Small Business Flexibility Grant

The Stamps.com Small Business Flexibility Grant Contest is designed to support US-based small businesses operating in the professional service sector by awarding a $25,000 grant. The purpose of the grant is to address operational flexibility challenges that hinder businesses' ability to function effectively. This includes enhancing capabilities for remote work, improving mailing and shipping efficiency, or implementing other flexibility solutions. Stamps.com, a subsidiary of Auctane, Inc., is the sponsor of the grant, and the contest is administered by the US Sweepstakes & Fulfillment Co. Eligibility is limited to US-based small businesses operating within specified professional service industries, including legal services, accounting, consulting, finance, insurance, healthcare, and other related sectors. Applicants must have been in operation for at least two years, have a minimum of three employees, and be legally registered within the US, excluding Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Employees of the sponsor, the administrator, and their immediate families are not eligible to apply. The application period opens on May 1, 2025, at 12:00 AM ET and closes on May 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Following the submission phase, the applications will undergo an initial screening process from June 1-7, 2025. Ten finalists will be selected based on predefined judging criteria from June 8-14, 2025. From June 15-21, 2025, top-ranked finalists will be contacted for eligibility verification. The final winner will be notified by June 30, 2025, and publicly announced in July 2025. Applicants are required to complete a short application form, detailing their business information, the operational challenges they face, and how they intend to utilize the $25,000 grant to address these challenges. Additionally, they must discuss how they currently manage mailing and shipping operations and identify specific pain points. The judging criteria will evaluate the clarity and impact of the applicant's responses in three areas: business challenges, use of funds, and uniqueness of the business. The grant recipient will be selected based on a scoring system that assesses each submission for clarity and impact. In the event of a tie, the submission with the highest score in the challenge description section will be prioritized, followed by the use of funds and uniqueness sections. The winner must sign and return a liability waiver, IRS W-9 form, and other verification document

Ensure that responses are clear, compelling, and address specific operational challenges related to flexibility. Highlight unique aspects of the business and provide concrete examples of how the funds will resolve identified challenges.