Secretsos™ Small Business Grant

The Secretsos Foundation Small Business Grant Program is a privately funded initiative sponsored by Secretsos LLC, operating through its fiscal sponsor, University Impact Foundation. The program seeks to support entrepreneurs who often lack access to traditional financial resources, focusing particularly on small business owners who are striving to grow, overcome financial hurdles, or implement innovative strategies. The foundation's mission aligns with fostering integrity, leadership, and transformative change in underserved communities across the United States. The Q4 2025 cycle of the program offers three targeted grants, each valued at $2,500, tailored to specific beneficiary profiles including Utah HVAC business owners or apprentices and Native American entrepreneurs with tribal affiliation. The grant is open to U.S. residents aged 21 or older who hold ownership in a legally recognized business entity such as a corporation, LLC, or trust. Additional eligibility qualifiers include being denied a bank loan or not qualifying for one, identifying as a woman-, veteran-, or minority-owned business, or operating within an economic development zone. For the specialized grants, additional criteria apply: Utah residency for HVAC applicants, and documented tribal membership for the Native American Business Owner Grant. Employees or affiliates of the sponsor and their immediate families are ineligible. Applications must be submitted online at https://secretsos.com/grants/ during the term from October 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. Each applicant is limited to one entry per quarter and must pay a $15 non-refundable fee unless they are active subscribers of the Top Secret Funding Blueprint newsletter, which offers one fee waiver per quarter. Newsletter subscribers may also benefit from priority application review, though this does not affect final award decisions. The evaluation process emphasizes three weighted criteria: the quality and impact of the applicant’s business (15%), the applicant’s personal qualities including passion and entrepreneurial drive (40%), and the proposed use of the funds aligned with charitable educational objectives such as financial literacy, community impact, workforce development, or technology innovation (45%). All submissions are reviewed at the sole discretion of the Secretsos Grants Committee, and winners will be notified on or around January 31, 2026. Winners are required to submit a signed affidavit of eligibility, a liability waiver, and applicable tax documentation, including a W-9 form. Failure to comply within seven days of notification may result in forfeiture of the award, which may then be reassigned to another qualified applicant. All taxes and related responsibilities for the use of funds lie solely with the recipient. Grant funds are not transferable or assignable and must not be used in conjunction with any other promotions. The Secretsos Foundation emphasizes quarterly cadence for this program, with applications accepted at the beginning of each calendar quarter and closing at the end of each quarter. For applicants who do not receive funding in one cycle, reapplication is allowed but not automatic.

Show passion and drive; clarity on business purpose; focus on specific use of funds to create measurable impact