named programs · 19 · from sources
What they call their work
East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program
Grant program launched in response to the May 2022 Tops shooting, providing capital to small businesses in East Buffalo
Pull Up & Pitch Competition
Pitch competition offering prizes including business capital, co-working space, and mentorship
Small Business Accounting Clinic
Free accounting advisory services in partnership with Alicia Officer of Halo Financial Group
Small Business Co-Ops Clinic
Free cooperative advisory services for entrepreneurs interested in starting co-op businesses
Small Business Finance Clinic
Free financial advisory services in partnership with Operation HOPE, including credit review and budgeting
Small Business Food Clinic
Strategic support for food businesses in partnership with The Bricks Collaborative
Small Business Grants Clinic
Free grant advisory services for BIPOC business owners
Small Business Insurance Clinic
Free insurance advisory services in partnership with Lawley Insurance
Small Business Legal Clinic
Free legal services for BIPOC entrepreneurs in partnership with Western New York Law Center
Small Business Loan Clinic
Free loan advisory services in partnership with local CDFIs
Small Business Logo Clinic
Free graphic design services for business logos in partnership with KenBoii Collective
Small Business MWBE Clinic
Free 8-week program to help BIPOC business owners become New York State certified as minority- and woman-owned businesses
Small Business Mentor Clinic
Free business coaching in partnership with SCORE Buffalo Niagara
Small Business Needs Assessment
Free one-on-one coaching for business ideas or existing enterprises
Small Business Photography Clinic
Free professional headshot and product photo services in partnership with Blanc Photographie
Small Business QuickBooks Clinic
Free QuickBooks Academy Certification and training for BIPOC business owners
Small Business Tax Clinic
Free tax advisory services in partnership with Advance Tax Services, LLC
Small Business Trademark Clinic
Free trademark advisory services in partnership with Latasha Lessington, Esq., to assist with USPTO registration
Small Business Website Clinic
Free website advisory services for local entrepreneurs
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Small Business Technical Assistance 3 activities
- Entrepreneurial support services for underrepresented and BIPOC entrepreneursProvides comprehensive entrepreneurial support services in Buffalo, NY, including business development resources, advisory services, mentorship, and capacity-building programs tailored to underrepresented and BIPOC business owners.
- Free advisory services for BIPOC business ownersProvides no-cost advisory services in areas including business law, tax, insurance, grants, finance, loan advisory, website development, accounting, trademarks, MWBE certification, QuickBooks certification, and cooperative business models to BIPOC entrepreneurs in Buffalo, NY.
- Partnership-based professional services for entrepreneursFacilitates access to free professional services through partnerships with organizations and experts, including mentorship (SCORE Buffalo Niagara), financial advisory (Halo Financial Group), graphic design (KenBoii Collective), photography (Blanc Photographie), and food business strategy (The Bricks Collaborative).
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 3 activities
- Incubation, acceleration, and mentorship programsDelivers an integrated suite of services including incubation, acceleration workshops, mentorship, coaching, and connections to funding sources to support entrepreneurs at various stages of business development.
- Incubator and coworking space for BIPOC and underrepresented entrepreneursOperates as the first incubator and coworking space in Western New York dedicated to supporting BIPOC and underrepresented entrepreneurs through physical space, operational tools, and structured business development resources.
- Structured business development program using a 4 Pillars ApproachOffers a formal support program based on a 4 Pillars framework to help entrepreneurs identify and overcome business challenges, enabling sustainable growth and scalability.
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Municipal and Community General Support 1 activity
- Administration of small business grant programAdministers the East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program, providing financial support to small businesses in East Buffalo, particularly in response to the impact of the May 14, 2022 mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Workshops, conferences, and skill-building eventsOrganizes and hosts educational events, panel discussions, workshops, and conferences focused on personal development, career advancement, financial literacy, real estate, cannabis business, food industry development, and leadership for BIPOC entrepreneurs.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Youth and community engagement eventsHosts youth entrepreneur events, pitch competitions, community block parties, and local celebrations to engage emerging entrepreneurs and strengthen community ties in Buffalo.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Technology-enabled coworking operationsUses Coworks coworking software to manage member access to rooms and resources via mobile app, while enabling staff to oversee operations through a centralized dashboard.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.03M
Contributions & grants$984K96%
Program service revenue$30K3%
Investment income$12K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.16M
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$372K
Grants paid out$101K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$929K
Cash$901K
Investments$0
Liabilities$805K
Net assets$124K
Liquid reserves9.3 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +71.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DERRICK PARSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $100K |
board members · 8
- DARREN SAXON — DIRECTOR
- DAVID RUST — DIRECTOR
- KIMBERLY LAVARE — DIRECTOR
- LISA HICKS — CHAIR
- MATT DAVISON — DIRECTOR
- SHANA RICHARDSON — DIRECTOR
- THOMAS BAINES — DIRECTOR
- THOMAS MURDOCK — DIRECTOR
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- Advance Tax Services, LLC Partner — Provides free tax advisory services to BIPOC business owners.
- Alicia Officer Partner — Provides small business accounting advisory services through Halo Financial Group.
- Bank on Buffalo Partner — Supported the Black Business Month end-of-month celebration.
- Blanc Photographie Partner — Provides professional headshot and product photography services for branding.
- Community Services for Every1 Partner — Supported the Black Business Month end-of-month celebration.
- Coworks Partner — Provides coworking management software used by Ignite Labs to enable room and resource booking, event management, and operational reporting.
- Derrick Parson Partner — Executive Director of The Exchange at Beverly Gray, featured in discussion about services for entrepreneurs.
- Halo Financial Group Partner — Provides small business accounting advisory services in partnership with Alicia Officer.
- Jay Moran Partner — Conducted an interview with the Executive Director of The Exchange at Beverly Gray for a media feature.
- KenBoii Collective Partner — Provides free graphic design services for business logos and color palettes.
- Latasha Lessington, Esq. Partner — Provides free trademark advisory services for USPTO registration.
- Lawley Insurance Partner — Provides free insurance and grant advisory services.
- Lieutenant Governor Delgado Government — Partnered with The Exchange at Beverly Gray to launch the East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program.
- Lorenzo Rodriguez Partner — Conducted interviews with vendors and entrepreneurs at The Exchange's Black Business Month Block Party.
- M&T Bank Partner — Supported the Black Business Month end-of-month celebration.
- Operation HOPE Partner — Provides free financial advisory services including credit review and budgeting support.
- Podhub Partner — Hosts Podhub, a podcast production studio, within its facility to support media entrepreneurs.
- SCORE Buffalo Niagara Partner — Provides free mentorship and coaching from seasoned business professionals.
- Spectrum News Partner — Collaborated on a broadcast highlighting resources for Black businesses during National Black Business Month.
- Statler Buffalo Partner — Venue partner hosting the 'Bold Moves Only II' conference.
- The Bricks Collaborative Partner — Provides strategic support for food business model development and operational streamlining.
- Tops Friendly Market Partner — Collaborates in response to the May 14, 2022 mass shooting to support small businesses in East Buffalo.
- University at Buffalo Partner — Academic partner in operating the first incubator in Western New York specifically serving BIPOC entrepreneurs.
- University at Buffalo Partner — Partner in establishing and operating The Exchange at Beverly Gray.
- University at Buffalo Partner — Partnership provides program members with access to legal assistance through the university's law school, state tax exemptions for newly formed businesses, and research support via the Maven platform.
- Western New York Law Center Partner — Provides free business law services in partnership with The Exchange.
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Business Incubation with Staged Support for BIPOC Entrepreneursmethodology: staged_startup_supportBy providing a structured, stage-based model that combines incubation, acceleration, mentorship, and funding access, we increase the likelihood of business launch and growth for early-stage BIPOC entrepreneurs because it addresses evolving needs across the startup lifecycle.
- Equity-Centered Ecosystem Building for Generational Wealth Creationmethodology: equity_inclusion_innovation_frameworkBy treating entrepreneurship as a vehicle for generational wealth and targeting systemic barriers faced by BIPOC founders, we enable high-growth business ownership because equitable access to capital, mentorship, and innovation pathways compounds economic impact across communities.