Project I See You supports women as first-time homeowners and small business owners in Denver, Colorado through the Shared Power Initiative.
Apply for a GrantBecome a CaptainProject I See You supports women as first-time homeowners and small business owners in Denver, Colorado through the Shared Power Initiative.
Apply for a GrantBecome a Captain200 applicants and counting have applied to receive both first-time homeowner and business owner grants.
To date, 40 women have received or are committed to receiving a grant through the Shared Power Initiative.
Currently, over 60 women are in Shared Power’s first-time homeowner or business owner cohorts, or are being coached by our support network.
The Shared Power initiative supports women who are first-time homeowners and small business owners receive access to life-changing grants and a network of support. Our mission is clear—share the power!
As a response to the pandemic, Project I See You launched the Shared Power Initiative in 2021. With the pandemic disproportionately affecting women and women of color, we started with the goal of raising $10K for 10 women who would not otherwise be able to own their own home or keep their business open. We not only met our initial goal, but have continued to double it each year since!
Who is eligible to apply?
The Shared Power Initiative accepts grant applications from women in Colorado who are in the process of buying their first home on their own and are in need of support to complete their journey to homeownership.
View our Criteria.
How It Works
Shared Power homeowner applications are received throughout the year. If accepted, we invite applicants to an informational meeting to hear where you are in the homeowner process and give you more understanding about our program. View the Steps of the Program.
The program focuses on knowledge and education through a cohort group that meets on the Third Thursday of every month from 12 – 1 pm on Zoom. This includes a topic speaker and time for Q&A. We also ensure access to ongoing support from lenders, realtors, and others in our networks. View our Resource Guide.
Once you are under contract or get close to closing on your home, you will complete a Grant Request Form that allows our committee to determine what funds are available to be awarded. Shared Power volunteers will then welcome and move you into your new home!
Who is eligible to apply?
The Shared Power Initiative accepts grant applications from women-owned businesses in Denver who are registered as a business entity in the state of Colorado. These are small businesses who have gained clients and revenue and are now in a place of needing backup and support to continue to grow.
How It Works
Shared Power’s Business Owner Cohort run on a Yearly Cycle, with an open application period in January of each year through the end of May. If an application is accepted, we then conduct an interview and corresponding needs-based analysis to determine each year’s cohort participants. View the Steps of the Program.
If you are selected for the cohort, you’ll receive one-on-one mentoring and be surrounded by support in a monthly cohort! Within your cohort group, there will be access to business coaches, marketing professionals, financial advisors, and other women small business owners in the program.
Cohort gatherings are held for four months starting in July and end with a final meeting in October. Grant funds are awarded within the cohort, based on participation, in three installments. Once you have graduated from the program, you can continue to receive ongoing support and business guidance by meeting with the cohort as an alumni.
Brand’i’s business, Octeavia Stewart, helps people discover alternative perspectives about health and wellness by teaching how to use flowers, herbs, roots, and leaves, and flowers to support the body from the inside out.
She provides wellness concierge services along with a variety of beneficial teas, infused oils, soaps, and more.
Elizabeth is a small business owner that takes caregiving and compassion to another level! She not only runs Broom With a Clue but is also a full-time nurse.
Elizabeth believes clean is where people thrive and that a cluttered house points to a cluttered mind and heart. She offers residential cleaning, move-out cleaning, post-construction cleanup, and commercial cleaning in the Aurora, Colorado area.
LeDay’s beauty, passion, and positivity radiates throughout her business, MyKings Ice Cream. MyKings serves fresh, Colorado-made ice cream, specialty milkshakes, and great-tasting snow cones. Using the finest ingredients and Colorado dairy, MyKings creates the flavors dreams are made of.
LeDay’s mission is to help the youth of Denver become financially independent, one scoop at a time. Stop by the shop for a scoop today!
Nadia, AKA “Princess Yum Yum,” helps women and the LGBTQ+ community overcome confusion and overwhelm while reclaiming power of their minds and bodies!
Through her coaching business, Pyyfitness, Nadia helps her clients transform their bodies and become stronger than ever before. She has a huge heart for survivors from all walks of life and is building a community to empower folxs through fitness.
Danette serves Denver’s Five Points neighborhood with waffles so irresistible you can’t keep your hands off them! Sticky Drip Waffles serves fresh waffles topped with both sweet and savory options—from fruit and whipped cream to crispy fried chicken.
Whether it’s catering your next event, holding a pop-up shop, or donating delicious waffles to first responders, Danette and her team are the go-to for your waffle fix!
As the owner of PrayerCraft, Sage is an energetic healer and spiritual life coach specializing in feminine divinity and embodied theology.
She helps womxn release what no longer serves them, making room for what they value to take center stage in their lives. Sage teaches her clients spiritual hygiene practices, psychic shielding, and how to effectively use the tools of prayer, breathwork, and meditation.
Lorraine Joubert Boutique is where elegance, sophistication, customer service, and exclusivity collide through fashion. Breca creates one-of-a-kind, custom-made fedoras and jackets for her clients, and believes in style with no apologies.
Owned and operated by Brittany, The Dollhouse is a full-service lash and microblading business in Denver.
Unicorn Drug Testing is a no-judgment, non-discriminatory drug testing and screening provider in the Denver area.
Bianca and her team offer a welcoming, calm environment for a stress-free testing process. She believes every customer deserves the highest level of service, support, and privacy.
T—tenacious, W—well spoken, E—educated, E—esteemed, and N—noble. As owner of Tween Boutique, Chawuntaye’s mission is to empower young women to discover their inner beauty through fashion.
Operated by Lodene and her two daughters, Erin, and Jamie, Sweet Sweetz Ice Cream & Desserts is a Black-owned dessert store serving a variety of ice cream, desserts, and homemade baked goods.
Sweet Sweetz is committed to a supporting the local community by providing a positive gathering space for youth and families.
Nia is an accounting professional that serves entrepreneurs from all walks of life. Her career has been a natural progression from a genuine love for financial literacy to business ownership.
Nia offers friendly accounting services that are reliable, accurate, and organized. Her specialty is implementing internal bookkeeping processes and procedures with a results-driven approach.
The Shared Power Initiative receives support from individuals and teams led by captains. Captains are passionate people dedicated to raising $10K to to see a woman become a first-time homeowner or receive much-needed support for their small business.
We have the process streamlined with a Resource Guide and a fundraising platform, Give Lively, for captains to create their own page and have their own link to receive donations. Apply to become a captain to empower a woman today!
Circles are volunteers and community members devoted to coming alongside women in all aspects of ownership, from helping new homeowners move in to using their expertise to mentor a small business owner.
Become a part of the ISY Circle, a community developed by women for women. Circles are small groups devoted to supporting the emotional needs of the women in the Shared Power Initiative. Nothing changes a life like knowing you’re not alone.