Here is more discussion about the Leadership Grants Association (which is running in the US and Canada) — including a blog saying it seems like a scam, with a reply from Leadership Grants saying it isn’t a scam, and first-hand experiences of several people who applied and their thoughts on it. I’ve also included links and notes from the Better Business Bureau.

The Blog and Replies:
http://laredobookstoreblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/leadership-grants-organization-oh-sweet.html

The Better Business Bureau:
They have three records for Leadership Grants, which has addresses in Toronto, Calgary and USA.

USA: (Primary Contact: Ms. Sarah Morgenstern) http://www.bbb.org/new-jersey/business-reviews/government-grant-services/leadership-grants-organization-of-america-in-morristown-nj-90081587

Toronto: (Shelly Barnes, General Manager) http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/business-services-general/leadership-grants-organization-of-canada-in-toronto-on-1223092

Calgary: (Primary Contact: Ms. Shelley Barnes, Applicant Support Services; Ethan Roberts, General Manager; Arlene Anderson, Managing Director): http://www.bbb.org/calgary/business-reviews/general-business-services/leadership-grants-organization-of-canada-in-calgary-ab-69931

As of Dec. 2011, all three have an A- and no complaints listed at the BBB. The Calgary record has “Additional Information” from the BBB, which I quoted below:

“This company came to our attention through an inquiry about its operations. It advertises grants from private sources for start-up or expanding small businesses that can use the funds within six months. Clients must supply a business plan which would be an additional cost, and according to information on their website, there is no guarantee of acceptance even if all conditions are met.The company operates in Canada and the USA and the application is online with a contact telephone representative. The website says it operates in Toronto and Calgary in Canada, but the Calgary location is a call and mail-forwarding centre which is not a point of contact for clients. A request from the BBB for some updated information has been responded to, but not other aspects of governance and sponsorship. BBB file opened: 07/07/2011 Business started: 01/10/2009″

This first set of links will bring you to company websites that display the “Sponsored by Leadership Grants” logo:

TSR Virtual Solutions: http://www.tsrvirtualsolutions.com/

Adrenaline Productions: http://www.adrenaline-productions.ca/
This is a basic ‘business card’ style webpage that lists the company’s contact info. Once here, of you click on the company logo, you’ll find yourself on a little-used Facebook Page. However, they also have an active and up-to-date website here: http://www.clubzone.com/adrenalineprod

There is also a discussion page here with complaints about Leadership Grants at: http://forums.redflagdeals.com/scam-816296/

Comment by: Murray J. Anderson
Are you in Canada or the USA? In Canada there are a number of Federal Government business start up and/or expansion programs available to people with disabilities or special needs. If you approach them with a solid written business plan in hand (as opposed to just a nebulous idea for a business with no real supporting data) they can make a fair amount of money available for the right applicant. Some of it is low interest (or even forgiveable) loans, some is grants and some is as ‘in kind’ value (they directly pay an approved school to expand your training or an experienced business individual from your field to act as a Mentor). Best of luck… be sure to follow up with us and let others know what did and didn;t work for you! http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/audiences/disabilities/business.shtml

http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/business-offices/idm/montreal.html

http://www.yesmontreal.ca/yes.php?section=entrepreneurship/contest

Website: http://www.fondationdumaire.ca/en/index.php

That’s an excellent question. My suggestion is to visit the OVCF website and review their FAQ section, to start with. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, the website also lists a contact email and phone number. Good luck!

Thank you

I always advice my business clients to have their financial security in place for approx 12 months, before starting their business. In the early stages your business will not be able to pay you, so having a financial cushion saves alot of stress.

This is a great point ‘Remember that how you manage your funds is just as important as securing them.’

Live YOUR Passion

Georgina

Actually, I don’t. However, you may be able to get some resources by posting your question on our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/EntrepreneurialWoman . We have a large audience in both Canada and the US, so other entrepeneurs may have this information.

Let us know what you find out!

- Cathy

I put your question up on our facebook fan page as a Brainstorming Question. We’ve already had a response and they gave a link as well for you to check out. To follow the discussion, please visit the facebook fan page. This link will take you directly to your question and the answers it is generating.

http://bit.ly/afWSrI

Or you can go to the front page of the Facebook Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/EntrepreneurialWoman#!

Hope this helps!

Thank you for having this website.

I am 44 yrs old and have had Fibromyalgia for 20 years. I started a business that is doing very very well and have personally invested over $200,000 of personal money into it. We see great potential but now need to step up on a larger scale. We are at that point where we need some capital to help us break through the start up/small business ceiling since we are beginning to no longer resemble that.

I was relieved to hear that they are legitimate. Are there any programs for women with disabilities and women entrepreneurs?

Regards,
Meena ~

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/work/small-business/article.html?in_article_id=506308&in_page_id=10

Thank you for bringing this up. It’s important for any business to be thorough in their research, and checking net blogs is a good way to add to your information pool.

Your email prompted me to do further research. Here is what I found out:

1. They are a legally registered not-for-profit corporation with the government of Canada.
UPDATE – Jan. 2012: From the Canada Corporations Website:”CCA refers to the Canada Corporations Act.
Part II of the CCA is the act that governs federally incorporated not-for-profit corporations until
they transition into the NFP Act.”

Corporation Number:4537467
Business Number: 838600658RC0001
Governing Legislation: Canada Corporations Act – Part II – 2009-10-19

2. The Better Business Bureau of Canada has received no complaints.
UPDATE – Dec. 2011: At this date, their rating is A-. See full report here:
http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/business-services-general/leadership-grants-organization-of-canada-in-toronto-on-1223092

3. Most of the businesses they list as award recipients have websites.

4. I found a blog that posted both a complaint about, and a reply by, the organization: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-416-572-7694

5. Finally, I randomly picked one of the award recipients (Davelle Morrison at Fit, Firm ‘ Fab) and sent her an email. She confirmed she had received a grant, and stated the organization is legitimate.

You can confirm all of this independently — although I’d suggest picking another recipient at random just so Davelle doesn’t end up getting hundreds of emails. Some of the resources I used include: whois (to check out who owns the websites listed on their Award Recipients page, and to get their phone numbers and mailing addresses), Industry Canada (to search for their charity status: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs04388.html and scroll down to “The Leadership…”) and the Better Business Bureau’s website.

UPDATE – DECEMBER 2011: The above link for Industry Canada no longer works. Here is a new link:
https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/scr/cc/CorporationsCanada/fdrlCrpDtls.html?corpId=4537467&V_TOKEN=1324536248977&crpNm=&crpNmbr=4537467&bsNmbr=

If you choose to apply for a grant, we’d love to hear your experiences.

- Cathy

Thank you.

Ash