Grants for Small businesses - Private

This grant provides $5,000 to small businesses looking to innovate and improve their operations through new products, renovations, or equipment purchases.

The Chesapeake Oyster Innovation Award Program, offered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and supported by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, aims to increase knowledge of the value of oysters, advance technologies for increasing oyster populations or aquaculture production, and improve oyster population monitoring techniques. This program supports projects in Maryland and Virginia and welcomes requests from members of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, including community organizations and both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. The grant awards up to $10,000, with applications due by September 19, 2024. Match is encouraged but not required.

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky's Shaping a Healthy and Inclusive Future Together (SHIFT) Grant Program aims to transform fragmented communities in Kentucky into inclusive environments for individuals engaging in substance use or experiencing chemical dependence. This program directly aligns with the foundation's mission to build a healthy, inclusive, and connected Kentucky by addressing the critical need for harm reduction and racial equity. The foundation seeks to foster a culture of acceptance and support, moving away from punitive approaches and integrating more compassionate, effective strategies into mainstream services. The SHIFT program targets community-based organizations that primarily serve under-resourced communities of color. These organizations must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through BIPOC leadership within their staff and board. A crucial eligibility criterion is that applicants must not mandate sobriety for individuals to receive services, emphasizing an inclusive approach. The primary impact goal is to shift communities towards greater inclusion and better support for individuals with substance use challenges, particularly those who have experienced systemic oppression due to the War on Drugs. The grant program prioritizes the integration of harm reduction programming into communities. This includes a variety of project examples such as distributing naloxone, safe use kits, syringe exchanges, and testing strips, as well as community organizing and advocacy that empower individuals with lived experiences. Stigma reduction trainings are also a focus, aimed at helping the public understand and articulate the importance of harm reduction models. Other priorities include developing coalitions of local businesses to provide harm reduction supplies, building partnerships with medication-assisted treatment providers, and integrating peer support professionals into staff positions. Expected outcomes of the grant program include the introduction of new harm reduction service modalities into mainstream services and the increased inclusion of people who use substances into these services. The program offers 10-15 grants, ranging from $10,000 for piloting new programming to $50,000 for supporting ongoing harm reduction and racial equity work. This funding structure supports both innovative new initiatives and the sustained growth of existing effective programs, demonstrating the foundation's strategic commitment to long-term impact and systemic change within Kentucky's communities.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County that were significantly affected by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, helping them recover and rebuild.

This program provides financial assistance to businesses in Wabasha for improving the exterior of their commercial or industrial buildings, promoting revitalization and private investment in the community.

The Heartland Regional Food Business Center is offering Business Builder Subawards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to support small food and farm businesses in selected states and counties, aiming to expand local and regional food markets, increase business acumen, and strengthen food systems in response to COVID-19, with projects to be completed within a year.

This grant provides funding and support to early-stage entrepreneurs in the USA who are developing innovative solutions to address climate change and improve healthcare access.

In alignment with the Square mission of economic empowerment, we began the Black Equity Grant Program to support the growth of Black developers after recognizing that many technologies founded by historically underrepresented communities were also underresourced, lacking the necessary funding and resources to build on Square. This program will provide Black-led platform partners with both financial support as well as increased exposure and visibility.

The Impact 100 Ozark grant program seeks to provide transformational grants to organizations serving eastern Christian County, Missouri. The foundation's mission is deeply aligned with this program, aiming to empower women to significantly improve community lives through generosity and by funding impactful grants. This strategic approach ensures that the grants have a lasting positive effect within the specified geographic area, reflecting Impact 100 Ozark's commitment to community betterment through focused financial support. The target beneficiaries for these grants are 501(c)3 organizations or other IRS-approved entities, including government entities, school districts, and churches, that specifically serve the eastern Christian County area. The primary impact goal is to fund significant initiatives that dramatically improve lives. While not explicitly stated as a "theory of change," the foundation's approach suggests that by empowering local organizations with substantial funding, they can address critical community needs and foster sustainable improvements. The program prioritizes proposals that avoid funding day-to-day operations, scholarships, or the start-up of new nonprofit agencies, indicating a focus on established organizations and projects with a clear, transformative scope. This ensures that the grants are directed towards initiatives that can create a significant, rather than incremental, impact. The available funding includes two grants totaling $49,000, with one grant of $35,000 and another of $14,000, underscoring the "significant grants" aspect of their mission. Expected outcomes and measurable results are inherent in the program's design, aiming for "lasting impact." While specific metrics are not detailed in the provided information, the emphasis on "transformational grants" implies a desire for substantial and demonstrable change within the community. The foundation's strategic priority is clearly to harness generosity to fund these impactful projects, thereby improving the lives of individuals and families in eastern Christian County.

This program provides early-stage life science startups nationwide with free mentorship, networking, and resources to help them grow and prepare for investment opportunities.

This grant provides $5,000 to women entrepreneurs across various industries to help them grow or scale their businesses.

This funding opportunity supports creative individuals and organizations in Miami to develop community-focused events and installations that enhance cultural engagement and artistic expression in Downtown Miami.

This contest provides financial support and promotional opportunities to small businesses in the U.S. with 50 or fewer employees, helping them grow and gain visibility through AT&T's network.

The Washington State Department of Commerce's Blended Capital Enhancement Grants are part of the Community Reinvestment Project (CRP), a new initiative aimed at reducing wealth disparities within Black, Latine, and tribal communities through asset building. The program seeks to support by-and-for lending agencies, businesses, and organizations that serve these specific communities. The overarching mission is to make it easier for these communities to access financial support from local organizations and businesses, fostering economic empowerment and equity. The grant program targets Black, Latine, and tribal communities across Washington state, as well as the lending agencies, businesses, and organizations that are either led by and for these communities, or are partnered with such entities. The impact goals are centered on facilitating homeownership, supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, providing money management and business training, assisting with the acquisition of commercial property and business assets, and helping individuals reduce debt and increase savings through matching funds. These goals directly address key areas of wealth accumulation and financial stability. The program prioritizes funding for a variety of initiatives including new construction loans ($5 million), home expansion loans (including Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs) ($6 million), business startups and expansions ($5 million), and consumer loans (such as credit consolidation, car refinancing, or emergency expenses) ($1 million). The total funding available is $42 million. The focus is on creating accessible financial pathways and resources that have historically been less available to the targeted communities. Expected outcomes include an increase in homeownership rates within Black, Latine, and tribal communities, the growth and sustainability of small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures, improved financial literacy and money management skills among individuals, and a reduction in personal debt coupled with increased savings. These measurable results align with the broader strategic priorities of the Washington State Department of Commerce to foster economic development and reduce disparities. The theory of change suggests that by empowering local, by-and-for organizations with capital, they can more effectively deliver essential financial services and support, thereby directly addressing systemic inequalities and building lasting wealth within these communities.

Rising Restaurateur: A Community Grant Program is an innovative microgrant program that offers $200,000 in microgrants to New York City Latino, Black, Indigenous, Asian American and/or Pacific Islander restaurateurs. From brick-and-mortar establishments to food trucks and carts, BIPOC/AAPI+ entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry can apply for microgrants of up to $10,000 to uplift their businesses. Selected participants will also have access to additional business development opportunities through Oyate Group. Rising Restaurateur is a partnership between Oyate Group, Grubhub and the New York State Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association. To participate, restaurateurs must be Latino, Black, Indigenous, Asian American and/or Pacific Islander, based in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Westchester County (Mt. Vernon and Yonkers), operating as a single business with 30 or fewer employees and a revenue of $2 million or less. Members of the New York State Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association are encouraged to apply. Grant funding is made possible by Grubhub and Oyate Group.

This grant provides funding to dairy processors, associations, packaging manufacturers, and educational institutions in the Northeast to support innovative projects that improve processing and packaging in the dairy industry.

This grant provides $4,250 to support U.S.-based women and minority entrepreneurs in growing their businesses through funding, resources, and mentorship.

This program provides funding and resources to small business owners to help them improve their operations and compete in the digital marketplace.

This grant provides funding to community members and organizations in Philadelphia to improve public spaces and enhance pedestrian safety, particularly in underserved neighborhoods.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and community groups in Los Angeles County to provide culturally affirming services and activities that promote healing and resilience for individuals and communities affected by the 2025 wildfires.