NASE Growth Grant

The NASE Growth Grants program, offered by the National Association for the Self-Employed, supports its members with funding to aid in the development and growth of their small businesses. Since 2006, NASE has provided nearly $1,000,000 in funding to qualifying members through this initiative. The organization’s mission focuses on empowering the self-employed and micro-businesses across the United States by delivering financial support that helps meet specific business needs such as marketing, hiring staff, expanding facilities, acquiring equipment, and pursuing advanced training. Applicants must be members of NASE in good standing. Membership categories affect eligibility timing; annual, veteran, gold, and annually-paying silver members are eligible to apply immediately, while monthly-paying members, including silver monthly members, must wait 90 days post-enrollment. Employees, representatives, and contractors affiliated with NASE are ineligible. Notably, the program is inclusive of individuals with criminal histories, who are also encouraged to apply. The grant awards are capped at $4,000 per recipient, and funds cannot be used for rent, mortgage, or debt payments. Applicants must submit a detailed business plan, a statement of grant use, a recent tax return or profit and loss statement, and a photo (business or personal). Optional documents supporting the application are encouraged. Decisions are final and made solely at NASE’s discretion; the grant amount may differ from the requested amount, and not all applicants will receive funding. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, with quarterly review cycles: January–March applications are reviewed in April, April–June in July, July–September in October, and October–December in January of the following year. Successful applicants are notified after committee review and must return signed documentation before funds are disbursed. Checks are typically issued within 30 days of completing this process. Grant recipients must use the funds according to their stated plan and retain records demonstrating proper use. Additionally, they are asked to publicly display the NASE Member Badge on their business website for one year and consent to the use of their name, business, award amount, and image for promotional purposes by NASE. Though no application feedback is provided, applicants are encouraged to clearly articulate their business need and the anticipated impact of the grant on their business operations. A strong, well-explained business plan can increase the likelihood of receiving an award. The application process is conducted via the NASE member portal, and support is available through the program’s dedicated email contact.

The more the review team understands your business, the better; ensure clarity around business need and impact of grant funds.