When people think about the “Divine Nine” — the historically Black fraternities and sororities that have been a cornerstone of Black culture for a century — they often focus on the outward expressions: the colors, the calls, the process, and the camaraderie. For many of us, the bond is rooted in something much deeper: the work. Service is not a fleeting moment during college; it is a lifetime commitment.
I first became aware of Delta at age 4 or 5 through my mother, Jan Johnson, and her friend and mentor, Hortense Canaday, who later became the 18th national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Hortense and my mother had a history of activism for social change, and they were Deltas, so naturally, Delta and activism went hand in hand for me. I grew up with parents who were involved in the community, who spoke up against injustice, and who opened doors for others. In my sophomore year at Harvard, pledging (Xi Tau Chapter) was a natural fit. I’ve coached youth track with a friend in college, girls’ softball in Chicago, and chaired a local economic development organization in my town. Now, I run a nonprofit that focuses on eradicating barriers to entrepreneurial success.
For more than 20 years, I have worked to address a specific, systemic failure in the American economy: the persistent underfunding of businesses owned by historically excluded entrepreneurs. In 2002, alongside my father, Dr. Henry Johnson, I co-founded the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL). We started small, with just five clients and a $25,000 planning grant from the Prudential Foundation.
Two decades later, IFEL has grown into a nationwide engine for economic equity, serving more than 10,000 businesses, 500+ investors, and 200+ active volunteers annually. However, our growth speaks less to our success and more to the overwhelming need for our mission.
Too often, entrepreneurs of color and women are offered “mentorship” and “inspiration,” but are denied access to capital needed to grow and scale. Our work is driven by three impact pillars designed to dismantle barriers, rather than simply helping entrepreneurs climb over them.
First, we focus on Creating Connections. We build “Relationship Capital,” bridging the gap between Black small business owners and the investors or power players with whom they otherwise would not be connected.
Second, we are Changing Mindsets. We educate volunteers and investors to see themselves not as benefactors doing a good deed, but as active participants in and drivers of a more inclusive economy. We move beyond traditional metrics to help capital providers understand the structural inequities at play and how they can dismantle them.
Third, we are Inspiring Action. Knowledge without mobilization is useless. We empower investors and allies to become change agents, making a difference for the people, causes, and communities they care about.
This philosophy comes to life in our Making of Black Angels movement. The premise is revolutionary but simple: to get more capital flowing to Black-owned entrepreneurs who are building companies that can increase economic prosperity in and for communities across the country. Through our “Angels in the Making” curriculum, we are offering more people a seat at the table. By introducing more Black people to angel investing, our goal is to build a virtuous cycle where Black wealth ignites and propels Black innovation, creating more Black wealth.
In addition to growing the Black angel investing class, we mobilize professionals — accountants, marketers, lawyers, and designers — to support the entrepreneurs in their community using their skills through Small Businesses Need Us, a volunteer service rooted in empowerment — sharing knowledge and essential skills that help local businesses survive and thrive.
The Divine Nine taught me that service is a lifelong commitment. My work at IFEL is an extension of that oath. We are here to stand in the gap, speak truth to power, and build the infrastructure our communities need. Economic power is the next frontier of the Civil Rights Movement, and we cannot achieve justice without it. Closing the racial wealth gap is not a project — it is a movement. I invite you to learn more and get involved at WeAreIFEL.org.
Jill Johnson is the CEO and co-founder of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL).