Useful Business Resources

Grants of $250 to USA educators for classroom projects and lessons related to aviation. Eligible applicants are private, charter, and public school K-12 teachers, homeschooling cooperatives, and STEM coordinators. Grant funds may be used to defray the costs of transportation, field trips, materials, or to fund another type of project with an aviation or aerospace theme.

Deadline: August 31, 2024

KINF's Supply A Teacher program seeks to remove the burden of having to provide necessary resources from teachers in underserved schools. With each Supply A Teacher box we deliver, a teacher receives items they need to fuel a full semester of active learning for their entire class of students, whether they are teaching in the classroom or via distance learning.

Applications are open to teachers at schools where 50% or more of students are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program.

Applications and awards will be accepted year-round, so teachers, don't miss out!

Deadline: Ongoing

In-kind grants to USA public and private schools to improve access to healthy and nutritious food. The purpose of this program is to promote the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in schools by providing schools with salad bars. In addition to the salad bars, grantees will receive free enrollment for the School Food Institute’s Salad Bars in Schools Course. Any district or independent school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is eligible to apply.

Deadline: Ongoing

NFL Foundation Player Matching Grants are designed to provide nonprofit organizations or schools and youth football organizations with funding of up to $5,000 per grant, on behalf of a current NFL Player or NFL Legend (i.e., former player) that has contributed to the organization.

Players and Legends may apply for up to TWO Player Matching Grants per calendar year if the grants are awarded to different organizations. Additionally, an organization may receive up to TWO grants, in one year if the grants are awarded from different Players/Legends.

Deadline: October 1, 2024

Opportunity for USA full-time public and public charter school educators, including counselors, librarians, nurses, and therapists, to obtain funding for classroom projects that benefit students. Examples of learning opportunities include books, technology, and field trips.

Deadline: Ongoing

Boundless Futures Foundation EmpowHer Grants

• For: US-based female entrepreneurs 22+
• Business: <3 years old, addresses social issues
• Offers: Funding + advisor network
• Requirements: Credit score, background check
• Deadline: August 31, 2024

Deadline: August 31, 2024

Xero Beautiful Business Grants

• Total: $460,000+
• Eligible: US, Canada, UK, NZ, Australia, Singapore
• Business size: 1-50 employees
• Categories:
  • Sustainability Innovation
  • Community Connection
  • Technology Trailblazing
  • Future Upskilling
• Requirements: Active Xero subscriber
• For: For-profit and non-profit businesses
• Deadline: August 27, 2024
• Winners announced: October 2024

Deadline: August 27, 2024

Giving Joy Micro Grants for Women Entrepreneurs

• Amount: Up to $500 USD (one-time)
• Eligibility: Women 18+ years old
• Purpose: Start or expand businesses/nonprofits
• Key Requirement: Must demonstrate social benefit to community
• Deadline: July 31, 2024

These grants support women-led initiatives with a focus on social impact. The more community benefit your idea shows, the higher your chances of receiving funding.

Deadline: July 31, 2024

HerRise Micro-Grant

• For: Women of color business owners (51%+ ownership)
• Eligibility: US-registered businesses
• Not eligible: Non-profits, franchises, direct sellers, resellers
• Process: Submit business pitch and plan
• Deadline: Last day of each month
• Winners announced: Following month's First Friday Mixer

Supports innovative, community-impacting businesses by women of color.

The Kitty Fund, will award a total of $25,000 to 25 small business owners who identify as mothers in 2024. Eligible businesses must be based in the U.S., have annual revenues under $5M, and employ between 2 to 50 people. While applications don’t open until March 2024, those interested can pre-register today.

Freed Fellowship offers monthly $500 grants to people of color or women business owners. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and grant recipients may also win an additional $2,500 grant at the end of the year.

Block Advisors by H&R Block is providing $100,000 in grants, plus small business services

One grand prize winner will receive a small business grant of $50,000. Additional finalists will receive a grant of $12,500.

Deadline: May 26, 2024

Initiated by Cartier in 2006, empower women impact entrepreneurs worldwide in various sectors, focusing on social and environmental sustainability. The program offers three award categories: regional, diversity, equity and inclusion, and science and technology pioneer. Winners receive financial support, coaching, and peer learning opportunities, with the diversity, equity and inclusion category open to all genders.

The company Business Warrior understands that it can be difficult to get loan approval through a traditional banking method. To help small businesses get access to capital, Business Warrior is giving $5 million to small business owners. They will provide between $5,000 and $50,000 loans without the high rates cash advance companies normally charge.

Each month, the Awesome Foundation awards grants of $1,000 to individuals and groups looking to fund various projects. The Awesome Foundation is made of 84 independently-run chapters, with members contributing to a micro-funding pool that goes towards grant projects. Though funding is not limited to businesses, startups, and small businesses have been among the recipients of the monthly grants. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Deadline: Rolling

The federal government seeks to award at least 5% of federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses annually. Through this SBA program, the Office of Women’s Business Ownership provides support to women entrepreneurs by offering business training, counseling, federal contracts and access to credit and capital. Their goal is to offer equal opportunities for all women in business.

Startups and small businesses seeking funding can do so on a rolling, year-round basis with the 500 Global Flagship Accelerator program. Since 2010, this program has offered businesses the opportunity for a four-month accelerator program based in San Francisco in addition to a $150,000 investment. Rules for applying can be found on the company's website.

The NIH and CDC are offering a grant to help small businesses that are already working on medical projects supported by previous grants. The goal is to speed up the development and commercialization of new medical technologies. This grant will provide training in entrepreneurship and innovation to these small businesses, teaching them how to understand the market value of their inventions and move them from the lab to the commercial world.

Deadline: April 30, 2024

In partnership with Verizon, National ACE has developed a digital readiness program to help small business owners succeed in a digital world. The free online curriculum includes expert coaching, peer networking, and other resources to support your small business. Those who register for the program and take two courses are eligible for a $10,000 grant.

This program is open to food businesses that are at least 51% owned by someone who belongs to one of the following categories: Black, Indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQ+, military veterans, persons with disabilities or formerly incarcerated individuals. In addition to a financial grant, Restaurant Business Development Program participants receive six months of consulting services and educational training. Applications to be a part of the next cohort are open from October 5, 2023 to January 31, 2024.

Hidden Star, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports women, people of color and low-income entrepreneurs, offers Galaxy Grants. Grants of up to $2,750 are awarded to people of color and women business owners. Applications are open and will be accepted until March 31, 2024.

Black business owners can apply for $500 - $2,000 grants through the Wish Local Empowerment Grant program. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, have 20 or fewer employees, generate an annual average revenue of less than $1 million and own a brick-and-mortar location in the United States. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The Corporate Counsel Women of Color Entrepreneur Grant awards five $2,500 grants to businesses owned by women of color. To be eligible, your business must have been established since at least Jan. 1, 2020 and must have generated more than $25,000 in lifetime revenue. Applications for 2024 grants are now open and will accepted on a rolling basis.

Since 1993, First Nations has been offering grants to help support Native American organizations and projects, totaling $51.6 million in grants, along with technical resources.

Past grant opportunities include programs for Covid-19 response, native youth and culture support, college scholarships and a native youth business plan competition, among others. Visit the First Nations website to learn more about new grant opportunities when they become available.

With financial support from Cummins, through their Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity (CARE) initiative, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, LISC Indianapolis has established a real estate assistance fund to provide up to $20,000 grants for Black businesses in Indianapolis that are seeking to purchase commercial property or retain their commercial property through capital improvements. This grant can be applied toward the down payment and/or closing costs.

Grow your small business with valuable resources like free online courses, tools, coaching, peer networking and grants.

The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) is a non-profit corporate membership organization that supports minority-owned businesses. The NMSDC has a grant program called the Business Consortium Fund, which is intended to support certified minority-owned businesses.

Comcast RISE is supporting the growth of all small businesses and entrepreneurs committed to uplifting their local communities.

The Indiana SBDC is committed to creating positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth, and sustainability of Indiana’s small businesses by providing entrepreneurs expert guidance and a comprehensive network of resources.

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce that aims to assist minority-owned businesses across the country.

It provides a number of grants and loans for minority-owned firms, including: the Entrepreneurship Education Program for Formerly Incarcerated Persons Grant, the Enterprising Women of Color Grant and the Minority Business Enterprise Inner City Innovation Hub Grant.

Backstage Capital is a venture capital fund that invests in women, people of color and the LGBTQ community. Its Entrepreneur Investment applications are viewed on a rolling basis.

The Coalition to Back Black Businesses is a partnership of several brands that have come together with the goal of empowering Black-owned businesses.

The Coalition is supplying $14 million in minority grants, resources and training over a span of four years through 2023 that is meant to help small businesses recover from pandemic-related setbacks. The Coalition includes American Express, ADP, AIG Foundation, Altice USA, Dow and the S&P Global Foundation.

Select businesses will qualify for grants in the amount of $5,000 each fall, in combination with training and mentorship benefits. When the summer arrives, a few initial grant recipients will receive additional $25,000 enhancement grants as a means of additional funding and support.

Eligible businesses must be Black-owned enterprises located in economically distressed communities. You can apply on the Coalition’s website in the fall when the application process opens. The grant committee will select 400 or more eligible applicants at random to receive cash awards and other benefits.

A grant making initiative to provide immediate financial assistance and long-term support for America’s Black-owned small businesses

The National Association for the Self Employed (NASE) Growth Grants Program allows business owners to apply for a grant useful for financing a particular small business need. Past recipients used their grant for computers, farm equipment, to hire part-time help, marketing materials and more.

The Foundation for Business Equity’s Business Equity Initiative supports and provides funding for Black and Latinx business owners.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the FBE created a “response strategy team” to advise these businesses and created a “Covid-19 emergency fund” aimed to provide flexible loans and crisis response support teams to Massachusetts-based Black and Latinx businesses with revenues of at least $250,000.

This program will provide Black-led platform partners with both financial support as well as increased exposure and visibility.

Deadline: Rolling

Through the grants.gov site, business owners can view over 1,000 federal grant programs, conduct an in-depth search, learn about the application process and ultimately apply.