Useful Business Resources

Learn more about some of the resources available for Small and Minority Owned Businesses to help business owners operate their businesses more efficiently and scale.

Cartier Women's Initiative

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.

Learn More
First Nations Development Institute Grants

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.

Learn More
Awesome Foundation Grants

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

Learn More
Real Estate Assistance Fund for Black-Owned Businesses

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.

Learn More
The Future Collective For Black-Owned Businesses by Fiverr

The Future Collective supports Black entrepreneurs by maximizing their opportunities for growth. The program was founded on our responsibility and desire to use our privileged position in the corporate world to enable a more equitable playing field for entrepreneurs who face systemic structures, cultural barriers, or life circumstances working against them.

Learn More
Feed the Soul's Restaurant Business Development 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.

Learn More
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program

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.

Learn More
The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)

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.

Learn More
The Freed Fellowship Grant

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.

Learn More
Galaxy Grants

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.

Learn More
National Kitty Fund: Helping Mom-Preneurs Grow Their Businesses.

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.

Learn More
Wish Local Empowerment Program

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.

Learn More
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

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.

Learn More
Backstage Capital

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.

Learn More
The Coalition to Back Black Businesses

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.

Learn More
We back black businesses

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

Learn More
Innovation Corps at NIH Program for NIH and CDC Translational Research

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

Learn More
The National Association for the Self Employed (NASE) Growth Grants Program

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.

Learn More
Foundation for Business Equity (FBE)

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.

Learn More
Square Black Equity Grant - $15k

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

Deadline: Rolling

Learn More
CCWC Women of Color Entrepreneur Grant

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.

Learn More
Grants.gov

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.

Learn More
Small Business Digital Readiness Program

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.

Learn More
Business Warrior Small Business Loans

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.

Learn More
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready

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

Learn More
The Indiana Small Business Development Center

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.

Learn More
COMCAST RISE

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

Learn More
500 Global Flagship Accelerator Program.

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.

Learn More