WOOGIE $10,000 FUND ROUND 2

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Congratulations to Madelyn Brene Media. You are the Woogie Fund II winner.

The woogie fund 1st winner is

Blendz, Inc

Jamia Ramsey

Blendz offers an inclusive selection of high-quality, professional fleshtone dance apparel and shoes in various shades and styles that are specifically designed to flatter the skin tone, contour the shape of the body, and elongate the dancer's line from head to toe. Our apparel and shoes are made not only for the studio and stage but are also designed for the dancer with comfort, convenience and durability in mind.

Jamia Ramsey / Founder of Blendz, Inc.

About the woogie Fund

Learn About William A. “Woogie” Harris

woogie grant

William A. “Woogie” Harris was a serial entrepreneur and businessman committed to helping small businesses reach their full potential. He extended his financial resources and his home to other entrepreneurs who lack adequate support to compete in their respective industries. One example of Woogie’s charitable acts involved the acquisition of the manor on Apple Street in 1930; now known as the National Opera House. He and his wife, Ada B. lived in the home during the more exciting years of the house, in contrast with its earlier “quiet” years. Mr. Harris was known for his generosity. This $10,000.00 Woogie Fund aims to continue Woogie’s generosity with small businesses and non-profits in communities across the nation.

For Small Businesses & Non-profit Organizations

The Woogie $10,000 Fund is available to small business owners and non-profit organizations in the U.S. We strongly encourage you to apply for the Woogie Fund if you believe your business or organization needs additional capital to fund the acquisition of new equipment, hire additional personnel, or market your products/services.

Apply Now

The Evolution of banks

Woogie – The Banker, Philanthropist, and Employer of over 4,000 People

Banks, at one time, were people. In Pittsburgh's black community, the largest bank was Woogie Harris. William “Woogie” Harris was a numbers banker who ran the wealthiest, most organized Policy Shop in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He gave people who did not have access to traditional banks the opportunity to finance and insure their lives and businesses. Mr. Harris met the financial needs of 70% of a neglected community during his time and provided over 4,000 jobs; a number that exceeded many established banks at the time. Mr. Harris also provided financial literacy before it was an everyday term. In addition to being a philanthropist, he was also a developer who built the first golf course in the city of Pittsburgh. Today, banking has evolved and continues to evolve into a complex system where wealth is made through financial instruments not fully understood. The banks that understand this evolution of meeting the needs of the people of a community and filling their financial needs will enjoy the growth of the future of banking. At the National Opera House, although we are not in the banking business, we are giving away $10,000.00 to a small business or non profit organization to further extend the generosity of William “Woogie” Harris. In his honor, we named the fund - The Woogie Fund.

Key Information

  • The Woogie Fund Deadline: May 01, 2024; 11:59pm EST
  • The Woogie Fund winner will be selected on May 13, 2024.
  • Fund amount is deposited into the winners' bank account on May 24, 2024.  Please allow 3-5 business days for the amount to clear.
  • We reserve the right to close the Woogie Fund application early prior to the set deadline or extend beyond current deadline.
  • There is an application fee of $99.

To qualify for the $10,000 Woogie Fund, applicant must:

  • Operate an established entity (Sole Proprietor, Limited Liability Company (LLC), an S-Corporation (S-Corp),  a C-Corporation (C-Corp, or a 501(c)3)
  • Be in business for at least 12 months
  • Have at least 12 months of financial records (Income and Expenses)
  • Complete the application form in its entirety
Apply Now

the woogie fund faqs

We try our very best to answer all possible questions regarding The Woogie Fund. However, if you have a question that is not addressed below, please contact us with your question and we will be happy to include it for 

The Woogie Fund aims to help small businesses and non-profit organizations improve their economic conditions. 

William A. “Woogie” Harris was a serial entrepreneur and businessman committed to helping small businesses reach their full potential. He extended his financial resources and his home to other entrepreneurs who lack adequate support to compete in their respective industries.

This $10,000.00 Woogie Fund aims to continue Woogie’s generosity with small businesses and non-profits in communities across the nation. The Woogie Fund will be awarded to 3 qualified small businesses or non-profits.

The Woogie Fund of $10,000 will be awarded to one small business owner or a non-profit organization.

The ‘National Opera House’ or the ‘NOH’ is a Nonprofit Organization with 501(c) (3) status. We have partnered with several chambers in various states.  NOH is the grant fund manager.

Eligible small businesses and non-profits must:

  • Operate an established entity (Limited Liability Company (LLC), an S-Corporation (S-Corp),  a C-Corporation (C-Corp, or a 501(c)3 )
  • Be in business for at least 12 months
  • Have some financial records (Income and Expenses)
  • Complete the online application form in its entirety
  • Pay an application fee of $99. 
  • Be based in the United States
  • Have an annual revenue of less than $1 million
  • Have a business bank account

You do not need to submit any additional documents for the Woogie Fund.   We will verify with official government databases to confirm your company or organization’s status.

No. You do not need a business license to be eligible for the Woogie Fund.

Yes. Sole proprietors are eligible to apply for the Woogie Fund.  However, you must be registered with your state’s Secretary of State system to be eligible.

Yes.  Non-profit organizations are eligible and can apply.

Unfortunately, no. This round is only available to U.S. based businesses and non-profit organizations.

We do not request any information related to the immigration status of applicants. Applicants must answer all application questions and submit all required documentation to be eligible

At the top and bottom of this page, there are two links to the application form. Click either links and follow the instructions to apply.

The deadline is May 01, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.  However, NOH reserves the right to close the Woogie Grant application before the  stated deadline. Conversely, NOH reserves the right to extend the application after the stated deadline.

Yes.  Your business may apply more than once ONLY if you have not been awarded in the past.  If you have been awarded  (in any amount) by NOH, you must wait 12 months before you can re-apply.

Yes. Each business is considered a separate entity with its own application.  You must complete separate applications and pay separate application fees for each business or organization.

Yes. There is a fee of $99 to apply. 

Please consult your accountant for advise.  Generally speaking, your application fee is considered a tax deductible item.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the application, please send an email with the issues you are experiencing to support@nationaloperahouse.org.  One of our support staff will make sure to guide you through the application process.

Unfortunately, no.  The Woogie Grant application is very short and should take less than 30 minutes to complete.

Once you submit your application and pay the application fee, you will receive a notification about the next steps.  Please make sure that you input your correct contact information (e.g., email and telephone number).

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Following a strategic selection process, awardees are vetted and verified by NOH to ensure they submitted a complete application, meet eligibility criteria, and pass the business verification review.

Once you have submitted your application and received an email about the next steps, you will not be notified again until the application deadline.  You will receive an email confirming whether you were selected or not.

The Woogie Fund is distributed several days after the application closes. Please reference the schedule below:

  • Woogie Fund Deadline: May 01, 2024; 11:59pm EST
  • Fund winner will be selected on May 13, 2024. 
  • Deposits of $10,000 will be issued directly into one winners’ bank account on May 24, 2024.  Please allow 3-5 business days for the deposit to clear.
  • We reserve the rights to close application early prior to stated deadline or extend the deadline.

Yes, this Woogie Fund may be subject to tax reporting based on the value of the grant received. NOH will issue 1099 tax forms to all grant recipients in early 2024 to be filed as part of the 2024 tax year. Please consult with a tax professional to learn more.

If you received a Woogie Fund in any previous round, you are ineligible to reapply for 12 months. After the 12 month period, you may apply.