$5K Grant Program: California

The California $5,000 Grant is a targeted funding initiative launched through a partnership between Verizon and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). As part of Verizon's broader Small Business Digital Ready program, this grant aims to provide direct financial support to small business owners based in California. This initiative complements the wide range of free resources already available on the Digital Ready platform, such as coaching sessions, courses, and virtual events, and reflects Verizon’s commitment to empowering small businesses through access to capital and digital tools. The grant offers a one-time, $5,000 award to each of 25 selected small businesses in California. These funds are designed to support business sustainability and growth. The grant is non-repayable, and recipients are not obligated to return the funds. While the grant can support a variety of operational and developmental needs, recipients are responsible for any applicable taxes associated with receiving the funds. LISC, the nonprofit managing the distribution and verification process, will issue Form 1099 for tax purposes. To be eligible, applicants must be for-profit businesses located in California and must have a verified U.S. business address within the state. Applicants must also be at least 18 years of age and able to provide financial and business verification documentation, such as W-9 forms and ACH information, if selected as finalists. Current employees, directors, contractors, and immediate family members of LISC or Verizon are ineligible for the grant. While past recipients of Digital Ready grants are permitted to apply, priority is given to those who have not received funding before. A key requirement to unlock the application is completing at least one eligible resource on the Digital Ready platform between January 1 and March 31, 2026. These resources include online courses, virtual events (live or recorded), and approved in-person events. In-person events must be listed on the official In-Person Events page, and attendance must be validated via QR code scanning onsite. Once this requirement is fulfilled, applicants may access and submit their grant application before the deadline of March 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. All applications must be submitted online via the Digital Ready platform. The application is available in both English and Spanish. Finalists will be selected based on the completeness and accuracy of their submission, and all applicants will be notified of their status by the week of May 17, 2026. Being named a finalist does not guarantee funding. Finalists will be required to undergo additional verification steps, including a background check and submission of sensitive business details, though credit scores are not assessed. This funding opportunity is non-recurring, and applications do not carry over from previous rounds. Each cycle is independent, with new eligibility requirements. The grant is particularly focused on supporting small businesses that are newer to the Digital Ready platform. Email is the primary method of communication, with LISC handling applicant follow-ups. Questions about the program can be directed to [email protected], and verification messages will come from an official lisc.org address. Businesses selected must respond promptly or risk forfeiting the grant to another eligible applicant.