@Diane Payne is hosting her first in person sewing class, and she registered enough people to cover the facility, the supplies, AND walk away with a profit. That's not luck. That's planning, with a little favor sprinkled on top. We'll take both. @Erica Bostock is stepping out for her first vendor fair. Go get 'em, Erica! Here's the lesson tucked inside both wins: in person events and online marketing are not competing for your time. They feed each other. Before the event: Online fills the room. Post it, share it, and give people a clear reason to register or come find your table. During the event: Capture it. A few photos, a short video, one happy customer saying one sentence on camera. After the event: Take it back online. Post the highlights, follow up with everyone who came, and invite the people who missed it to the next one. A room has a capacity. Your phone doesn't. Let the event build trust face to face, and let your online presence carry that trust to the people who weren't there. Praying for full rooms and empty inventory, ladies! 🙏🏾

Community, it is my joy to introduce the first two recipients of the RISEhigHER Elevation Award, made possible by our friends at 2020 Counseling Professionals. Myra M. Harris, Founder of Horn of Oil Publishers, LLC (Maryland) @Myra Harris Myra is an author, educator, faith based teacher, and mentor with more than thirty years in education and more than twenty years in pastoral leadership. Horn of Oil Publishers creates books, journals, teachings, and Gatherings for people rebuilding after grief, illness, or loss. Her work helps people move past surviving and start rebuilding with hope and purpose. She has lived what she publishes, and it shows on every page. Diane Sue Payne, Founder of Sew Extra Fabric Co. (Illinois) @Diane Payne Diane is a mom, grandmother, entrepreneur, and lifelong creative leader. Sew Extra Fabric Co. offers precut sewing kits, custom quilts, quality fabrics, tutorials, and accessories for anyone who has ever stood over a beautiful piece of fabric, scissors in hand, too nervous to make the first cut. Diane makes that first cut for you, so you get to the fun part. Fun, personal, and a little extra, just like her. Each winner will use her award to carry out her own 90 Day Impact Plan, and we'll cheer them on every step of the way. Here's what I want you to take from this. Neither of these women won by sounding big. They won by being honest about where their businesses stand and clear about what they would do next. Say the smaller true thing. It wins more often than we think, and the Lord seems to like it that way too. Applications open again in Q4. The application, dates, and rubric will be posted right here before anything opens, so stay close. Drop a 🎉 in the comments and help me celebrate Myra and Diane. Women rise. Lives are lifted. Coach Jenn

Free Workshop Series: From Funding to Financial Confidence This September, Idealist’s Action Incubator program is launching a new 3-part workshop series for community leaders + new (or aspiring!) nonprofit leaders. Gain practical knowledge about launching a nonprofit initiative, and tips for designing a financial strategy. Register for one, two, or all three workshops today via Luma!

Hey friends, Tonight, in the live room I am announcing the winner of the RISEhigHER Elevation Award. Come celebrate her with me. She earned it. Then I am going to do something that matters more for you. Here is what the scoring showed in this round. Every single application lost the most points in the same place: the 90-Day Impact Plan. It is also the highest weighted section on the rubric and the one tied to the second half of the money. So the thing standing between our people and a funded plan is not talent, and it is not the business. It is one section that nobody has ever been taught how to write. So tonight I am teaching it. What a 90-Day Impact Plan actually is, what a reviewer is looking for, and the three mistakes that cost every applicant in this round real points. Now the part you need to hear. Applications open again in Q4. Because I am teaching this tonight, the 90-Day Impact Plan will be scored more closely in that round than it was in this one. The bar goes up, because you will have been shown where the bar is. That is only fair to the people who show up. If you plan to apply in Q4, be in the room tonight. 7pm CST in the live room: LINK See you tonight. Jennifer Murchison, M.Ed. Founder and Principal Consultant The Murchison Consulting Group, LLC Let's rise together.

Product-based business owners — this one is for you. One contract. 31 states. 👀 The Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies (AEPA) just posted a cooperative contract for Promotional Items — novelties, branded merchandise, souvenirs, and display materials for K-12 schools. One award gets you access to educational agencies across up to 31 states nationwide. If you sell promotional products, branded merch, or novelty items, you can bid on this directly. Registration is free. Before you submit: visit aepacoop.org, register via Euna Procurement, download the solicitation documents, and review the scope carefully. Event ID: PE-55964-NONST-2026-000000043 | Due: August 13, 2026 | AEPA Cooperative 💬 Comment TEST below if you are ready for your first government contract ⬇️ #GovernmentContracts #GovCon #ProductBasedBusiness #PromotionalProducts #SmallBusiness