
Freedom Is the Goal.
Love Is the Way.
We were never meant to simply survive the system.
We were born to be free.
At Loving You Into Freedom, we believe that justice isn’t just about what happens in a courtroom.
It’s about what happens in living rooms, community rooms, visiting rooms—
where families are separated, reunited, and restored.
We are the sons, daughters, partners, parents, and peers of people who have felt the weight of mass incarceration.
And we are the architects of something different.
We believe freedom must be more than release dates.
It must be emotional, economic, and generational.
We believe returning citizens and their loved ones deserve more than second chances—they deserve first-class opportunities to dream, build, and thrive.
That’s why we invest in ideas from the overlooked.
We celebrate leaders whose impact isn’t always published but is always felt.
And we challenge a system that was never built for our healing—by building new systems ourselves.
We are led by love.
We are grounded in resilience.
And we are unapologetically committed to making freedom feel like a reality—every single day.
This is not charity.
This is power redistribution.
This is community strategy.
This is family justice.
This is Loving You Into Freedom.
Because freedom is the goal.
And love—unshakable, revolutionary love—is the way.
Who Should Apply?
Returning Citizens:
Individuals who have experienced incarceration and are ready to build or scale a business.
Family Members:
Spouses, parents, children, or close relatives of currently or formerly incarcerated individuals who are launching a mission-aligned venture.
Collaborative Teams:
Founders working together where at least one member is a returning citizen or a directly-impacted family member.
Key Dates
Applications Open
July 1, 2025
Information Session
July 15, 2025
Applications Close
July 31, 2025
Finalists Announced
August 30, 2025
Pitch Training Bootcamp
September 2025
Live Pitch & Awards (New York City)
October 13, 2025
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
A completed online application form
A 2-minute video pitch
Business plan or executive summary
Budget breakdown (including how funds will be used)
Proof of eligibility (i.e., formerly incarcerated or family connection)
Optional: Letters of recommendation or community endorsements
Prize Structure
Award breakdown:
First Place: $15,000
Second Place: $10,000
Third Place: $5,000
Audience Choice Award: $3,000
Honorable Mentions (up to 3): $1,000 each
Finalists will also receive:
Business coaching and mentorship
Marketing exposure at the Impact Awards
Access to future donor and investor networks
OUR VALUED PARTNERS & SPONSORS

Loving You Into Freedom Grant Competition
The Loving You Into Freedom Grant Competition is a pitch-based funding opportunity designed to support justice-impacted individuals and their families in launching or expanding purpose-driven businesses. This initiative centers around our belief that those closest to the problem are also closest to the solution—and deserve capital, mentorship, and visibility to bring their visions to life.
We Need Your Support
We are transforming what justice looks like after the system.
We’re not just advocating for change—we’re funding it, mentoring it, and building it from the inside out.
At Loving You Into Freedom, we believe returning citizens and their families are not broken people with broken dreams--they are brilliant architects of solutions the world needs.
Thank you for investing in the people, ideas, and futures too often overlooked.
Together, we are loving people into freedom—and funding a future where justice-impacted communities can finally thrive.