Small Business Grants Directory

The Awesome Foundation

• International

A global network of micro-philanthropists who fund "awesome" projects that inspire, educate, or create positive change in communities worldwide. The foundation operates through local chapters supporting projects across technology, community development, arts, and social innovation.

Eligibility

Project must be deemed "awesome" by local chapter.

Application timing

Rolling applications reviewed monthly.

Award

$1,000 micro-grant, awarded monthly

The Freed Fellowship

• Nationwide (US)

Offers small business owners grant dollars in addition to a one-year membership in an online business community and a 60-minute strategy session with business experts, plus a potential podcast feature and consideration for an additional year-end grant.

Eligibility

Must be up and running. Must be US based.

Application timing

Monthly selection, year-end competition in December.

Award

$500 monthly, $2,500 annual grant

Small Business Hero Program (Intuit/Mailchimp)

• Nationwide (US)
• Closed for now

Partnership between Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp launched to recognize small businesses making significant community impact, particularly those supporting local economic development.

Eligibility

Nominated by community member; demonstrate measurable community impact.

Application timing

Quarterly selection through May 15, 2026.

Award

Three $20,000 grants awarded quarterly

Skip Instant Grants

• Nationwide (US)

Weekly micro-grant program designed to provide immediate, small-scale funding through live YouTube drawings, creating community engagement around entrepreneurship.

Eligibility

U.S.-based entrepreneur; attend live YouTube drawing. Must have a Skip membership; age 18+.

Application timing

Weekly drawings (ongoing).

Award

$1,000 grants awarded 1-2 times weekly

NASE Growth Grant

• Nationwide (US)

The National Association for the Self-Employed provides grants to members as part of comprehensive small business support services, focusing on operational growth needs. Grant usage should focus on marketing, part-time hiring, equipment upgrades, and operational improvements.

Eligibility

Active NASE membership; demonstrate specific growth needs and potential impact of the grant.

Application timing

Quarterly application cycles.

Award

Up to $4,000 quarterly grants

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant

• Nationwide (US)

Verizon, in partnership with LISC, awards $10,000 grants to small businesses as part of its commitment to equip one million small businesses with digital tools and training. Owners unlock the application by completing free courses or events on the Digital Ready platform, then stay eligible for selections all year.

Eligibility

For-profit business in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or USVI; owner 18+; complete any two free Digital Ready courses or events to unlock the application.

Application timing

Apply anytime in 2026. Reviewed monthly, June through December 2026.

Award

$10,000, 10 grants awarded monthly

Amber Grant Foundation

• Nationwide (US)
• Women-owned

Honoring the memory of Amber Wigdahl, this long-running grant has supported women entrepreneurs with monthly and annual awards since 1998.

Eligibility

Women-owned; $15 application fee; a basic business description, and a plan for how the funds will be used.

Application timing

Monthly application cycle.

Award

$10,000 awarded monthly. $25,000 grand prize at the end of the year.

The Big Idea Grant (YippityDoo)

• Nationwide (US)
• Women-owned

Supports women entrepreneurs at all stages with monthly funding, wealth mindset coaching, and business development resources.

Eligibility

Women-owned business with a commitment to community participation.

Application timing

Monthly selection process.

Award

$1,000 monthly, plus online coaching community

HerRise MicroGrant

• Nationwide (US)
• Women-owned
• Minority-owned

Provides monthly micro-grants to support women of color and other underrepresented women entrepreneurs in business.

Eligibility

U.S. based; 51%+ women-owned, currently operational; less than $1 million in gross revenue.

Application timing

Applications are reviewed monthly.

Award

$1,000 monthly grant

Hey Helen Grant

• Nationwide (US)
• Women-owned
• Closed for now

Funds mission-driven women founders building impactful, for-profit businesses in the U.S. to help fuel their next leap of growth.

Eligibility

U.S. based; 100% woman-owned for-profit (non-binary welcome); under $1M in annual revenue and a U.S. business bank account.

Application timing

April 30, 2026 (cycles close April, August, and December).

Award

$10,000

Hustler's Microgrant

• Nationwide (US)

Expands opportunities for all U.S. small businesses through monthly funding, with a focus on supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Eligibility

U.S.-based; $15 application fee; business description, and a plan for how the funds will be used.

Application timing

Monthly application cycles.

Award

$1,000 monthly grant

Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant

• Nationwide (US)
• Women-owned

Honoring the legacy of Catherine "Kitty" Tadlock Webster by empowering mother-led small businesses with capital and professional leadership development.

Eligibility

U.S. mother-led business (CEO/Owner) active 1+ years with 2–100 employees and under $5M revenue. Short pitch video required.

Application timing

Full application opens March 2026.

Award

$1,000 cash award (20 finalists) plus accelerator program

Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation

• Michigan
• Women-owned

Honoring the entrepreneurial legacy of Olga Loizon, this grant provides growth-stage funding to support women business owners in Michigan.

Eligibility

Women-owned; established business with operations based in Michigan.

Application timing

Annual program with spring applications.

Award

Grants of up to $10,000

Hivers and Strivers

• Nationwide (US)
• Veteran-owned

Provides significant angel investment to high-potential, scalable businesses that are owned or led by military veterans.

Eligibility

Veteran ownership or leadership; not dependent on government contracts; and must have a detailed business plan with market validation.

Application timing

Rolling applications.

Award

Investment ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000

Business plan required. Build yours with LivePlan

Second Service Foundation

• Nationwide (US)
• Veteran-owned

Empowers military-affiliated founders through a high-impact pitch competition that provides early-stage capital, professional coaching, and legal support.

Eligibility

21+ Veteran, MilSpouse, or Gold Star owner (51%+); must show financial need and military community impact. Mandatory "Speed Coaching" session required.

Application timing

Event-based throughout the year.

Award

Regional: $1,000–$2,000. National: 1st place $15,000, 2nd $6,000, 3rd $4,000.

Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund

• Nationwide (US)
• Veteran-owned
• Farms and agriculture
• Closed for now

Provides direct equipment and supply assistance to veterans in their early years of farming or ranching to help launch and sustain their agricultural businesses.

Eligibility

Early-stage veteran farmer or rancher. Requires full business plan, DD214, and details on military service, farm experience, and financial planning.

Application timing

January 5 – February 17, 2026.

Award

$1,000 – $5,000. Funds paid to third-party vendors.

Business plan required. Build yours with LivePlan

Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Business Grant

• Nationwide (US)
• Veteran-owned

Honoring the service of U.S. Navy veteran Stephen L. Tadlock by providing veteran entrepreneurs with a combination of micro-funding and high-level business training.

Eligibility

U.S. veteran CEO/Owner; 1+ year in business; 2–100 employees; annual revenue under $5M.

Application timing

Full application cycle opens September 2026.

Award

$1,000 cash award (20 finalists)

Texas Women Veteran Grant

• Texas
• Veteran-owned
• Women-owned
• Closed for now

Boosts the Texas economy by empowering veteran women-owned businesses to launch innovative projects through direct funding and professional development.

Eligibility

Texas-based, 51%+ veteran woman-owned for-profit. Must be honorably discharged, Reservist, or transitioning Active Duty. Requires 10% match, formation docs, and DD214.

Application timing

February 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST.

Award

$5,000

Asian Women’s Giving Circle Grant

• New York City, NY
• Minority-owned
• Women-owned
• Arts and culture

Supports AAPI women and gender-expansive artists and organizers in NYC who use arts and culture as a catalyst for progressive social change.

Eligibility

NYC-based 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored artist or collective. Must be AAPI woman or gender-expansive led, use arts for social justice, and show a track record of work.

Application timing

Typically mid-February. Awards are notified in June.

Award

Up to $8,000 per project grant

Wish Local Empowerment Program

• Nationwide (US)
• Minority-owned

A $2 million fund from the online shopping platform Wish, providing direct grants and operational support to Black-owned small businesses.

Eligibility

Must be a Black-owned, operational business.

Application timing

Rolling distribution.

Award

$500 to $2,000 grants

National Pride Grant

• Nationwide (US)
• Minority-owned

An annual grant program designed to address funding gaps and foster community for LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs through funding, networking, and business development.

Eligibility

LGBTQIA+ business owner; operating for at least a year; 2–50 employees; under $5 million in annual revenue.

Application timing

Annual competition with fall applications.

Award

25 grants of $25,000

National Black MBA Association Scale-Up Challenge

• Nationwide (US)
• Minority-owned

A competitive pitch competition from the National Black MBA Association providing capital, mentorship, and network access to help scale Black-owned businesses.

Eligibility

Must be a Black entrepreneur; established business; participation in NBMBAA programming.

Application timing

Annual competition with spring applications.

Award

$40,000 grants, mentorship, and NBMBAA network access

Etsy Emergency Relief Fund

• Nationwide (US)
• Online sellers

A partnership providing emergency relief grants to Etsy business owners who have been affected by a federally declared natural disaster.

Eligibility

Etsy seller account active for at least one year; reside in a county with a federal disaster declaration.

Application timing

Quarterly applications following a disaster declaration.

Award

$2,000 emergency grant

Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program

• Nationwide (US)

A disaster preparedness program designed to help small businesses become more resilient and qualify for FEMA funding in the event of a natural disaster.

Eligibility

Complete the four-step disaster resiliency process and maintain the preparedness plan documentation.

Application timing

Participation is ongoing.

Award

No direct funding. This program provides the resources and planning support necessary to access FEMA grants.

EPA Environmental Programs

• Nationwide (US)
• Clean energy and environment

Federal funding opportunities to support environmental cleanup projects and the development of new commercial environmental technologies.

Eligibility

Clear environmental focus; demonstrates community benefit and technical feasibility.

Application timing

Annual application cycles (fall or winter).

Award

Varies by program. Brownfields Program: grants up to $500,000. SBIR Program: phased funding for R&D.

USDA Rural Development Programs

• Nationwide (US)
• Farms and agriculture
• Clean energy and environment

Provides grant funding and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.

Eligibility

Agricultural producer or a small business in a rural area. Focus on renewable energy or energy efficiency.

Application timing

Varies by year, but deadlines are often in the spring.

Award

Up to 50% of total project costs. Up to $500,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $1,000,000 for renewable energy systems.

Chicago Small Business Improvement Fund

• Chicago, IL
• Storefronts and commercial property

A City of Chicago program using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue to help owners of commercial and industrial properties repair and remodel their facilities.

Eligibility

Located within an eligible Chicago TIF district. Grant covers permanent building improvements.

Application timing

Applications on a rolling basis for open TIF districts.

Award

Reimbursement covering 30% to 90% of project costs: up to $150,000 for commercial properties and up to $250,000 for industrial properties.

San Francisco Small Business Programs

• San Francisco, CA
• Storefronts and commercial property

A suite of grant and loan programs offered by the City of San Francisco to support storefront businesses, improve accessibility, and enhance neighborhood vibrancy.

Eligibility

Location within San Francisco with a storefront presence needing improvements (e.g., facade, accessibility).

Application timing

Varies by program. Deadlines are typically quarterly.

Award

Varies by program. Downtown Vibrancy Fund: $25,000 grant plus $100,000 loan. Facade Improvement Program: up to $20,000 grant. Accessibility Barriers Grant: up to $10,000 grant.

New York Global NY Grant Program

• New York

A state program from Empire State Development designed to help New York-based small and medium-sized businesses expand their export activities and enter new international markets.

Eligibility

Business located in New York State with a detailed export strategy. Matching funds required for most activities.

Application timing

Applications on a rolling basis, with an average processing time of 90 days.

Award

Up to $25,000, covering 50–70% of costs for export-related activities.

California CalSEED Program

• California
• Clean energy and environment

A California state initiative providing early-stage, non-dilutive funding to support innovators and entrepreneurs developing new clean energy technologies.

Eligibility

Early-stage concept with a strong focus on benefiting California's clean energy goals.

Application timing

Periodic application rounds, typically 2–3 times per year.

Award

Up to $700,000 in phased funding

New York Small Manufacturers Modernization Grant

• New York
• Manufacturing

A state program from Empire State Development providing capital assistance to established manufacturers for modernizing operations and integrating advanced technologies.

Eligibility

Manufacturer located in New York with at least 10 years of operation. The grant is for capital projects that include a technology modernization component.

Application timing

Annual application cycles, typically in the spring.

Award

Grants starting at $50,000 for capital improvement projects