In celebration of Black History Month, Zenith Wealth Partners spoke with Tanya T. Morris, the President and Founder of Mom Your Business, to discuss the profound impact of the racial wealth gap on Black and Brown female entrepreneurs. In this insightful interview, Tanya highlights the systemic barriers faced by these entrepreneurs and shares the innovative programs and initiatives her organization leads to address these challenges.

From providing capital access to mentorship and workforce development, Mom Your Business is reshaping the narrative around Black women entrepreneurs, advocating for equity, inclusion, and systemic change. Tanya also shares her vision for the future of racial wealth equity, urging nonprofits to shift from charity to long-term investment in wealth-building solutions for marginalized communities.

How do you see the racial wealth gap impacting the communities you serve, and what challenges do you face in addressing it?

“The racial wealth gap has a profound impact on the communities we serve, Black and Brown female entrepreneurs. Many of these women start businesses out of necessity, not opportunity, due to systemic barriers that have limited their access to generational wealth, capital, and financial resources. This gap means their businesses are self-funded, they struggle to secure loans, and lack the financial cushion to take strategic risks that drive growth.

One of the biggest challenges we face in addressing this issue is dismantling the systemic inequities that keep Black women entrepreneurs underfunded and undervalued. Traditional lending institutions still rely on outdated credit and collateral requirements that disproportionately exclude our founders. Additionally, many of the women we work with are balancing full-time jobs, caregiving responsibilities, and their businesses, making it difficult to dedicate time and resources to scaling.

At Mom Your Business, we tackle these challenges by providing access to capital through our Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) partners and by equipping founders with the financial education and mentorship needed to build sustainable, wealth-generating businesses. We also work to shift the narrative—Black women aren’t just resilient; they are investment-worthy. Our focus is on creating pathways to wealth, not just survival.”

Can you highlight a project your organization leads that is driving significant impact?

“Our capital access program certainly makes the greatest impact. Since 2021 we have helped founders raise over $500,000 in capital through pitch competitions, grants, low-no interest loans. Founders have used those funds to purchase inventory, get business certifications, open retail locations and so much more.

We learned from our initial signature program, Founders to Funders Cultivating Female Startups Business Accelerator that solopreneurs need executive level support in addition to capital to grow a sustainable business. So this year we are launching two new programs, Ramp Up Mastermind and Fractional: Filling Gaps, Fueling Growth, a workforce mentoring program to provide fractional executives to business owners to grow their business.” 

How do you ensure your work stays aligned with the values of equity, inclusion, and justice, particularly when faced with systemic challenges?

“At Mom Your Business, equity, and justice aren’t just buzzwords—they are the foundation of everything we do. Our work is centered on creating opportunities by removing barriers for Black and Brown female entrepreneurs who have historically been overlooked and underfunded.

To ensure our work stays aligned with these values, we focus on three key principles:

1. Access Over Barriers – We actively remove financial and knowledge-based barriers that prevent Black and Brown women from scaling their businesses. Whether it’s through our programs; Ramp Up Mastermind, Fractional (formerly Founders to Funders) and Technical Support we create direct pathways to capital, education, and mentorship.
2. Community-Led Solutions – We don’t assume what our entrepreneurs need—we ask our founders what they need. Our programs are designed based on direct feedback from the women we serve, ensuring that every initiative meets their real-world challenges and not just theoretical needs.
3. Advocacy & Systemic Change – We don’t just work on the racial wealth gap; we challenge it by partnering with fellow ecosystem builders,  financial institutions and corporate partners to collectively push for more inclusive funding practices and equitable opportunities for Black and Brown entrepreneurs.

Despite systemic challenges, we remain relentless in our mission to not just help these entrepreneurs survive, but to thrive, scale, and build generational wealth—because true equity isn’t about just giving a seat at the table, it’s about resetting the table.” 

What motivates you to push through the challenges you encounter in your work? 

“What keeps me going, despite the challenges, is the undeniable power of Black women! As a Black woman led organization we face challenges  similar to those of the women we serve. So I know firsthand the talent, resilience, and brilliance of Black women. The businesses they are building not just to survive, but to thrive and change the trajectory of their families and communities. Too often, Black women are stuck in the cycle of bootstrapping mostly due to the lack of access to capital. Breaking these and other barriers fuels my commitment to creating pathways that ensure they not only start businesses but scale, hire, and build lasting wealth.

At the end of the day, I do this work because I believe in the power of entrepreneurship to transform lives. And as long as there are barriers to break and doors to open, I’ll keep pushing. Because our success isn’t just personal—it’s collective.”

What are your hopes for racial wealth equity, and how do you believe the nonprofit sector should evolve to meet these needs?

“My hope for racial wealth equity is that Black and Brown entrepreneurs, particularly women, have the same access to capital, resources, networks and opportunities as their counterparts—without having to over-prove their worth. To achieve this, I believe the nonprofit sector must evolve in key ways:

1. Shift from Charity to Investment – Nonprofits must move beyond just providing temporary relief to building long-term economic power. This means supporting capital access, business ownership, and wealth-building strategies, not just grants and short-term programs.
2. Leverage Partnerships for Systemic Change – Nonprofits should be at the table advocating for policy changes that disrupt racial wealth disparities, while also partnering with financial institutions, impact investors, and corporations to create innovative funding solutions that are not solely reliant on philanthropy.
3. Empower Wealth-Creating Initiatives – Instead of just helping people get by, nonprofits must help them build assets—whether through charitable loan funds, credit-building programs, or equity investments that give Black and Brown entrepreneurs true ownership and leverage.
4. Invest in Leadership from the Community – Those closest to the problem should be leading the solutions. More funding needs to go directly to Black and Brown-led organizations that are deeply embedded in the communities they serve, not just to large institutions that dictate top-down approaches.

Ultimately, wealth equity won’t come from one-time interventions—it requires systemic, long-term solutions that shift power, capital, and opportunity. My hope is that the nonprofit sector fully embraces its role as a catalyst for economic justice, ensuring that Black and Brown entrepreneurs don’t just participate in the economy—they own their place in it.”

All written content is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Zenith, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to another parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.