Entrepreneurship is often described in terms of risk and reward. Behind an entrepreneur’s drive for success is often a burning passion or love for whatever they’re attempting to achieve.
The James & Annelle Whitt Entrepreneurial Development Foundation (JWAD Foundation) was born not only from a passion for small business, but from a decades-long partnership and love story between Annelle Whitt and her late husband, James A. Whitt Sr.
James’s impact on Columbia’s business community was both personal and far-reaching. Widely known for his hands-on support of minority and women-owned businesses, he led the city’s Supplier Diversity Program and provided one-on-one guidance to entrepreneurs navigating early growth challenges.
James also championed efforts to honor the historic Sharp End business district, once a vibrant center of Black enterprise in downtown Columbia. His service on the Columbia School Board further reflected his commitment to expanding opportunity through education. Colleagues and community members alike remember his leadership style as steady, humble, and deeply mission-driven.
A successful serial entrepreneur himself, James navigated several business and nonprofit journeys together with Annelle. The couple first met at a minority business owner networking event she hosted.
“I look at the foundation as a continuation of our love story, which is love for community and love for entrepreneurship,” said Annelle, who serves as president of the JWAD Foundation.
After James’s death in 2021, his family wanted to honor his legacy. Annelle, who now works at her late husband’s desk, discovered a yellow legal pad and binder containing a blueprint to expand James’s one-person foundation, which was then providing minority- and women-owned businesses with SEED (Sharp End Entrepreneurial Development) grant money through his own accounts. The JWAD Foundation went live in 2023.
“If we are going to lift all communities, and that includes the Black and Brown community, then we have to create opportunities,” she said.
Today, multiple members of the Whitt family help lead the foundation on a volunteer basis. Marcus Whitt, Annelle and James’s son and JWAD Foundation executive director, sits at his mother’s former desk as they work side by side. Jimmy Whitt Jr. serves as the foundation’s treasurer.
Powering the Economy by Empowering Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship has long been woven into the fabric of the American economy. In 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy reported that 99.9 percent of U.S. businesses are small businesses. Those companies employ 62.3 million U.S. workers, which is almost 46 percent of all American employees.
“The faster-growing businesses in the country continue to be [those owned by] women business owners and minority business owners. So, part of it is just good business sense,” noted Annelle. “Even in this environment, I tell people all the time, the one thing that will always be there is the need for a business. People forget that small businesses fuel this country, not the big corporations. Like my husband said, ‘Let’s make it easy for people to start businesses.’”
In three years, the JWAD Foundation has distributed more than $215,000 in SEED grants to 84 businesses across mid-Missouri — all funded through grassroots donations and community fundraising. Fundraising support includes direct gifts and signature events such as the annual SEED of Success Gala and the James Whitt Sr. Golf Tournament, both held annually in mid-August.
“We do it because we think it’s important. We do it because we believe if we are really going to impact the income gap disparity, and if we’re really going to build generational wealth, and if we’re really going to build legacies and an ecosystem open to everyone, then we have to provide supports that will truly make that happen,” Annelle said.
Unlike many grant programs, the JWAD Foundation does not provide direct cash awards. Instead, the organization purchases revenue-generating equipment for entrepreneurs. Owning equipment better enables entrepreneurs to scale their operations — a strategy Whitt says creates longer and more meaningful impact.
“Let’s buy the equipment that you need that’s going to produce revenue. The companies that have been the most successful in our foundation are the ones that we have bought commercial equipment for,” said Annelle. “Everybody doesn’t have the money to do a $7,000 or an $8,000 or a $4,000 outlay. That may seem like small money, but it’s small money that gives a great return.”
Supported purchases have included commercial refrigerators, freezers, espresso machines, specialized molds, and other production tools designed to help small businesses scale more quickly. In several cases, Annelle noted that the equipment investments have doubled or tripled a company’s output.
Sharing Know-How, Forging Connections
Beyond funding, the foundation also offers free workshops, mentoring, and coaching designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the early stages of business ownership in an intentionally supportive environment. No question is too small or too big. The workshops cover what could be found in MBA textbooks and the more personal and real-life side of business, such as what it’s like to be married to an entrepreneur. Whitt often leads the workshops and imparts her lived experience and success.
“Integrity is important. We don’t half-step on what we do. If we say we’re going to do something, we’re going to do it, and we’re going to do it to the best of our ability,” Annelle said.
As the foundation has grown, its community presence has expanded, including its partnership with Columbia College to present the annual Black Business Expo. This year marked JWAD’s second year helping lead the event, which featured more than 60 minority-owned businesses from across mid-Missouri.
“Black business expos are all over the country and do very well, because it’s more than just buying and selling, it’s an experience. We want it to be a cultural experience, and that’s something that everybody can enjoy,” Annelle said.
Columbia’s Black Business Expo elevated the expected vendor format with a community-focused approach featuring music, lively conversation, and an emcee. Every type of business was present, from bee farmers to mental health counselors and contractors. For many participating entrepreneurs, the expo represents more than a sales opportunity; it’s a chance to build visibility and community connections.
Leslie Lewis, owner of Retied LLC, an upcycling accessory business creating expressive accessories and memorabilia, was a first-time business presenter. She had attended the expo in previous years and was inspired to move her business idea forward.
“I thought this would be the perfect opportunity, since I am a woman and a new Black owner of a business, to introduce my product to the world,” Lewis said.
Looking Ahead
The future of the foundation is bright. Annelle reported that the foundation team aspires to expand statewide in two years and nationally within 10 years. With their notable track record over the past three years, the sky seems to be the limit.
“My husband left a phenomenal legacy of commitment, of love, of devotion, of stability, and giving back to individuals that I think made a difference in their lives and made a difference in this community. And I hope that’s my legacy,” she said.
This past January, Annelle was awarded the Distinguished Community Service Award at the 40th Annual MLK State Celebration. The same award was bestowed on her husband posthumously in 2021.
“It’s not about the recognition. We don’t keep eyes on what everybody else is doing. We keep our focus on the work,” Annelle said. “And I think the work will speak for itself. We’re going to get what God wants us to have.”
