Grants for Small businesses - Private

This grant provides financial support ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to small businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Northern Kentucky, helping them with various business improvement expenses.

This program provides financial assistance to artists facing unexpected medical emergencies, helping them cover costs related to medical, dental, and mental health treatment.

This funding opportunity provides $1,000 micro grants to U.S. military veterans who own small businesses with annual revenues under $5 million and between 2 to 100 employees.

This grant provides financial support to small, independently owned businesses in Philadelphia to help them overcome operational challenges and invest in projects that promote growth and stability.

Mountain BizWorks in North Carolina is offering 20 micro-grants of $2,500 each to startups and emerging businesses owned by historically underrepresented groups, aiming to support their growth and contribution to the local community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in New York City that are working to improve procurement access and capacity for small businesses owned by historically excluded groups.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC) is offering a grant ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 through its InnovateMass Program, aimed at supporting teams deploying new clean energy technologies or innovative combinations of existing technologies with strong commercialization potential, to address energy challenges, grow the state's clean energy economy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This grant provides financial assistance to independently-owned restaurants, gastropubs, and bakeries in the U.S. that have suffered revenue losses due to recent natural disasters or severe weather events.

This fellowship program supports entrepreneurs in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area who are developing innovative solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.

This program provides a pitch competition and investor introductions for women and founders of color in the U.S. with scalable startups that have a minimum viable product and some customer traction, specifically targeting those outside major startup hubs.

The 24 Squared Grant Program, funded by Square Financial Services and the Community Foundation of Utah, offers grants between $1,000 to $10,000 to Utah-based non-profit organizations engaged in community development activities such as affordable housing, small business development, reentry support, and financial wellness, with special awards for the highest scored organization, those with great potential, and those supporting local small businesses.

Gener8tor is inviting applications for its gBETA Social Impact Accelerator Program, a free, seven-week virtual initiative offering coaching, mentorship, and resources to early-stage companies focused on equity in education or criminal justice reform, with the aim to prepare them for investment accelerators or seed funding rounds.

The Gener8tor is accepting applications for its 2024 gBETA Urban League Accelerator Program. Donor Name: Gener8tor State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/25/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: gBETA Urban League is open to Madison businesses owned by Black entrepreneurs and other entrepreneurs of color from high tech startups to Main Street small businesses.  gBETA runs multiple times every year in cities across the United States. Up to five companies from a range of verticals are selected from a competitive applicant pool to participate in the free seven-week program. Participating companies receive: Individualized coaching and mentorship from the team of nationally ranked accelerator gener8tor on company growth and investor readiness Weekly “Lunch & Learns” and “Mentor Swarms” Investor and accelerator pitches $1M+ in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, Paypal, Zendesk, Hubspot and Microsoft Ongoing post-program support and gener8tor community involvement and offerings gBETA’s goal is that graduates will go on to participate in an investment accelerator or raise a seed round. Eligibility Criteria for gBETA Urban League Madison You’re based in Madison Open to Madison businesses owned by Black entrepreneurs and other entrepreneurs of color from high tech startups to Main Street small businesses with a particular focus on entrepreneurs who are interested in becoming a part of the Urban League of Greater Madison’s Black Business Hub. You’re Committed While they don’t expect you to be full-time on your business yet, programming is about a five-hour commitment each week, and they expect that you will be spending additional time working on your business each week outside of the program. You’re Ready to Grow gBETA companies range from “I have an idea” to “I have significant revenue.” Although most gBETA companies are post-product, pre-scale, as long as you are ready to make use of coaching on customer growth and investor readiness, mentor meetings, and investor and accelerator pitches, they’re ready for you! For more information, visit gener8tor.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses and certain nonprofits in Minnesota that have experienced significant revenue declines due to economic hardships.

The Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice (SRRJ) Expansion/Growth Grant supports Black-owned restaurants and food businesses across the United States by providing financial assistance aimed at start-up costs, business improvements, and sustainability efforts. Originating in 2020 as a coalition focused on aiding Black-owned restaurants during the Covid-19 pandemic, SRRJ has since partnered with The LEE Initiative and has raised over $4 million in corporate funding. The grants are part of an ongoing effort to preserve and promote Black culinary traditions and leadership. For 2024, each grant will be awarded in the amount of $20,000. The deadline for applications is September 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST.

The Women’s Business Development Council offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified women-owned small businesses in Connecticut. Donor Name: Women’s Business Development Council State: Connecticut County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Ignite is designed to help women-owned businesses grow! Grants between $2,500 and $10,000 will be awarded for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth and profitability. Eligibility Criteria  To be eligible, the business must: Be 51% or more woman-owned Be headquartered in CT, registered in the state of CT, and owned by a CT resident Have been in business for at least two years before the application round deadline, with a record of sales Have a record of annual sales/revenue in the last twelve months greater than $25,000 and less than $2,000,000 Be in good standing with the CT Department of Revenue Services (DRS) Have an established business checking account Currently utilize a formal, digital bookkeeping/financial system (e.g. QuickBooks, Sage, FreshBooks, Wave Accounting) Be a for profit business Be owned by a woman at least 18 years old Have invested at least $2,500 into your business in the last 12 months, unless the business is located in a distressed municipality The following businesses are not eligible: Childcare businesses are not eligible for the Ignite Grant. If your business is in the childcare industry, WBDC has other programs for you.  Any individual or business that has already received an Ignite Grant, Equity Match Grant or WBDC Municipal Grant is not eligible. Non-profit organizations are not eligible. Current vendors or contractors of WBDC are not eligible. (Former vendors are eligible to apply a year after working with WBDC.) Medical marijuana; liquor stores and alcohol distributors; adult businesses such as strip clubs; vape retailers; tobacco shops and smoking lounges; businesses having to do with gambling; gun stores and ranges; cash advance, check cashing, or pawn shops; bail bonds; collection agencies or services; and auction or bankruptcy or fire or “lost-the-lease” or “going-out-of-business” or similar sale. For more information, visit WBDC.

Ìpàdé has established the Tanna Fund, a giving circle that awards microgrants to early-stage Black women and gender-expansive innovators who need capital and support to launch their transformative business idea in the Washington, DC metro area. Donor Name: Ìpàdé State: Maryland, Virginia County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Through the Tanna Fund, they are contributing to the growth and success of Black innovators with bold ideas. Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, but for various historical and current reasons, including systemic racism, they earn less and have difficulty securing funding. Black business owners who apply for funding are more likely to get rejected than white business owners, and this significantly reduces their ability to build and sustain a business. The Tanna Fund will award microgrants to early-stage Black women and gender-expansive innovators in the Washington, DC region. Eligibility Criteria The Tanna Fund is eager to review applications from entrepreneurs who meet the following eligibility criteria.  The entrepreneur identifies as a woman or a gender-expansive person  The entrepreneur also identifies as Black or of African Descent  The business structure has been established (e.g., LLC, S-CORP, etc) OR will be formally established in the next 6 months  The business has received less than $5,000 in grant funding  Business is based in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC For more information, visit Ìpàdé.

The Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC), the largest business plan competition in the country designed to advance innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona by assisting early-stage ventures to scale. Donor Name: Arizona Commerce Authority State: Arizona County: All Counties Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Semifinalists gain access to Venture Raise, a twelve-week hybrid accelerator that will prepare startups for funding. Ten Finalists will be awarded $100,000 and begin Venture Scale, a six-month accelerator of customized support and one-on-one matching with ACA Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. Eligibility Criteria Companies must meet certain criteria to participate in the Arizona Innovation Challenge. Judges will screen each application to ensure all qualifications are met and all materials submitted through the proper format. If not met, applications will be removed from the competition, and notifications will not be made until the end of the first round. For more information, visit Arizona Commerce Authority.

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the New Dairy Processor Start-up Grant program to support new dairy processing projects throughout the Northeast. Donor Name: Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/05/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The goal of this program is to help develop competitive dairy processing businesses with long-term viability, supporting operations of all sizes in successfully launching and sustaining their products in the marketplace.  This program is for:  Dairy farmers ready to begin processing,  Value-added entrepreneurs with proven experience in dairy processing and/or value-added business startups, including any relevant work experience, business ventures, products developed, and products brought to market, or  Dairy processors established after January 1, 2023, who are in the start-up phase of business development. Funds are intended to support start-up operations, focusing on tangible implementation rather than research and development, concept development, or initial planning. Funding Information Total available funds: $500,000 Minimum: $15,000  Maximum: $75,000 Project Period Grant periods will range from 12 – 18 months, depending on the project.  Eligibility Criteria This grant is open to applicants from all Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:  Dairy farmer that:  Produces milk within the Northeast  Is a licensed dairy operation in compliance with all required state and federal standards  Value-added business entrepreneur that meets the following requirements:  Sources milk or dairy components from within the Northeast and has evidence of a committed partnership with a farm or processor for sourcing these components  Has a business entity prior to applying  Can demonstrate experience in dairy processing and/or related value-added business startup, including any relevant work experience, business ventures, products developed, and products brought to market  Dairy processor established after January 1, 2023 that:  Has a business entity and milk processing license prior to applying  Sources milk or dairy components from within the Northeast and has evidence of a committed partnership with a farm or processor for sourcing these components.  Is in the start-up phase of business operations All applicants must also:  Be headquartered or based in the Northeast  Provide Proof of Concept demonstrating the viability of the business idea and product  Have a plan for new value-added dairy processing that includes market research, financial projections, a branding and marketing strategy, and a facility location  Obtain licenses to sell dairy products across state lines by the end of the grant period Launch their products in the marketplace or have a Letter of Commitment from a buyer, distributor, or retailer indicating plans to sell the product by the end of the grant period For more information, visit NE-DBIC.

The PeopleFund’s BIPOC Small Business Accelerator provides underserved entrepreneurs in Texas with the capital, education, and resources needed to support healthy business growth. Donor Name: PeopleFund State: Texas County: All Counties Type of Grant: Training or Mentorship Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Program participants commit to an orientation, a series of virtual training sessions, and assigned “homework”. Participants also receive access to technology and tools including LivePlan business planning software and an online curriculum for 6 months, expedited loan packaging and application support, and ongoing after-care provided by PeopleFund and the partners. Participants must apply, be admitted to the program, and qualify for a PeopleFund loan product. Funding Information A grant amount between $3,000 and a maximum of $5,000. Eligibility Criteria  To qualify for the BIPOC Small Business Accelerator, applicants must meet the following criteria: Must be located in the state of Texas Participants must demonstrate at least one of the following three criteria: Their business is located in a low to moderate-income area OR That the address of the individual is in a low to moderate-income area OR That the household income of the participant is low to moderate-income Open to start-up and existing businesses Must be able to support a loan payment through available global cash flow Must meet credit and lending qualifications No bankruptcies within the last 5 years U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Not currently in active litigation Not currently past-due on federal obligations or are on a recovery plan Total collections, derogatory marks, and past due items cannot exceed 10% of the total loan amount up to $5,000 Not involved in felony-level criminal activity, crimes of moral turpitude, or financial Not engaged in any of the following industries: adult entertainment, gambling or gaming, real estate investments or housing projects, passive activity (rental), anything federally illegal, multi-level marketing, and nonprofit activities. Program Benefits Participants will have access to: Qualify for a PeopleFund loan product (dependent on approval) Connections to business and professional resources in the community Completion of a business plan, financial statements, and capital portfolio Access to tools and technology including LivePlan business planning software and the Verizon Digital Ready Program Curriculum guide within an online learning platform Ongoing support and aftercare through dedicated business coaching and mentorship Networking opportunities within the cohort. For more information, visit PeopleFund.