The Dyer Grant Program: Here to Support and Take the Journey with Black-Owned Businesses

By La’Crystele Brown
FWIS Contributing Writer

The Dyer Family Foundation has generously supported leaders and non-profits over the years, which has made a great impact in the areas that Tammy and Jack Dyer felt passionate about. The Dyer Family Foundation was founded by Tammy and Jack Dyer in 2001. Jack and Tammy have raised their family in the city of Fort Wayne since 1973 and they have taken on various volunteer roles throughout the years. The Dyer Family Foundation’s mission is to provide financial support to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Fort Wayne market. The Dyer Grant Program was developed and geared to support Black-Owned Businesses. The Dyer team is hopeful that the grant funds will provide working capital to qualifying applicants.

Joe Jordan and Iric Headley birthed The Dyer Grant Program for Black-Owned businesses under the Dyer Family Foundation umbrella. Jack and Tammy Dyer had an unfeigned desire to support the African American community in a purposeful way, and Jordan and Headley brought that desire to life by developing a vision, bridge, and vehicle for the support to be given to African American Business Owners according to Tamara Headley, the Director of Administration.

Tamara Headley joined the Dyer team because she loves the hearts of Jack and Tammy Dyer for innumerable reasons, but specifically because of how they demonstrate their love for others, and their community. They haven’t been gratified with merely providing grant dollars to Black-Owned Businesses, but they also take the time to build sincere relationships with many of the grant recipients. Headley says that within the first few months of the program’s developmental stages she was asked to provide administrative assistance to the team, which then turned into her role being more centered on directing the operations and grant processes. The Dyer’s hearts, kindness, generosity, gentle spirits, and Headley’s love of the work she does, are the reasons that she enjoys working with the Dyer Family Foundation.

The Dyer Grant Program’s purpose is to help for-profit small businesses in key markets of Greater Fort Wayne, with financial support in amounts up to $25,000 based on program guidelines. Business requirements include:

1. Business with annual revenue of no more than $1 million dollars.

2. Business must be in existence a year or longer.

3. If a business owner operates more than one business, only one application to a single business owner will be accepted.

4. The name on the application must match the records with the State, County, and City.

5. Businesses must supply a certificate of Good Standing.

6. The business must have a business address within the greater Fort Wayne/Allen County geographic area.

7. Grants funded must be utilized towards any capital expenses that improve the business, such as: day-to-day business expenses, rent, working capital, payroll, utility bills, or losses due to destabilizing events, which would include any capital improvements.

8. Agree to share financials and other essential information.

9. Agree to share changes in the business as a result of the grant funding.

10. Agree to participate in business enhancing programs offered by Dyer Grant Program and its partners.

The Dyer Family Foundation team includes the founders, Tammy and Jack, Chuck Surack, of Surack Enterprises, Iric Headley, of Surack Enterprises, Joe Jordan, of the Boys and Girls Club, Lafayette Jordan of the Indiana Black Expo Fort Wayne Chapter, and Tamara Headley. During the grant process season, the team comes together to look through every application to learn if the applicants meet the program’s requirements and fit into their pillars of focus. After those steps, the team then uses their best discernment and collective experience to decide which businesses make it to their final round, which then determines the businesses that they personally visit to see them in action according to Headley. The Dyer Grant Program has awarded grant dollars to almost 30 Black Owned Businesses with a total of over $300k in grant dollars awarded over the past 2 years. There has been a vast compass of Black-Owned Businesses that have received dollars, some of the professions include Optical Landscaping, Fitness, Artistic Creations, and 13 Childcare Facilities over the past 2 grant cycles. Headley says that Tammy and Jack have special hearts for the African American community and want to journey with these businesses as they work towards continuous success. The Dyer Grant Program is accepting applications until March 20, 2024, to apply visit their site at https://www.dyerfamilyfoundation.com/apply2024.

When asked what advice she has for someone who may be interested in starting a foundation that gives grants, Headley expressed that there are several extraordinary Foundations in Allen County that contribute meaningful resources that result in amazing work being done. The Dyer Family Foundation is happy to be a small foundation with one program that is specifically centered on one mission. Headley’s only advice for anyone or group aspiring to start any effort that would support others is to stay focused on your mission. She says, there are always great needs within our community and beyond, and the temptation to meet every need comes from a great place but focus and discipline helps us all to make an impact in our specific lanes.

The Dyer team is not currently accepting applications for employment. If you would like to reach out to The Dyer Family Foundation with questions or for more information you can email them at contact@dyerfamilyfoundation.com. The Dyer team is grateful for the opportunity to partner with some of the most innovative, talented, and persevering leaders in our community, the Black-Owned Business owners.