Sam’s Club awards grant to IVMF

The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) received a $450,000 grant from Sam’s Club to support women veteran entrepreneurs through its business management training program V-WISE, Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship.



The Sam’s Club grant helps IVMF to launch the first V-WISE Alumni Chapters in key regions around the nation, in addition to hosting the inaugural V-WISE Graduate Conference from Nov. 1–3 at the Westin Riverwalk in San Antonio. The conference will bring together more than 300 V-WISE program graduates to further cultivate their professional network and show them the key business concepts required to take their ventures to the next level.



In recognition of the unique challenges female veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs face, the IVMF launched the V-WISE program in 2010 in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The V-WISE program is tailored to help this distinguished population navigate the complexities of business ownership. In June, the program will embark on its 10th iteration, growing its graduate population to nearly 1,500 female veterans.



“In developing the graduate level training program, we know that business ownership is not something that happens at a moment in time, but evolves over time,” said IVMF founder and executive director J. Michael Haynie, “V-WISE graduates are at a critical time in their entrepreneurial journey. Now is the time to help these female veterans build and activate a network of business owners and mentors that spans the nation.”



The support from Sam’s Club allows IVMF to offer the V-WISE conference at no in-house expense to program graduates, with all lodging and food cost covered. In addition, the launch of the V-WISE Alumni Chapters will help the IVMF further its local strategy and formalize organic meetings of graduates. This combined effort will support the long-term sustainability of the ventures launched by V-WISE graduates.



“We are pleased to support all women- and veteran-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs, and to expand the distinguished V-WISE network that helps female veterans grow and prosper,” said Jason Kidd, SVP of Sam’s Club South Division. “Sam’s Club welcomes V-WISE alumnae to San Antonio this November and encourages new alumnae chapters to engage Sam’s Club for further small business training, savings and community support.”