Scholarship for Certified Women-Owned Businesses

The Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship fund, which is a one-time award, provides WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprises with up to $11,000 in tuition to attend some of the best executive education programs in the country, including several WBENC programs.

Founded by Ms. Dorothy B. Brothers, a supplier diversity and development professional from Bank of America and member of the WBENC Board of Directors, the scholarship provides women business owners access to the same high caliber executive development that is available to Fortune 500 Companies and a framework that helps WBEs formulate and implement business strategies to achieve competitive advantage.

Since its inception, more than 300 WBENC-Certified WBEs have be awarded this prestigious scholarship to advance themselves and their companies.

PROGRAM DATES

Now accepting applications for 2023 programs.

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Apply for a Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship to advance your business.
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Why Participate

If you are a WBENC-Certified WBE seeking opportunities to build your business, the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship is here to help you take advantage of executive education programs designed to help you grow as a leader and business executive.

  • Choose from a list of WBENC-approved executive education programs.
  • WBENC will pay up to $11,000 for the program or school of your choice
  • WBENC will pay the program directly
“I was honored to receive the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship to attend the Tuck-WBENC Executive Program. It meant so much to me to be recognized for all of my hard work, dedication and willingness to grow. It provided me with the opportunity to focus "on" my business for a full week and connect with amazing people along the way. This week was so powerful and an experience I will carry with me forever. My heart is grateful to WBENC for all of the benefits I continually gain from the organization both personally and professionally.
Annette Walker
Timber Industries
I am forever grateful for WBENC and the Dorothy B. Brothers scholarship I received to attend Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Launching New Ventures program. It was a life enriching experience greatly impacting me professionally and personally. The immediate effect to my business is evident through the global connections I have made and the networks which were created through intense study and participant collaboration. For those WBEs interested in expanding your mind and world, apply for the DBB scholarship today!
Susie Galyardt
XIOSS
Who Should Apply

To be eligible for the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship:

  • Applicant must be the female owner of her company.
  • Applicant must be currently certified and in good standing as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by WBENC.
  • Applicant must have at least three to five years’ experience running their business
  • Applicant must employ at least three full-time employees.
  • Applicant company must have a minimum annual sales volume of $500,000 (the range is $500,000 to $50,000,000). Annual sales are based on Gross Sales as reported on company’s federal tax returns. We require three years of Gross Sales to be submitted on the application.
  • Applicant has not recently attended an executive management program. (Graduates of other WBENC programs are eligible to apply, but preference will be given to WBEs that have not recently attended an executive education program.
  • Applicant has not previously been awarded a Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship (one-time only scholarship).

If you have questions about meeting eligibility criteria, please contact us at DBB@wbenc.org.

How to Apply

WBENC accepts applications for the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship on a rolling basis. We are now accepting applications for 2022 programs. Applicants apply for a scholarship to be applied towards a specific program. Applications for the WBENC programs listed should be completed and submitted when you apply to the specific WBENC program. Applications for external programs must be received two months prior to the program payment due date.

This is a one-time scholarship available to WBENC-Certified WBEs with an award up to $11,000 towards a single program. If awarded the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship, WBENC will pay tuition fees directly to the institution selected and approved. Scholarship does not cover travel costs.

The scholarship is awarded for one program and in the amount of the program tuition. If the tuition is less than $11,000, the WBE does not receive the difference and may not apply it towards another program.

For any programs offered by WBENC, please contact us at DBB@wbenc.org before applying.

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More Information
Sponsorship Opportunities

WBENC welcomes sponsorships and contributions to support the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship Fund. Please contact DBB@wbenc.org for more information.

Approved Schools & Programs List

The executive programs listed have been selected because they offer programming that meets the development needs of scholarship recipients and align with the goals and objectives of WBENC.

Scholarship recipients may choose outside of the list below only with prior approval by WBENC. All programs should be associated with an established educational institution.

Currently, the following schools are approved for use of the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship:

  • Tuck-WBENC Executive Program, brought to you by IBM
  • Tuck-WBENC Strategic Growth Program, brought to you by IBM
  • WBENC Energy Executive Program
  • Berkeley Center for Executive Education, University of California at Berkeley
  • Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia
  • Dartmouth Tuck School
  • Harvard Business School
  • Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
  • Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
  • Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
  • McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin
  • University of California at Los Angeles, UCLA Anderson

Question about a school not on this list? Contact us at DBB@wbenc.org.

Contact Information

If you have questions about the Dorothy B. Brothers Scholarship, please contact us at DBB@wbenc.org.