Community-Powered Social Enterprise Launchpad

Youth economic advancement

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Systemic barriers such as underfunded schools, lack of mentorship, limited access to financial literacy, and minimal exposure to entrepreneurship prevent many individuals—particularly those from disinvested communities—from pursuing or sustaining mission-driven business ventures. These aspiring changemakers often have powerful ideas rooted in lived experience, but lack the strategic guidance, networks, and business acumen to transform those ideas into action. Traditional incubators and accelerators frequently overlook these communities, further widening the opportunity gap. ASE seeks to change that by delivering inclusive, culturally relevant programming designed to meet people where they are, providing not just education, but also a support ecosystem. By addressing the foundational inequities that hold back social entrepreneurs—especially youth and low-income individuals—ASE helps build lasting pathways to economic mobility, social impact, and community resilience.

This grant will support ASE’s Social Enterprise Accelerator—a 20-week program designed to empower aspiring changemakers from underserved communities in Los Angeles to launch and grow mission-driven businesses. Participants will engage in hands-on training, receive mentorship, and gain access to a growing network of investors, industry professionals, and nonprofit organizations. The program emphasizes financial literacy, sustainable business planning, social impact strategy, and community-based solutions. Through curated workshops, pitch coaching, peer-to-peer support, and exposure to funders, participants will graduate with a viable social enterprise plan and the tools to implement it. ASE’s innovative approach ensures that participants are not only prepared to succeed in the entrepreneurial world but also positioned to drive meaningful change in their communities. Grant funding will enable ASE to enhance curriculum development, support outreach efforts to underrepresented entrepreneurs, and build a robust digital learning platform to expand access and long-term sustainability.

Los Angeles County will see a rise in sustainable, community-rooted businesses led by individuals who have historically lacked access to entrepreneurial resources and knowledge. These ventures will strengthen Main Street, not Wall Street—focusing on locally-owned enterprises that reinvest in their neighborhoods and prioritize people over profits. Graduates of ASE’s program will launch businesses that address local issues such as poverty, environmental justice, and economic inequality—creating jobs, generating earned income, and building community wealth. Our long-term vision includes scaling the program to additional sites, expanding our digital platform to serve entrepreneurs countywide, and building a diverse pipeline of social impact leaders. This ripple effect will foster stronger local economies, increase civic engagement, and inspire a new generation of inclusive innovation.