Follow NEI’s journey in creating an inclusive small business support network.
Then, take your own.
NEI used philanthropic dollars to diversify the economy in metropolitan Detroit by creating a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, with a focus on supporting underserved small business owners. This site explains how NEI accomplished this, and includes NEInsights specific to its successes and challenges in southeast Michigan.
NEI’s Impact
years
of collaboration and trust-building
More than
companies
assisted
576 grants totaling over
million
to business support organizations
Over
people
employed
Over
billion
in leveraged capital
people
exposed to entrepreneurial services through programs, workshops and events
Learn how supporting underserved small businesses can
change the trajectory for struggling neighborhoods.
Explore the
how to guide
Why supporting small business matters
Learn how supporting underserved small businesses can change the trajectory for struggling neighborhoods.
Reaching underserved small businesses
Learn the characteristics of underserved small businesses and how to identify and support them.
Reaching underserved small businesses
Learn the characteristics of underserved small businesses and how to identify and support them.
Finding business support organizations
Learn what business support organizations (BSOs) are and how to identify them within a community.
Creating a robust network for small business support
Learn how to build and operate an inclusive small business support network that creates a collaborative culture.
Creating a robust network for small business support
Learn how to build and operate an inclusive small business support network that creates a collaborative culture.
Stewarding the network
Learn about the varying roles of the network steward, from catalyst to analyst, convener to funder, in developing, sustaining and elevating an inclusive business support network.
Measuring impact
Learn about how evaluation results help to refine programming, energize investments, build collaboration, and multiply impact.
Measuring impact
Learn about how evaluation results help to refine programming, energize investments, build collaboration, and multiply impact.
Influencing policy
Learn how to use proven economic outcomes effectively to gain the attention of public stewards and, ultimately, influence policy that supports underserved small businesses.
What’s next
Delve deeper into NEI’s branded programs with case studies.
Read detailed impact reports, access videos, and dig into other great learning.
Explore NEI’s timeline, from early beginnings to later-year pivots to its most recent COVID-response.
Delve deeper into NEI’s branded programs with case studies.
Read detailed impact reports, access videos, and dig into other great learning.
Explore NEI’s timeline, from early beginnings to later-year pivots to its most recent COVID-response.