Private Business and Commerce Grants

This competition provides funding opportunities for small business founders in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to showcase their ventures and compete for cash prizes to support their growth.

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.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and local government agencies in Arizona, California, and Nevada to create jobs, provide job training, and assist low-income entrepreneurs and at-risk communities.

This competition provides female and non-binary founders in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area the chance to win a $10,000 cash prize by pitching their growth-oriented startups to investors.

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

This grant provides financial assistance to commercial property owners in Wooster's Central Business District for renovations that enhance downtown activity and preserve the area's visual appeal.

Applicants are invited to apply for the 2025 gBETA Huntsville Accelerator Program. Donor Name: gener8tor State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/20/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. 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 Huntsville You’re based in Alabama gBETA Huntsville is an accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots in Alabama. 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.

The Nevada/Vernon County Community Foundation is seeking applications to improve the quality of life for individuals in Vernon County through thoughtful grantmaking and community leadership. Donor Name: Nevada/Vernon County Community Foundation State: Missouri County: Vernon County (MO) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/23/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Nevada/Vernon County Community Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors, chosen for their knowledge of the area. The unique role of a community foundation is to conduct a flexible community grantmaking program which addresses the most important needs of the community at any one time. The flexibility this requires is made possible by charitable donors who established unrestricted or field-of-interest funds and place the decision-making in the hands of the community leaders serving on our Board of Directors as well as dollars raised by the Nevada/Vernon County Community Foundation. This grant program is funded by the Nevada/Vernon County Philanthropic Society. The mission of the Philanthropic Society is to pool the annual membership gifts of up to 100 individuals, couples, and businesses in Nevada/Vernon County for distribution in support of local projects that improve the services and quality of life in this community. Funding Information Maximum grant request amount is $25,000.  Eligibility Criteria Grant proposals are accepted according to an announced time table, and grant recommendations are made as funds are available. 501(c)3 organizations or other IRS approved entities (government entities, school districts and churches) serving the Nevada/Vernon County area are eligible to apply.  For more information, visit CFO.

Boston XChange and Jrue and Lauren Holiday’s foundation, the JLH Social Impact Fund, have joined forces to launch the Boston Creator Incubator + Accelerator, an initiative dedicated to equipping visionary creators from underinvested communities with the resources and support they need to thrive. Donor Name: Boston XChange State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Boston Creator Program equips visionary creators with the business resources and support to turn their ideas into reality. They work to bridge the funding gap and invest in your success, fostering innovation all while stimulating the local economy. By supporting creators from underinvested communities, they’re working to close the $5 billion racial wealth gap in Massachusetts. Funding Information Get up to $100k in grants. Based on meeting milestones over a 3 year period, the JLH Social Impact Fund will help propel your business forward with up to $35k/year. Eligibility Criteria The Boston Creator Incubator seeks passionate entrepreneurs leading for-profit companies in Greater Boston. Your business should have a positive impact on underinvested communities. Founders must be 18+ and hold a majority stake (51%) in the company. For more information, visit Boston XChange.

This program recognizes and rewards innovative small and mid-sized businesses in the U.S. with cash prizes and valuable resources to enhance their growth and community impact.

The Oshkosh Area Community Foundation seeking applications to support employ online marketing tactics to amplify nonprofits’ missions, encourage donations, attract volunteers, and help organizations grow. Donor Name: Oshkosh Area Community Foundation State: Wisconsin County: Green County (WI), Waushara County (WI), Winnebago County (WI) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/10/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: Participating organizations will receive a brand audit and recommendations to help identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement along with up to 45 hours of service provision. Potential services include: Brand Audit and Strategy Development: Conduct a thorough assessment of your nonprofit’s current position and develop a strategic roadmap to align digital marketing efforts with your organization’s goals and values. Content Creation. Create and publish high-quality digital content like testimonials, blog posts, videos, or graphics based on the message you want to convey and the audience. Email Marketing. Develop an email marketing strategy including creation of email or online newsletter templates, personalized messaging, and content to strategically nurture relationships and educate stakeholders. Social Media Strategy. Determine the best social media platforms for your organization and build a content calendar. Search Engine Optimization. Implement on-page and off-page tactics for your website to gain visibility in search engine results and in turn grow organic traffic. Website Recommendations. An audit of your website and recommendations for improvements and updates. Grant period Services will be provided over a 4-month period (August-November 2024 or December 2024-March 2025). Geographic scope Nonprofits located in Winnebago County, Waushara County, Green Lake County, or the city of Ripon. For more information, visit OACF.

Applicants are invited to apply for thegBETA Alaska Accelerator Program. Donor Name: Gener8tor State: Alaska County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline:  09/09/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: 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 Eligibility Criteria You’re based in Alaska gBETA Alaska is an accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots in Alaska. 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 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.

The Gener8tor has introduced the gBETA Oklahoma City Accelerator, a free seven-week program for early-stage companies based in Oklahoma City, offering coaching, mentorship, investor pitches, and over $1M in deals and perks to help local businesses grow and become investor-ready.

Applicants are now invited to apply for the gBETA Milwaukee. Donor Name: Gener8tor State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/19/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: 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  You’re based in Milwaukee gBETA Milwaukee is an accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 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.

The Gener8tor is offering a free, seven-week gBETA Greeley Accelerator program in Greeley, Colorado for early-stage companies, providing individualized coaching, mentorship, investor and accelerator pitches, and over $1M in deals and perks, with the aim to foster company growth and investor readiness.

The Fund for Williamstown seeks nominations for the DeMayo Bright Futures Innovation Award. Donor Name: Fund for Williamstown State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 10/15/2024 Size of the Grant: Less than $1000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The award recognizes organizations, institutions, businesses or individuals who create new approaches to solving community challenges and/or who enhance life in Williamstown through innovative programs that do not currently exist in the community. This award is presented to those demonstrating an exceptional degree of innovation and creativity, resulting in significant community impact. It recognizes non-traditional approaches to solving community challenges and/or to enhancing life in community. Funding Information The award recipient will receive $1,000 to further the innovative work of the recipient to benefit community. Who can Apply This award is by nomination only. Organizations, institutions, businesses or individuals may be nominated if they are passionate about solving community challenges with innovative practices in Williamstown, Mass. Self-nominations and posthumous nominations will not be accepted. No current Fund for Williamstown committee member may be nominated. Past award recipients are not eligible for re-nomination within a three-year period. For more information, visit BTCF.

Venmo Small Business Grant Program Terms & Conditions Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. 1. Eligibility: The Grant Program is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who: Are at least eighteen (18) years old. Have a U.S. Venmo Account and valid business profile on Venmo in good standing, with a profile photo, background photo, and business description at the time of application and through the time of any grant award. Own a small business, defined as a business entity that is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of its principal place of business (within the U.S. or D.C.) and: Can promptly provide all government documentation requested by Sponsor or Administrator to show proof of business status. Is active and has sold at least $500 worth of goods or services within the three (3) months prior to the start of the Grant Program Period. Employs ten (10) employees or less and has less than $50,000 in annual sales. Establishing a U.S. Venmo Account and valid business profile on Venmo is free. Conducting transactions on Venmo is not an eligibility criterion for this Grant Program. Employees of PayPal, Inc., Merkle Inc., Global Entrepreneurship Network, Inc., Hello Alice, Inc., and their parent and affiliate companies, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such employee, are not eligible. The Grant Program is void where prohibited by law. 2. Sponsor: PayPal, Inc., 2211 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95131. Administrator: Merkle Inc., 3000 Town Center, Floor 21, Southfield, MI 48075. 3. Agreement to Terms & Conditions: Participation in this Grant Program constitutes applicant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Terms & Conditions and Sponsor’s and Administrator’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to this Grant Program. Receiving a grant, if selected, is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein and any additional requirements disclosed by Sponsor. 4. Timing: The Grant Program begins on May 10, 2024, at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET") and ends on May 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET (the "Grant Program Period"). Sponsor's servers are the official time-keeping device for the Grant Program.

Grant Opportunity: Environmental Sustainability Grant for NYC Restaurants Funding Source: The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund in partnership with Grubhub Community Fund Grant Amount: Up to $5,000 per restaurant Application Period: April 26, 2024, to May 31, 2024 Overview: The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund, in collaboration with Grubhub Community Fund, is pleased to announce $500,000 in grant opportunities to assist NYC-based restaurants in enhancing the environmental sustainability of their operations. This funding aims to support restaurants in updating kitchen equipment, particularly coal- and wood-burning ovens, to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental impact. Eligibility Criteria: Open restaurant currently operating in New York City Recently updated (no earlier than January 1, 2024) or planning to update kitchen equipment to improve environmental sustainability Detailed plan outlining how the grant will be utilized to enhance environmental sustainability and reduce carbon emissions Application Process: Submit application form providing specific plans for the use of funding and how it will contribute to lowering emissions. Applications open from April 26, 2024, to May 31, 2024. Grant recipients will be awarded funding on a rolling basis. How to Apply: Interested restaurants can apply for the grant by completing the application form available on the Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund website. Contact Information: For inquiries or assistance, please contact [insert contact information]. Note: This grant opportunity aims to alleviate the financial burden for NYC restaurants as they make necessary operational updates to enhance environmental sustainability. Applicants are encouraged to submit comprehensive plans demonstrating the intended use of funds to lower carbon emissions and improve overall environmental impact.

This grant provides financial support and resources to Black-owned small businesses in Kinetic's service areas, helping them access capital, internet services, and business consultations to enhance their operations and growth.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to women entrepreneurs in the early stages of their business, specifically those with innovative ideas or minimal sales under $10,000, to help them launch and grow their ventures.