Last fall, our Black Business Student Association (BBSA) won its first grant, the One by One Grant from 4imprint.
The One by One Grant is a program in which 4imprint awards $500 credits for promotional products to nonprofit organizations, accredited schools and other groups that are working to make a positive impact in their communities. The purpose of this grant is to help organizations strengthen their visibility, support outreach efforts, recruit volunteers, thank donors or create a greater sense of community. BBSA has been able to use this grant to provide branded T-shirts and sweatshirts for its members, helping to elevate the organization’s professional presence, support recruitment and enhance its representation during events.
The BBSA currently has 30 active members within our College of Business. Its mission is to support, develop and empower Black business students through professional development, networking community building and meaningful opportunities that elevate their academic and career success.
“We want to ensure that our members have access to internship opportunities, which we have created through our internship/mentorship program, supported by H&H Higher Education, while also strengthening partnerships with corporate and community organizations and preparing underrepresented Black students for the corporate and business world,” said Dejah Marshall, president of the BBSA organization, who applied for the grant on behalf of BBSA.
“I found the 4imprint One by One Grant through online research while looking for companies that offer grants to nonprofit organizations in need of promotional materials and branded products,” she said.
Marshall applied by providing detailed information about BBSA, including its nonprofit status, tax information, website and contact details, as well as an explanation about who BBSA serves, why the organization should be selected and how the products would directly benefit our members.
“Opportunities like this are incredibly important to BBSA because our members are deeply committed to professional growth,” she said. “They actively pursue internships, entry-level roles and leadership opportunities while balancing academics and other responsibilities. Grants like this feel like a meaningful reward for the hard work, dedication and genuine passion our members consistently show toward the organization.”
With the grant funds, BBSA was able to purchase T-shirts for its general body members and crewnecks for its executive board. Each item features BBSA’s logo and brand colors, reinforcing pride, unity and visibility across campus.
“This was especially meaningful for our students, as the merchandise represents their membership, leadership and sense of belonging within BBSA,” Marshall said.
“BBSA is so important because it creates a space where Black students interested in business can feel seen,” said Caleb Connor, BBSA director of community outreach. “It’s more than just an organization, but it’s a family whose main goal is to help everyone succeed. To me, BBSA means opportunity.”
“This grant was truly a blessing for us. [It] allowed us to purchase merchandise for our members to wear, create more engaging and entertaining events and, most importantly, invest in shaping the generation of leaders on this campus,” he said.
“For me, BBSA is everything,” said Kyra Wesley, director of finance for the organization. “It opened me up to so many opportunities and possibilities around me while also helping me grow and develop while also learning [about] myself as a person. The grant helped us upgrade our merchandise to represent who we are currently and show how we have grown as an organization. It created recognition of who we are by allowing us to stand out with our unique color and logo, while also creating a sense of unity between members by allowing us to represent our organization at events and around campus.”
For more information about BBSA, contact bbsaniu@mail.niu.edu.
