SistersLead    https://lnkd.in/eMJGY8dj

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Tactics to remain inequitable change must be challenged and dismantled immediately!

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Learn from Ms. Valerie!

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I am so grateful to have been one of the 151 women selected for cohort 5 of the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women in Business program (out of more than 4,000 applicants). It’s reignited my passion for taxes and serving business owners in that manner! Super excited for the summer. Are you ready to save $10,000 or more in taxes this summer?! Get in the waitlist for the summer workshop series where I'll be sharing tips and strategies I share with my 6 and 7 figure business clients that's save them $30,000. Are you in?! Drop a 💙 in the comments and l'll be sure to DM you the link. #womeninbusiness #cpa #taxes #taxplanning #ombw #empoweringwomen #finances

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Shout out to the newly launched Untapped Investing! Founded by three Black women and announced on Juneteenth, this angel investing group will focus on supporting #BlackWomen and other underrepresented entrepreneurs. A collective of 46 founding members of the network will provide underserved entrepreneurs with capital and services, including access to executives and industry leaders. Their work will help address the problem of extremely low venture capital funding for #BlackFounders, who receive only .48% of capital, and women founders, who are stuck at a longstanding 2% of venture funding. Gender-diverse founder and leadership groups outperform on financial and operational metrics. Women founders show relative strength on achieving venture funding exits. See bit.ly/GLIQ for our latest quarterly analysis of equality-focused investing. POCIT Sara Keenan #VentureCapital #AngelInvesting #EqualityFocusedInvesting #GenderLensInvesting Mica Eades Mayo Attica Alexis Jaques Felicia Mayo

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Did you know that women are starting more profitable businesses? The Black business community is an untapped market for financial institutions. I'm putting this out in the open—repeating it: Access to Capital: A Persistent Challenge for Black Businesses and Real Estate Developers! Access to capital is a real problem for Black businesses and real estate developers. Despite many of them having exceptional credit scores and holding significant equity in several properties, they still receive lukewarm treatment from commercial lenders. What’s the real deal here? Is there an underlying agenda to prevent Black individuals from building wealth? It's time to address these disparities and advocate for equitable access to financial resources. Let's raise this issue and advocate for change. Everyone deserves a fair shot at building wealth and achieving financial success. Grow with us. Here is a unique opportunity to become an Innovative loan originator. Contact me at RIBBA #EconomicEquity #AccessToCapital #SupportBlackBusinesses #WealthBuilding #FinancialInclusion #women #jobs #wealth #loans

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Supporting Black Businesses helps Close the Wealth Gap Here’s a quick reminder to support black businesses. Why? Because it helps close the existing wealth gap. Studies show that a dollar circulates in different communities for varying days before exiting. For example: * Asian community: ~30 days * Jewish community: ~19 days * White community: ~17 days * Hispanic community: ~6 days In the black community, a dollar circulates for only up to six hours. This highlights the need for economic support. More money in circulation within black communities leads to financial stability and growth. While you should continue supporting your favorite brands, ensure your dollar also contributes to closing the wealth gap. If you need assistance with starting your business and/or managing finances, feel free to reach out. #financialfriday #quickbooks #business #wealth #blackowned #bookkeeping #consulting #smallbusiness

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Here is my latest piece for McKelvey Engineering.

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PNC And Howard University Are Shaping The Future Of Black Entrepreneurship The collaboration supports scholarships, grant programs, and educational initiatives specifically designed to empower aspiring Black entrepreneurs. Contributing over $206 billion annually to the economy and supporting 3.56 million American jobs, companies like Calendly, SheaMoisture, and Esusu Financial are among over 100 Black-owned startups that have achieved unicorn status with over $1 billion-plus valuations. Multi-million-dollar acquisitions like Compass Diversified’s purchase of The Honey Pot underscore the growing economic power of Black-owned companies. While headlines celebrate these successes—as they should—they remain exceptions rather than the norm. Despite the surge in Black entrepreneurship, significant funding gaps persist, with approximately 71% of Black-owned startups denied VC funding compared to only 12% of their white-owned counterparts. Assessing success through the lens of oppressive historical context can skew perspective. Surpassing benchmarks set under discriminatory conditions is a flawed measure demanding broader evaluation. In comparison, only 1% of Black business owners are able to obtain loans during their founding year, compared to 7% of white business owners. Federal Reserve data shows that loan applications from Black business owners are rejected at more than twice the rate of their white peers, and even when they do secure loans, they face higher interest rates averaging 7.8% compared to 6.4% for their white counterparts. These funding disparities paint a troubling picture beneath the surface of celebrated Black business growth.

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On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Major General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston Island, Texas, to deliver the belated news that the 250,000+ enslaved African Americans were to be freed. The news Granger delivered is known as General Order No. 3 and the date is commemorated as Juneteenth. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory. However, several reasons explain why it took over two years for General Order No. 3 to be delivered and for widespread freedom. 1) Enforcement of the Proclamation depended on the advance of Union troops, and many areas remained under Confederate control until later in the war. 2) News was slow to be delivered across the country. Social media and other more immediate communication tactics were nowhere near existence. 3) There were deliberate efforts by some slaveholders to withhold information about the Emancipation Proclamation from enslaved people. Although General Order No. 3 declared freedom for enslaved people, not all were immediately freed. 1) Some slave owners still continued to hold enslaved people until they were forced to comply by Union troops. 2) General Order No. 3 encouraged freed people to remain with their former masters and work for wages, reflecting the complexities and challenges of transitioning from slavery to freedom. 3) The sharecropping system and restrictive laws also limited the economic independence of freed African Americans, effectively continuing some aspects of slavery under a different guise. Today, Juneteenth, reminds us to educate ourselves about the struggles and contributions of African Americans throughout history – and to acknowledge history in its entirety. It inspires conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion in our communities and workplaces. And it reminds people of all backgrounds to come together to celebrate freedom and advocate for a more just and equitable society all 365 days a year. #DEI #Education Sources worth reading that help expand on the info I’ve placed above: - https://lnkd.in/gTCmy-gk - https://lnkd.in/gXTY_v_H - https://lnkd.in/gcESVXj6 - https://lnkd.in/gtM42JyW

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Unlocking Your Black Power: Transforming Health, Wealth, and Relationships Discover the key to unleashing your Black power and achieving holistic growth in health, wealth, and relationships. Dr. Boyce Watkins shares powerful insights and strategies to overcome challenges and create a thriving life. Embrace the pathway to success! #BlackPower #HolisticGrowth #HealthWealthRelationships #DrBoyceWatkins #SuccessStrategies #Empowerment #PersonalDevelopment #BlackLeadership #SelfGrowth #ThrivingLife

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A new survey by Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women (OMBW) initiative, unveiled on May 16, has shed light on the entrepreneurial aspirations of Black women across America. The study’s findings reveal that 6 out of every 10 Black women perceive entrepreneurship as a viable pathway to accumulating wealth. Moreover, should barriers be minimized, many would eagerly pursue business ventures to uplift themselves, their families, and their communities. Titled “One Million Black Women National Survey: Empowering Entrepreneurs,” the nationwide survey amassed responses from 1,200 participants. It represents the latest endeavor under OMBW, Goldman Sachs’ ambitious $10 billion investment to narrow opportunity gaps for at least one million Black women by 2030. Survey results projected that 54% of Black women who do not currently own businesses have contemplated launching their own enterprises. Notably, 77% expressed that increased accessibility to business loans, grants, lines of credit, or seed funding would render them more inclined to embark on entrepreneurial journeys. Furthermore, 71% indicated that a streamlined process for obtaining business licenses or permits would serve as a catalyst for their entrepreneurial pursuits. Learn more about the report https://lnkd.in/gGZWv2kn #BlackWomenLead #BlackLeadership #BlackEntrepreneurs #BlackWeath #NewReport

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I'm honored to have been interviewed in Lean In's Leadership Fundamentals for Black Women series. https://buff.ly/4eaojpc While Juneteenth celebrates some of progress made in this country, we still have a ways to go. Black women still earn 63.7 cents for every dollar earned by White men. A McKinsey study shows a significant decline in promotions rates for Black women in the last couple years; we are promoted at only half the rate as all men. We still need to advocate for ourselves when it comes to promotions and raises. Check out the "How to get the recognition you deserve at work" segment below for powerful tips as we continue to navigate these challenges.

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