MAINE BLACK BUSINESS PLEDGE

JUNE 27,2021: THIS OFFERING IS CURRENTLY ON HOLD. PLEASE CHECK BACK IN FALL /WINTER.

The power you have is immense! Imagine a Maine where Black and non-Black business owners had all the same resources, funding, and knowledge. This is where your organization comes in. We have listed a number of different ways to get involved below but we invite you to design an offering relevant to your organization and capacity. If you are having trouble designing your offering, book a consultation and we will walk you through the process.

• Retail
  • Allocate 10% of your shelf space to Black businesses
  • Source from Black artists/makers
• Restaurants
  • Source from Black farmers
• Directories
  • 10% Black-owned listings
• Influencer Social Media Accounts
  • Collab with and share Black accounts
• Service providers (lawyers, accountants, consultants, etc)
  • Offer 10% of your current pro-bono work to Black people and businesses
• Media Outlets
  • Offer discounted/free ad packages
• Educational Institutions
  • Consider your curriculum
    • Is it all White or diversified?
  • Do Black professors teach Black history?
• Foundations and Trusts
  • Set up a grant or fund specifically for Black or BIPOC people
• Libraries and Bookstores
  • Consider the authors you carry.
  • Do you celebrate Black authors in the same way you celebrate authors of other races?
• Coworking spaces
  • Take inventory of your members
    • Can you do the work to create a safe and more inclusive space?
• Land owners
  • Give your land back to its rightful owners: Members of the Wabanaki Confederacy
  • Transfer the deed and title to a BIPOC individual, family, or collective
• HR Departments
  • Do you have policies that directly or indirectly discriminate against Black people?
    • Examples include: Requirement to shave daily, no braids/locs, non-Black people holding positions that Black employees are perfectly/rightfully able to hold, etc
• Corporate Giving
  • Divert 10% of the giving you ALREADY make to Black founded nonprofits
  • Sponsor Black-run organizations events/programs
• ALL Industries
  • Link to Black Owned Maine on your website
  • Consider venders
  • Outsource work to Black professionals
  • Host a workshop with BOM  
    • Teach a skill set
    • Offer your expertise

After signing click here to find a list of Black organizations to potentially partner with.

Take a look at the facts:

Only 9.2% of businesses in America are owned by Black people, accumulating only 1.3% of sales. (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Business Association, 2012 Study of Business Owners)

Investing in Black Business will create 1 million jobs, with revenues of $187.6 billion, and provide every working Black American with $7,000 a year in income. (Source: Black Demographics; stats will be updated once the new census information is released).

Clearly, it’s time to close this vast racial wealth gap between Black people and their counterparts – and you can be part of the solution. 

• Watch the MBBP Info Session
• Speak up! If you’re unable to find a Black-owned business that fills a need, we want to know! Fill out this form so we can identify where there are gaps in the market. You could inspire an entrepreneur to start a business that will better reflect the needs of the community! 
• Get involved with BOM and PBL
• Contact us for more info.

Once you make the pledge, you immediately strengthen our Maine economy and our Maine community in such a profound way, and we can’t wait to see these pledges transform our state! Be sure to SPREAD THE WORD with your pledge (to friends, family, and on social media with the hashtag #BOMPledge) and encourage them to join the movement!

Contact us to become an organizational partner