Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) have many benefits from membership in the statewide microenterprise association:
- Best Practices on microenterprise program research, resources, partnerships, and funding
- Networking, referral, and resource exchange opportunities
- Reduced registration fees for statewide conferences and individual workshops ($75+ value)
- Bi-monthly newsletters ($60 value)
- Access to GMEN’s financial intermediary funding program (up to $50,000 in grants available)
- Access to GMEN’s outcomes tracking program ($20,000 value)
- Access to GMEN’s success stories marketing cards for program entrepreneurs to tell the story about the entrepreneur and the supporting program ($400 value)
- Access to developmental opportunities for your entrepreneur clients: business plan competitions, marketing workshops, marketing competition, access to capital events, and governmental vendor databases (up to $1500 in equity funding for micro businesses in competitions)
- Representation in advocacy efforts for the microenterprise field on the federal, state, and local level
- Alliance with the national microenterprise industry association, Association for Enterprise Opportunities (AEO)
Remember an MDO can be a stand alone 501c3 or a division of a larger non-profit organization. If you provide business start-up, growth, or access to capital services to low-moderate income individuals, you are an MDO!!!
