Grants
We are constantly updating this list of grant information for minority entrepreneurs. The most recent grants are at the top.
Note the deadline date immediately; in some cases, it may have passed by the time you read it. If the entry deadline has passed for a specific grant, they often have a sign-up page so that you can be notified if/when they offer the grant again.
If you are aware of an active grant that is not listed here, please send us an email with the details so that we might add the information to our compiled list.
Access to Capital Directory for Entrepreneurs
A curated database designed to help entrepreneurs learn about sources of funding, including equity, debt and grant capital, with a special focus on CDFIs supported by Bank of America and organizations supporting underserved entrepreneurs.
Black-Owned Fintech Company Launches Free Grant Search Platform
Comcast RISE Investment Fund Provides $21 Million
Comcast RISE Investment Fund Provides $21 Million in Grants to Support Small Businesses Hardest Hit by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Fearless Strivers Grant Initiative — FEARLESS FUND
Black women-owned businesses are vital to our economy yet receive less than one percent of venture capital funding. Fearless Fund is deepening its commitment to this community with the launch of the contest.
Black Millionaire Development Program
SF Black Wallstreet is thrilled to announce the Black Millionaire Development Program in honor of our ancestral guides Mary Ellen Pleasant and William Leidesdorff, two legendary Black pioneers that laid the economic and cultural foundation of the city known today as San Francisco, California.
Academic education has a way of providing women with in-demand, disruptive skills they need to propel them into management and leadership roles.
Black Creatives Have a Few Weeks Left to Apply for a #BlackVisionaries Grant
The 2022 #BlackVisionaries program will provide $650,000 in grants to Black artists, Black designers, and Black small businesses. Ten creators will receive grants during this round. This includes five Visionary Small Business Grants of $100,000 for Black designers
Love, Tito’s Small Business Grant Program – Accion Opportunity Fund
Tito’s Handmade Vodka was founded by sixth-generation Texan, Bert “Tito” Beveridge. In the mid-nineties, on a plot of land in rural Austin, he built a 998 square foot shack, rigged a pot still with spare parts, and created Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Aiming to help small businesses, including women and minority-owned ones, Uber and Visa are launching a new program to help those firms get through difficult events.More precisely, the program, Grants For Growth, will supply $1 million in grant funding to small businesses in 10 U.S. cities that are now active on Uber Eats, based on a news release. It will be led by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), centering on restaurant recovery and entrepreneurship.
Through the Coalition, American Express, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, National Business League, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., Walker’s Legacy, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will worth together over the next four years to provide $10 million in grants, training, and resources to empower Black-owned small businesses in distressed communities – those that have long been struggling with economic growth.
The Cartier Women’s Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program that aims to drive change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs. Founded in 2006, the program is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact.
Unfinished Business by Hennessy
A program by Hennessy that provides immediate relief and long-term support to Black, Asian, and Latinx small-business owners.
Disaster Relief for Restaurants
To help restaurants recover in times of critical need, DoorDash has partnered with Hello Alice to create the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund. The fund supports restaurants impacted by natural disasters like fires, floods and hurricanes, and provides relief through $10,000 grants
REI CO-OP ROLLS OUT $30 MILLION INITIATIVE TO INVEST IN FOUNDERS OF COLOR IN OUTDOORS INDUSTRY
Intending to boost entrepreneur of color representation, outerwear retailer REI Co-op plans to invest $30 million in 300 diverse founders to help them start and scale their businesses in the outdoors industry.
Seattle-based REI describes itself as a growing community that is the nation’s largest consumer co-op with over 20 million members. It has 171 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia.
Its fresh drive comes as founders of color have historically been overlooked and under-resourced in the business. Though the outdoor industry is nearly a $460 billion sector, only about 1% of retail brands are owned or led by people of color.
“We know 30 percent of people who recreate in the outdoors are people of color, and that 40 percent of the U.S. population identifies as a person of color, so the dramatic drop off of people of color being one percent of our suppliers was such a wake-up call,” Susan Viscon, REI senior vice president of corporate development and investment, told The Plug.
Famous Amos Grants: Ingredients for Success
Famous Amos is launching this initiative in honor of the brand’s founder Wally Amos to create pathways for Black business owners to thrive. Ingredients for Success is a grant and mentorship program awarding a total of $150,000 to three entrepreneurs ($50,000 each).
WomensNet founded the Amber Grant Foundation in 1998. The Foundation was set up with one goal in mind: To honor the memory of a very special young woman, Amber Wigdahl, who died at just 19 years old — before realizing her business dreams. Today, WomensNet carries on that tradition, giving away at least $10,000 every month in Amber Grant money. We’ve also expanded our grant-giving to include a year-end grant of $25,000. Besides awarding grants, we are an entrepreneurial community of women who create unique content and special reports to help women business owners. On occasion, we even consult or give personalized business advice to our community members.
LegalZoom has teamed up with the NBA, WBNA, and NBA G League to assist communities by helping small business owners. Fast Break for Small Business is a $6 million commitment in grants and LegalZoom services to help thousands of small businesses all over the country, and Accion Opportunity Fund is the nonprofit administrator of the program.
Digitalundivided is uniting with banking giant JPMorgan Chase to help Black and Latinx women business owners scale up and potentially gain a $5,000 grant. The accelerated business program is geared to support women of color entrepreneurs with revenue-generating businesses and propel their ventures to the next level.
Project Entrepreneur, a Program by UBS
Project Entrepreneur, a program by UBS, aims to level the playing field for female founders of color by providing these founders with the resources and support they need to build and scale their companies. The Democratizing the Friends & Family Round program, in partnership with Hello Alice, will award $25,000 grants as well as access to virtual coaching and skill-building opportunities to 30 female founders of color who are leading high-growth companies.
Starting September 9, 2021, eligible small businesses can apply to the Alibaba.com Grants Program in partnership with Hello Alice. Fifty recipients will each receive a $10,000 grant. Apply today by sharing what makes your business model, product design, or marketing strategy innovative!
Reclamation Ventures offers impact grants to underestimated entrepreneurs running wellness businesses.
Shea Moisture Women of Color E-Lab
This e-learning platform for women of color entrepreneurs offers education, access to resources, and mentorship in response to the COVID-19 crisis. After program completion, participants will have an opportunity to develop a pandemic business recovery plan and pitch for $100,000 in funding.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT)
These grants are powered by the Small Business Administration and fund a diverse portfolio of startups and small businesses across technology areas and markets to stimulate technological innovation, specifically in research and development. Entrepreneurs of color, women and people with disabilities living in the United States and U.S. territories are encouraged to apply.
“Comcast RISE represents a holistic program that can help advance BIPOC entrepreneurs. The commitment to coaching, capital and connections is critical for historically overlooked communities in achieving economic prosperity. Comcast RISE was formed in late 2020 to give BIPOC-owned small businesses, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare centers and cleaning services, the tools needed to not just survive, but thrive.
The 2021 Salesforce San Francisco Small Business Grants program is designed to provide support for area small businesses impacted by the continued emphasis on virtual work and events resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)
The NASE offers a Growth Grants Program with micro-grants up to $4,000 to the organization’s members. This program is not specifically for Black business owners but may be ideal for small business owners looking for alternative funding.
Are you an entrepreneur looking to take your business to the next level?Share your business goals, challenges, and what you would ask the People’s Shark, Daymond John! Enter to win up to $10,000 and a one-on-one video chat with Daymond John!
Grants.gov allows grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities. It contains information on more than 1,000 grant programs across all 26 federal grant-making agencies, including the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration.To apply for federal grants, you must obtain a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet (a unique nine-digit identification number) for your business; register to do business with the U.S. government through its System Award Management website; and create an account at Grants.gov.
The USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program
This is a USDA grant for the development or expansion of small businesses in rural areas — minority-owned or not. To qualify, you’ll need to have 50 or fewer employees, less than $1 million in revenue and be located in an eligible rural area
Grants typically range from $10,000 to $500,000, and can be used for a variety of purposes, including training and technical assistance, acquisition or development of land and long-term business planning. Applications are accepted through the USDA’s Rural Development’s state offices once per year.
FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
The FedEx Small Business annual grant contest awards 10 small businesses with grants of up to $25,000. Since 2013, FedEx has awarded more than $375,000 in grants to entrepreneurs. Any for-profit small business that has been operating for at least six months is eligible to enter.
Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs
These two small business programs provide contracts and grants for early-stage small businesses that are looking to commercialize innovative biomedical technologies.
SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
Socially or economically disadvantaged small-business owners are eligible to receive help through this SBA 8(a) program, which provides business development assistance, training, and management and technical guidance.
This program is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs in low-wealth neighborhoods, which often include minority communities. The program combines business training and financial counseling along with access to small-business financing options. Participants complete a 12-week training program, plus workshops on business financing and credit and money management.
Fearless Strivers Grant Initiative Fearless Fund
Black women-owned businesses are vital to our economy yet receive less than one percent of venture capital funding. Fearless Fund is deepening its commitment to this community with the launch of the contest.
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