Useful Business Resources

ZenBusiness is awarding over 40 grants to small businesses this year. Each recipient will receive $5,000 to support business growth, 30 days of Growth Center access (including live coaching and website tools), 30 days of ZenBusiness Money Pro (featuring tools to manage clients, cash flow, and taxes in one place), and a free month of ZenBusiness Banking to help separate business and personal finances. Here’s how to qualify:

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a current ZenBusiness customer, and have used ZenBusiness formation services within the past 3–6 months.

Your business must be a private, U.S.-registered entity offering products or services that benefit your community.

Applications are limited to one entry per customer per month. Previous winners are not eligible to reapply.

The deadline to apply is December 31, 2024.

Deadline: December 31, 2024

Google Ad Grants shows your message to people searching for nonprofits like yours.

Each qualifying nonprofit has access to up to $10,000 per month in search ads shown on Google.com. Additional Google Ads may be purchased in a separate account.

Deadline: Rolling

The Small Business Catalyst Fund, a collaboration between Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) and Fifth Third Bank, offers $5,300 in grant funding to eligible small businesses. The program is designed to support businesses in select locations through trusted Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) — mission-driven lenders that focus on assisting entrepreneurs who face barriers to accessing capital. Applications are due by December 13, 2024.

Deadline: December 13, 2024

Organizations can apply for the Walmart Spark Good Local Grants program provided by Walmart and Sam’s Club, which offers grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 to address the unique needs of local communities. Tax ID status determines eligibility, with 501(c)(3) charities, public entities, and educational institutions qualifying. Grant applications are accepted quarterly, with the current round open through December 31, 2024. All organizations must be Deed verified and have a Spark Good account to apply.

Deadline: December 31, 2024

The Secretsos™ Small Business Grant offers $2,500 to help entrepreneurs overcome challenges and accelerate growth. To apply, business owners must be 21 or older and operate in eligible US states, excluding Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, New York, and Rhode Island. Applications are due by December 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m., CST, and the selected recipient will have full discretion on how to use the funds to support their business.

Deadline: December 31, 2024

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

Digital Ready superfans, share your story for a chance to earn a trip to Super Bowl LIX and a $25,000 grant.

Three Digital Ready superfans will be chosen as grantees to take part in a special small business event during February’s Super Bowl LIX Week and attend the big game. Grantees will also receive a $25,000 grant from LISC.

Deadline: November 22, 2024

Hivers & Strivers provides early-stage funding exclusively to U.S. military veteran entrepreneurs, focusing on highly scalable startups across various industries. With investment sizes ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, the program aims to leverage the leadership skills and resilience of veteran founders. Beyond capital, Hivers & Strivers offers strategic support, access to advisors, and valuable network connections to help these businesses grow.

Eligibility:

Open only to startups led by U.S. military veterans

Focuses on scalable business ideas (not lifestyle or franchise businesses)

The HerRise MicroGrant, provided by HerSuiteSpot, offers $1,000 monthly grants to support small businesses owned by women of color. This funding aims to empower underrepresented entrepreneurs by helping with business needs such as marketing, equipment, or software. Businesses must be at least 51% owned by women of color and based in the U.S.

Deadlines:

Applications close on the last day of each month, with winners announced at the following month’s HerSuiteSpot First Friday Mixer.

CCWC offers a range of programs to support women entrepreneurs of color, focusing on business growth, mentorship, and access to funding. Their initiatives include:

Funding Information and Grants: Connecting women to small business grants and affordable funding resources.

Mentorship Programs: Pairing business owners with mentors to enhance skills and networking opportunities.

Workshops and Conferences: Hosting events that provide strategies for increasing revenue and leveraging social media to grow businesses.

This grant aims to support organizations focused on enhancing financial literacy and empowering underrepresented communities. It promotes entrepreneurship by providing resources, mentoring, and access to capital, specifically benefiting women and diverse founders. Applications are accepted quarterly, allowing the foundation to respond promptly to impactful initiatives aligned with its mission to foster financial inclusion and diverse investor engagement.

Deadline: November 8, 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.

Deadline: Rolling

The D-Prize supports early-stage entrepreneurs aiming to scale proven poverty interventions through innovative distribution models. It offers up to $20,000 in startup funding for ventures focused on areas such as health, education, agriculture, energy, and public services. Participants can select from predefined challenges or propose custom initiatives to improve access to essential services in low-income regions.

Deadlines:

Early Submission: October 13, 2024

Regular Submission: November 3, 2024

Extension Deadline (with registration): November 24, 2024

The Thrive Grant offers $5,000 in funding to small businesses making a positive impact, particularly those supporting underrepresented communities. Awarded quarterly, the grant aims to foster business growth and amplify community contributions. Preference is given to businesses with at least one year of operation and a minimum annual revenue of $35,000.

Deadline: October 31, 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.