Small Business Grants and Funding Opportunities

You need money to make money, the saying goes.

Whether it’s a bank loan, investment, self-funding or reinvesting profits, knowing where to find cash is critical for small business owners, especially those that are just starting out or are dealing with narrow operating margins.

One particularly enticing form of funding is a small business grant. Unlike a loan or investment, small business grants from government agencies, philanthropic organizations and large corporations, typically aren’t meant to be repaid. That’s right: small business grants are essentially free money.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t strings attached. Government grants in particular can require recipients to thoroughly document how they’re using the funds to make sure they’re complying with the terms of the grant.

Still, others have few to no strings attached, with sums ranging from a few hundred dollars to $10,000 or more to help entrepreneurs with whatever aspect of their business they need.

We’re keeping close track of the small business funding landscape. This list of active small business grants will be updated regularly as new funding opportunities are announced. So check back regularly to stay on top of the latest small business grants.

You can learn more about how to fund your small business in our business funding hub.

Private small business grants

General small business grants

The Awesome Foundation: This global network funds "awesome" projects through monthly $1,000 micro-grants from its local chapters around the world. The funds come out of the pockets of each chapter's "trustees" and are given on a rolling basis to people and groups working on awesome projects. There are no strings attached, and the foundation has now distributed more than $7.9 million across 7,900-plus projects in fields ranging from technology and community development to the arts.

The Freed Fellowship: Each month, the Freed Fellowship awards $500 to an up-and-running U.S. small business to invest in their operations. Awardees also become eligible for a $2,500 year-end grant. Every applicant, win or lose, gets feedback on their business through the Fellowship's 5C scoring framework and two free months of mentoring in the Freed Studio. There's a $19 application fee.

Faire Small Business Grant: If you're a new retailer looking to fill your shelves, the Faire Small Business Grant is worth watching. Past cycles have awarded $5,000 in credit toward wholesale inventory on Faire.com to five retailers per quarter. Applicants need to be U.S.- or Canada-based retailers who have recently opened or have firm plans to open, and awardees must use the funds within six months. Faire has not yet published a 2026 cycle calendar, so check the official page for the next application window.

Verizon Digital Ready: Verizon, in partnership with LISC, awards $10,000 grants to ten small businesses each month throughout 2026. To unlock the application, businesses register on the free Digital Ready portal and complete any combination of two eligible courses or live coaching events. Apply once and you stay eligible all year, with monthly drawings running June through December 2026. Open to U.S. for-profit small businesses (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) whose owners are 18 or older.

Skip Instant Grants: The online business funding marketplace Skip awards Instant Grants of up to $1,000 twice a week, typically on Tuesdays and Fridays at 3pm ET. Open to all U.S.-based entrepreneurs age 18 and up (not just Skip members), winners are drawn live on the Skip Instant Grants page. The actual amount you can win ranges from $200 to $1,000 based on your business progress score, and a Grants Lock feature lets you win 25% of your eligible amount if you can't attend the live drawing. Each entrant can win once every four months.

Secretsos Small Business Grant: Once a quarter, the business intelligence organization Secretsos awards a $2,500 grant to a U.S.-based entrepreneur either just starting out or looking to accelerate growth in their business. The grant recipient has full control over how they use the funds. Applicants must be at least 21, and just need to provide details about their business, what makes them unique, and how they would use the funds, plus pay a $15 application fee. The current quarter's deadline is September 30, 2026.

Shophand Small Business Boost Grant: Twice a year, the small business tech company Shophand awards a $5,000 grant package to a U.S.-based business facing a tech or operational challenge. Winners receive $2,500 in unrestricted cash plus $2,500 in Shophand technical support and services. Applicants must run a for-profit U.S. business with fewer than 50 employees and under $5 million in annual revenue, and must follow Shophand on social media. The current round closes November 30, 2026, with the winner announced December 15.

NASE Growth Grant: If you're a member of the National Association for the Self-Employed, you can vie for one of the organization's quarterly Growth Grants, which offers up to $4,000 in funding for small businesses for marketing, hiring part-time help, upgrading equipment and more. Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly. Monthly members need 90 days of membership before applying, while annual members can apply immediately. Funds can't be used to pay off existing debt.

Hustler's Microgrant: Created by Deja Vu Parker of WBLS in partnership with HerSuiteSpot and the Yva Jourdan Foundation, this micro-grant awards $1,000 each month to small business owners across the U.S. Applications open monthly, and finalists are chosen based on vision, impact, and how the funding will move their business forward. There's a nonrefundable $15 administrative fee.

Woman, veteran, and minority small business grants

Hey Helen Grant: Visionaries awards a $10,000 unrestricted grant each month to a woman founder running a mission-driven, for-profit business in the U.S. Businesses must be at least 50% women-owned and earn less than $1 million in annual revenue; pre-revenue businesses are welcome, and nonbinary founders are also eligible. The application is three short narrative questions with no file uploads. The next deadline is August 30, 2026, after which the grant moves to a monthly cadence. There's a $15 administrative fee.

Women Founders Grant: Women Founders Grant LLC awards a $5,000 merit-based grant each month to a woman founder in the U.S. looking to launch or grow her business. Idea-stage businesses are welcome. Applicants answer two questions about their business and how the grant would help them reach their goals. Recipients also get mentorship from an experienced entrepreneur and access to a community of women founders. The deadline is the last day of each month, and there's a nonrefundable $25 application fee.

Amber Grant: WomensNet awards three $10,000 Amber Grants every month to women-owned businesses based in the U.S. or Canada. Founded in 1998 in honor of a young woman entrepreneur who died before realizing her business dreams, the program has grown to give away over $510,000 a year. Each month's three winners are also automatically considered for one of three $50,000 year-end grants. Idea-stage and pre-revenue ventures are eligible. There's a $15 application fee.

Galaxy Grants: Galaxy of Stars and Hidden Star, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting underserved entrepreneurs, runs a recurring Galaxy Grant for women and minority entrepreneurs. The current cycle awards $2,500 and is free to apply. Applications take about 30 seconds, and recipients can use the funds however they need to run or grow their business. The current cycle closes October 31, 2026, with winners announced the following week. The program has awarded more than $420,000 in grants since 2016.

Hivers and Strivers: This early-stage investment firm provides capital to ventures led by U.S. military veterans from all branches. It invests from seed stage through Series B, and is industry agnostic. Beyond funding, the firm helps portfolio companies source board members and advisors and make introductions to customers and investors. This is an equity investment, not a no-strings grant, so it's a fit for high-growth-potential ventures rather than traditional small businesses.

The Big Idea Grant: YippityDoo, a women's small business mentorship program, awards $1,000 each month to a woman entrepreneur to invest in their for-profit business. A second $1,000 nonprofit grant is awarded every other month. Woman-owned businesses that have already launched or are still in the idea stage can apply. Grant recipients also get access to an online mindset coaching group. There's a $15 application fee.

HerRise MicroGrant: This monthly $1,000 grant from HerSuiteSpot and the Yva Jourdan Foundation supports under-resourced women entrepreneurs, including women of color. Eligible businesses must be 51% or more women-owned, registered in the U.S., and earning less than $1 million in gross revenue. Applications close at 11:59pm on the last day of each month, and winners are revealed at the next month's HerSuiteSpot First Friday Mixer (no need to be present).

Small business disaster recovery grants

Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program: This U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation program, run with founding sponsor FedEx and additional support from Verizon, MetLife, and Fiserv, awards $5,000 grants to registered small businesses after a qualifying state-declared disaster hits their area. To qualify, businesses with 500 or fewer employees complete a free preparedness checklist and register in advance through the R4R portal. When a disaster strikes, registered businesses can apply for the grant and must document at least $5,000 in disaster-related losses.

Government grants and resources

Grants.gov: This is the primary online portal managed by the Department of Health and Human Services where federal agencies post discretionary funding opportunities. It centralizes over 1,000 grant programs, allowing businesses and organizations to find and apply for federal grants in one location, streamlining the application process.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): A key federal agency created to "aid, counsel, assist, and protect" the interests of small businesses. The SBA helps entrepreneurs start, grow, expand, and recover through various programs including loan guarantees, counseling via partners like SBDCs, federal contracting assistance, and disaster relief, aiming to strengthen the overall U.S. economy.

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): A national network, often hosted by universities and state economic development agencies and partially funded by the SBA, providing counseling and training to small businesses. SBDCs offer confidential, no-cost advising on business planning, financial management, marketing, access to capital, and other support for startups and existing businesses.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program: A competitive federal grant program encouraging U.S. small businesses (500 or fewer employees) to engage in federal Research and Development with potential for commercialization. Managed by the SBA but implemented across 11 federal agencies, it funds projects tied to agency missions and aims to stimulate technological innovation. The program was reauthorized in April 2026 and extended through September 30, 2031.

State Trade Expansion Program (STEP): An SBA-funded grant program administered at the state level to help small businesses enter and expand into international markets. Funds can typically be used for export-related activities like participating in foreign trade missions, designing international marketing materials, or obtaining export training.

Minority Business Development Agency: A U.S. Department of Commerce agency historically focused on promoting the growth of minority business enterprises through a network of Business Centers. Note: as of 2025, MBDA has undergone significant restructuring and many of its state-level Business Centers have closed. Check mbda.gov for current program status before relying on it as a resource.

Economic Development Administration: Part of the Department of Commerce, the EDA provides grants and technical assistance to communities to support locally-driven economic development strategies. While often funding infrastructure or planning, it also supports initiatives like Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) that provide gap financing to local small businesses.

USDA Rural Development Business Programs: The USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers various programs to support economic development and job creation in rural areas. This can include grants and loans often channeled through local utilities or intermediaries for business expansion, infrastructure improvements, and enhancing access to capital for rural entrepreneurs.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund: Part of the U.S. Department of Treasury, the CDFI Fund invests in and supports a national network of CDFIs (community development lenders, investors, and others). Its mission is to expand economic opportunity for underserved people and communities by increasing the capacity of these local institutions to provide financial products and services.