The Ultimate Guide to Small Business Grants (Updated November 2021)
Grants can be a massively helpful tool in either starting a new small business or revitalizing your existing organization. Unlike loans, grants are awarded with no expectation of repayment. The federal government offers several grants for small businesses, but a federal grant often comes with an intense, miles-long application process and a hearty helping of red tape. There are, however, grant options for small businesses outside of those provided by the federal government which can be equally, if not more, helpful upgrading your small business. Many private corporations and public companies also provide grants recognizing well thought-out business plans and compelling new ideas. If you are a small business owner, be sure to consider these grants which, as well as giving capital to reinvest in your organization, will regularly offer consulting or mentoring advice to help expand your business.
As 2021 comes to a close, there are still quite a few grants to consider applying for. Those grants with application windows still in 2021 are first in this list while grants likely to open in early 2022 are at the bottom.
Small Business Grants to Apply for in 2021
Street Shares Foundation Veteran Small Business Award (Veterans only)
The Street Shares Foundation distributes grants to veterans with innovative business ideas that have social impact. Applicants must be a veteran, reserve, or transitioning active-duty United States Armed Forces member, or the spouse or immediate family of a member. Applicants must also own at least 51% of the applying small business and be at least 21 years old. Your application must include a 2 minute or less video introducing your business and how you would plan to use the grant.
In order to be considered for the Veteran Small Business Award, applicants must download and study the StreetShare Foundation’s educational materials, specifically the “Ultimate Guide For Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.” Applicants must also watch at least one of the foundation’s several video guides and register to attend a virtual seminar hosted on June 17th.
Prize(s):
- 1st place $15,000
- 2nd place $6,000
- 3rd place $4,000
Deadline to Apply
Application deadlines are TBA; However, you must meet all education requirements by 5 pm ET on June 17th.
Sogal Black Founder Startup Grant (Black women or Black nonbinary only)
The SoGal Foundation in cooperation with Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelve NYC, Twilio and several more corporate sponsors created the Black Founder Startup Grant to combat systemic discrimination against Black women. SoGal and their partners give grants and consulting advice to Black women or nonbinary-owned businesses, citing that they have the greatest barriers to getting capital. Eligible businesses must be owned by a self-identified Black woman or Black nonbinary person. The application notes that SoGal is inclusive to multiracial Black women and multiracial Black nonbinary people as well. Applicants must present a business plan and an idea or solution “with the ambition to be the next billion-dollar idea.”
Prize(s)
$5,000 to $10,000
Deadline to Apply
SoGal reviews grant applications on a rolling basis and will continue to accept applications through 2021.
Womensnet Amber Grant (Women only)
The Womensnet Amber Grant is organized by one of the largest women-owned small business networks in the United States. Womensnet selects one exceptional women-owned business every month to receive a $10,000 grant and annually selects a winner to receive a $25,000 grant. The eligibility requirements laid out by Womensnet are intentionally loose, allowing women from several industries to apply. Womensnet asks that applicants explain only their existing small business or their business plan and how they would use the grant money.
Prize(s)
- Monthly Winners – $10,000
- Annual Grand Prize – $25,000
Deadline to Apply
Monthly grant applications close on the last day of each month. Womensnet selects the annual winner from the pool of applicants from an entire calendar year.
Comcast Rise Small Business Grant (BIPOC-owned only)
The Comcast RISE program offers several services to help expand small businesses. Eligible organizations must be at least 51% owned by Black, Indigenous, or People of Color, operated for at least one year, and be within the Comcast service area in the United States. Grant recipients will have access to advertising and marketing consultations, a 90-day media period organized by Comcast, and a technology makeover. The technology makeover can include free computer equipment, Internet and telephone service, and cybersecurity
Prize(s)
Technology Makeover
Deadline to Apply
Applications accepted year-round.
Craft Emergency Relief Fund (Craft Art Companies only)
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+), or The Artists Safety Net, seeks to help artists and small businesses servicing artists who need emergency funding. Emergency funding can either be justified in the form of medical expenses or damage from a fire or natural disaster. Grants awarded are often $3,000. The fund notes that cases based solely on economic losses relating to the COVID-19 pandemic will not be eligible. Eligible small businesses must use “craft” materials, meaning clay, textiles, glass, wood, metal. Eligible artists, however, will be judged more on their merits compared to the materials they use. CERF+ intentionally leaves their grant criteria broad, so as to not exclude modern or emerging craft fields.
Prize(s)
$3,000
Deadline to Apply
CERF+ is accepting rolling applications for grants. Applicants must fill out an inquiry form in order to be considered for a grant.
Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grants (Painters, Printers and Sculptors only)
Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grants are specifically awarded to working painters, printers and sculptors in need of emergency funding. Eligible small businesses must demonstrate they were affected by a “catastrophic incident” and lack the resources to recuperate. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have worked in a certain field or industry for ten years.
Prize(s)
Awarded amounts typically range between $5,000 and $15,000
Deadline to Apply: There are no deadlines to apply for the Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grant. The foundation accepts applications year-round.
The Barstool Fund
The Barstool Fund has awarded grants to more than 300 small businesses and has plans to fund several hundred more. Barstool founder Dave Portnoy explained at his program’s launch that the Barstool Fund awards monthly grants to selected small businesses in whatever amount needed in order to stay open. The fund proudly displays funded small businesses on the Barstool website and Portnoy invites any small business to apply. Small businesses seeking a grant must fill out an online application in order to be considered for a grant.
Prize(s)
Awarded amounts are based on demonstrated needs
Deadline to Apply
The Barstool Fund has no announced end-date and will continue as long as participating businesses require funding.
Patagonia Corporate and Retail Grants
Patagonia awards grants to small businesses that combat systemic discrimination and are building an environmental movement. Small businesses applying to either Patagonia’s Corporate or Retail Grants must have a clear business plan that displays their company’s ability to inspire social change. In their eligibility requirements the company explains that because Patagonia is privately held, they are seeking organizations with progressive or even risky business plans that inspire concrete change. Grants awarded can range from $5,000 to $20,000 for winning businesses.
Prize(s)
$5,000 – $20,000
Deadline to Apply
Patagonia accepts applications year-round for both Corporate and Retail Grants.
National Association for the Self Employed (NASE) Growth Grants
The National Association for the Self Employed (NASE) awards regular $4,000 Growth Grants to small businesses and since beginning their grant program have awarded more than $1,000,000 in the length of their Growth Grants program. Small businesses must be annual, veteran, or gold members of NASE to apply. Monthly NASE members may apply 90 days after joining. Applicants must display a clear business plan and explain how a Growth Grant would help their business succeed. NASE will select businesses based on demonstrated need and impact of the grant money.
Prize(s)
$4,000
Deadline to Apply
NASE accepts applications year-round. The grant selection committee reviews applications by quarter of the year.
GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund
The GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund provides a one-time $500 matching grant to organizations who raise at least $500 in a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign. Eligible crowdfunding campaigns must be created to support an independent small business and funds must be used for business expenses or to pay employees.
Prize(s)
$500
Deadline to Apply
The Small Business Relief Fund is no longer soliciting donations, but small businesses can still apply for a matching grant by filling out this application. GoFundMe has not announced a formal end date for the fund.
The Coca-Cola Foundation
The Coca-Cola Company commits to donating 1% of their annual earnings to philanthropic causes through The Coca-Cola Foundation. Small businesses and organizations are encouraged to apply for grants if they represent one of four key pillars: empowering women, enhancing communities, protecting the environment and educating scholars. In 2020 the company awarded more than $35,000,000 in grants and is on track to exceed that figure in 2021. Compared to the Coca-Cola Company, most businesses would be considered “small,” so there are very few restrictions on applying businesses’ annual income or total staff. Coca-Cola also advertises no cap on awardable grant funds, so small businesses ought to apply with their most far-reaching dreams; they just may come true.
Prize(s)
Awarded amounts are based on demonstrated needs
Deadline to Apply
The Coca-Cola Foundation accepts grant applications year-round.
Nav’s Small Business Grant
Nav offers up to $10,000 in grants for ambitious small business owners looking to massively increase their impact. Applying businesses must meaningfully demonstrate how a Nav grant would help expand their business and a recent challenge your business overcame. Businesses must then share their unique voting link on their social media or at their small business to encourage followers and customers to vote for their business. The 200 businesses with the most votes will then be individually reviewed Nav judges to select finalists. Nav encourages businesses to submit pictures and videos of their small business along with their voting link on social media and to “get specific” about how grant money would help their business grow.
Prize(s)
- 1st place: $10,000
- 2nd place: $5,000
Deadline to Apply
Nav’s Small Business Grant is awarded quarterly. The Q4 application window closed on October 26th, but Q1 2022 applications are expected to open in early January.
Schedulicity Cares Small Business Grant
Schedulicity launched their small business grant program, Schedulicity Cares, originally only for stylists and barbers but have since opened eligibility to all small businesses. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for an indefinite period Schedulicity will award a small business with a $500 grant. Applying businesses must create a free Schedulicity account either create an Instagram post showing how your small business positively impacts your community or submit your business info privately. Businesses may enter once per week and winners are chosen at random.
Prize(s)
$500
Deadline to Apply
Applications accepted year-round
Small Business Grants To Consider for 2022
Several well-known small business grant programs have already closed their 2021 application windows. Small businesses, then, have plenty of time to perfect their 2022 applications for the following high-profile and often highly-sought grant programs.
FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
FedEx has become an industry leader in awarding grants to small businesses with strong business plans and eye-catching ideas. Grand prize winners receive a $50,000 grant as well as a credit for $7,500 in FedEx Office print services. Runners up also earn substantial grants and FedEx services. Applicants must be U.S.-based for-profit small businesses that have been in operation for at least one year. Applying small businesses must also have less than 50 employees and have less than $5 million in annual sales revenue.
Prize(s)
- 1st place (Grand Prize): $50,000 + FedEx services valued at $7,500
- 2nd place: $30,000 + FedEx Services valued at $5,000
- 3rd place: $15,000 + FedEx Services valued at $1,000
When to Apply
FedEx often opens grant applications toward the end of May each year.
IFundWomen Jane Walker First Women Grant Program
The IFundWomen Jane Walker First Women Grant hopes to kick off more “firsts” for women by empowering women small business owners. IFundWomen invites all small business owners “pushing boundaries to create a more vibrant, diverse world” to apply for their grant which awards winners with a $10,000 grant and a year of mentoring from IFundWomen. Winners are selected from several industries and applicants may be of any gender. Applying small businesses, however, must demonstrate their ability to empower women in order to be considered for a grant.
Prize(s)
$10,000
Deadline to Apply
Applications for the next First Women Grant are expected to open in the first quarter of 2022
Digital Undivided Do You Fellowship Grant (Black and Latinx women only)
The Digital Undivided proudly funded 1,500 Black and Latinx-owned small businesses in 2020 and seek to further expand in 2021 with their new Do You Fellowship. The Fellowship will award 10 Black or Latinx women-owned businesses with a $5,000 grant and mentorship from Digital Undivided. Applicants must be a Black or Latinx woman small business owner. There are no restrictions on eligible fields or industries.
Prize(s)
$5,000
When to Apply
Digital Undivided has not announced the application window for their 2022 grant. Those who plan to apply can sign up for email reminders on the Digital Undivided website.
Target Foundation Small Business Grants
The Target Foundation originally serviced small businesses only in the Minneapolis metro and St. Paul areas of Minnesota, but recently brought their grant program nationwide. The foundation seeks small businesses that “reshape economic and social structures in our communities,” according to Amanda Nusz, Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and President of the Target Foundation. Target’s national grant program seeks small businesses and organizations with ambitious goals of changing the world’s view of work and empowering their local communities. While the foundation does not accept grant applications directly, a small business seeking a Target Foundation national grant may enter their information into a financial security & empowerment info form on the Target Foundation website. If a Target Foundation official is interested in forming a partnership with a business, they will reach out directly.
Prize(s)
Awarded amounts are based on demonstrated need
When to Apply
The Target national and global grant programs are invitation-only.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Dream Big Awards
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Dream Big Awards annually honors an excellent small business with a $25,000 grant. Small businesses applying must be for-profit and have less than 250 employees. A company may also be eligible if they have more than 250 employees but less than $20 million in gross annual revenues in 2019 and 2020 separately. As well as the $25,000 grand prize grant, eight runners-up will be recognized for categories in business excellence including sustainability and community support. Runners-up will win one year of paid membership to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a web sticker to display on their company website.
Prize(s)
- 1st place: $25,000
- Eight runners up will receive one year paid membership to the U.S. Chamber
When to Apply
The Chamber of Commerce is expected to reopen applications in the first half of 2022. Business owners interested in applying can sign up for email notifications on the Chamber of Commerce website.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Facebook has given a combined $100 million in grants to small businesses and further indicated they intend to give much more. Businesses eligible for a small business grant must have been in business for at least one year, be for-profit and have less than 50 employees. Even though Facebook’s grant program services businesses in 30 countries, United States applicants must apply during certain windows depending on your region.
Prize(s)
Awarded amounts based on demonstrated need
When to Apply
Facebook is expected to reopen applications in Q1 2022.
Non-government grants have become even more prevalent due to COVID-19 and have shown no signs of slowing down in the future. This list of nongovernment grants is regularly updated, so be sure to look here for new opportunities. If you know of any small business grants that should be added to this page, please contact us at Kapitus.
