L’Oréal Inclusive Beauty Fund Grant Program

The NAACP x L’Oréal Inclusive Beauty Fund is a private-sector grant initiative designed to support historically underrepresented beauty and self-care business owners across the United States, including Puerto Rico. Sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in partnership with Circular Board, Inc. (doing business as Hello Alice), and supported by L’Oréal and the Deed platform, the 2026 grant cycle continues a legacy of empowering small beauty-focused businesses that face structural and financial barriers to growth. This initiative awards $10,000 in unrestricted grant funding to approximately 20 eligible recipients. These grants are intended to support U.S.-based for-profit businesses in the beauty and self-care industry, such as salons, barber shops, spas, beauty schools, stylists, makeup artists, and entrepreneurs across related services. The funding can be used at the discretion of the awardees for operational improvements, expansion, marketing, inventory, or any other pressing business needs. Recognition on NAACP or Hello Alice’s platforms may be provided to recipients, further amplifying visibility for their businesses. Eligible applicants must meet specific criteria as of the program start date. The lead applicant, referred to as the "Officer," must be a legal resident of one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, and must be 18 years or older (19 in Alabama and Nebraska). They must also hold an executive role (e.g., Founder, CEO, President, etc.) in a qualifying for-profit beauty or self-care business that is legally registered and located within the same geographic limits. The application window opens on March 23, 2026, and will close promptly on April 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM Eastern Time. Submissions must be completed through the Hello Alice grant platform. Each Officer may submit only one entry, and each business may only be entered once. All required application components must be completed in full by the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. The application includes standard business questions and narrative components that must be completed online; the platform link is provided directly in the program rules. Grant recipients will be selected based on three weighted review criteria: demonstrated need for funds (30%), clarity and feasibility of the proposed use of funds (40%), and demonstrated commitment to community (30%). Preference will be given to entrepreneurs of color. A panel of reviewers may also request additional materials or conduct brief interviews with applicants. Up to 20 grant recipients will be notified within 60 days of the program close, and may be required to complete additional documentation to confirm eligibility and accept the grant. This is a non-recurring grant cycle for 2026. There is no indication of future rounds at this time. Grant awards are provided “as is” without warranties and recipients are responsible for any applicable taxes. All entries are subject to the discretion and final judgment of the program sponsors. Submission of an entry grants the program sponsors a nonexclusive license to use application materials for promotional purposes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit early and ensure all application requirements, including eligibility and completeness, are met.