Grants for small business owners provide crucial financial support for growth and development, particularly for those belonging to underrepresented groups such as minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities. These grants offer an array of advantages, including access to capital without the burden of repayment, allowing entrepreneurs to invest in various aspects of their businesses such as equipment, marketing, and hiring. Moreover, being non-taxable income, grants alleviate the tax burden on recipients, offering a significant advantage over loans or other forms of financing.
Before you get started with grant applications...
Funding and Compliance Step-by-Step Guide
1. Establish Your Organization:
Business Certificate: Obtain a standard business certificate from your state's government website. This certifies your organization's legal status.
EIN Number: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This unique identifier is necessary for tax purposes and grant applications.
Business Bank Account: Open a business bank account to manage funds separately from personal finances. Check out Brex. They save me so much time on receipt-matching and managing our team’s corporate cards. Try it for free and earn rewards!
2. Develop Your Online Presence:
Website: Create a professional website using platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. Showcase your organization's mission, projects, and impact.
Toll-Free Number: Enhance professionalism and accessibility by obtaining a toll-free number from providers like Grasshopper or RingCentral.
3. Ensure Regulatory Compliance:
Physical Address: Secure a physical location for mail and regulatory compliance. This establishes trust and meets federal requirements.
Google Listing: Boost visibility on search and maps by signing up on Google My Business. Provide essential details and verify your organization's listing.
4. Register on SAM.gov:
SAM.gov Registration: Register your organization on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). This is necessary for federal grant applications and contracts.
Why it's Necessary: SAM.gov registration is required for organizations seeking to do business with the federal government, including applying for federal grants. It ensures transparency, accountability, and compliance with federal regulations.
5. Obtain a DUNS Number:
DUNS Number: Obtain a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number for your organization.
How to Get It: Visit the Dun & Bradstreet website and request a DUNS number for your organization. It's free and typically takes a few business days to process.
Why it's Necessary: Many grant applications, particularly federal grants, require a DUNS number as a unique identifier for your organization. It helps track your organization's financial activities and credibility.
6. Search for Grant Opportunities:
Grants.gov: Explore grant opportunities from federal agencies. Register your organization and search for relevant grants based on your mission and goals.
Foundation Center: Utilize the Foundation Center's database to identify potential foundation grants aligned with your organization's focus areas.
7. Prepare Grant Applications:
Review Eligibility Criteria: Carefully review the eligibility criteria for each grant opportunity to ensure alignment with your organization's activities.
Gather Required Documents: Collect necessary documents such as financial statements, project proposals, and organizational information.
Write Compelling Proposals: Craft persuasive grant proposals highlighting your organization's impact, objectives, and budget requirements.
Submit Applications: Follow the submission guidelines provided by each grant program. Ensure all documents are complete and submitted before the deadline.
8. Maintain Compliance:
Financial Reporting: Keep accurate financial records and adhere to reporting requirements outlined by grant funders.
Project Monitoring: Implement systems to monitor project progress, evaluate outcomes, and report results to grantors.
Compliance Audits: Prepare for potential compliance audits by maintaining documentation of grant expenditures and activities.
By following these steps and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards, you can effectively secure funding for your organization and support its mission-driven initiatives.
Master List of Funding and Grant Opportunities for Small Business and Entrepreneurs 2024
Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Grants:
Asian Women Giving Circle Grants: Provides grants to Asian women-led organizations and projects that promote social justice and cultural preservation. Website: www.asianwomengivingcircle.org
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) Technology Grants: Offers grants and resources for Asian American entrepreneurs and organizations in the technology sector. Website: www.advancingjustice-aajc.org
Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Grants: Provides grants and resources for women-owned businesses in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Website: www.awis.org
Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Scholarship Fund: Offers grants and scholarships to support education and entrepreneurship among Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Website: www.apiasf.org
Black/African American Grants:
National Black MBA Association Scale-Up Pitch Challenge: Offers grants and resources to Black-owned businesses through a pitch competition. Website: www.nbmbaa.org
Disability-Owned Business Grants:
Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) Certification Grants: Offers grants and resources for businesses owned by individuals with disabilities. Website: www.usbln.org
Hispanic/Latino Grants:
Hispanic Heritage Foundation Grants: Provides grants and resources to Hispanic entrepreneurs and organizations promoting Hispanic heritage and leadership. Website: www.hispanicheritage.org
National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) Grants: Offers grants and resources for Latino-owned businesses and organizations focused on community development. Website: www.nalcab.org
LGBTQ+ Grants:
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Supplier Diversity Initiative: Provides grants and resources for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and businesses seeking supplier diversity opportunities. Website: www.nglcc.org
LGBTQ+ Small Business Grant Program: Offers grants specifically for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and small business owners. Website: www.nglcc.org
Minority Business Grants:
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Grants: Offers various grants and funding opportunities for minority-owned businesses. Website: www.mbda.gov
National Minority Business Council (NMBC) Grants: Offers grants and resources for minority-owned businesses across various industries. Website: www.nmbc.org
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Grants: Offers grants and funding opportunities for minority-owned businesses in supplier diversity. Website: www.nmsdc.org
Native American Grants:
Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) Grants: Provides grants and resources for Native American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses. Website: www.nativeamericanagriculturefund.org
Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Grants: Offers grants for Native American-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in various industries. Website: www.doi.gov/tribes/nabdi
National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) Grants: Offers grants and resources for Native American-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Website: www.ncaied.org
United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) Small Business Grant Program: Provides grants and resources for small businesses owned by Native American tribes and tribal members. Website: www.usetinc.org
Technology Grants:
Code2040 Tech Entrepreneurship Grants: Provides grants and resources for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs in the technology industry. Website: www.code2040.org
Digital Diversity Network (DDN) Tech Grants: Offers grants and resources to minority-owned technology businesses and startups. Website: www.digitaldiversitynetwork.com
Minority Innovation Challenges Institute (MICI) Grants: Provides grants and resources for minority entrepreneurs and businesses in the technology and innovation sector. Website: www.micinstitute.org
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Innovation Grants: Offers grants and resources for Black engineers and technology entrepreneurs. Website: www.nsbe.org
Black Founders Matter Grants: Provides grants and resources for Black-owned technology startups and entrepreneurs. Website: www.blackfoundersmatter.com
Latinx Startup Alliance Grants: Provides grants and resources for Latinx-owned technology startups and entrepreneurs. Website: www.latinxstartups.org
National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) Tech Grants: Offers grants and resources for Hispanic entrepreneurs in the technology industry. Website: www.nshmba.org
Grants for Women:
The African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) Grants: Provides grants to support African women entrepreneurs across various sectors, including technology, agriculture, and social enterprise. Website: www.awdf.org
The Black Girl Ventures Foundation Grants: Offers grants and resources to support Black women entrepreneurs in launching and growing their businesses. Website: www.blackgirlventures.org
The Cartier Women's Initiative: Offers grants and resources to women entrepreneurs, including Black women, who are driving social and environmental change through their businesses. Website: www.cartierwomensinitiative.com
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Enterprising Women of Color Business Grant Competition: Provides grants to women of color entrepreneurs, including Black women, for business growth and development. Website: www.mbda.gov
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grants for Black Women Entrepreneurs: Provides grants to support the growth and development of businesses owned by Black women. Website: www.nase.org
The National Black MBA Association Scale-Up Pitch Challenge: Offers grants and resources to Black women entrepreneurs through a pitch competition. Website: www.nbmbaa.org
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Entrepreneurship Grants: Provides grants and support for women-owned technology businesses, including minority women entrepreneurs. Website: www.swe.org
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program: Provides grants and resources to women entrepreneurs, including Black women, who are leading innovative and impactful businesses. Website: www.toryburchfoundation.org
The Walker's Legacy Foundation Grants: Offers grants and resources to support the advancement of Black women entrepreneurs and professionals. Website: www.walkerslegacyfoundation.org
The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Grants: Offers grants and resources to women-owned businesses, including Black women entrepreneurs, across various industries. Website: www.wbenc.org
Non-Profit Grants:
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Grants: Offers grants to non-profit organizations in the fields of arts and culture, higher education, and humanities. Website: www.mellon.org
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grants: Offers grants to non-profit organizations working in areas such as global health, poverty alleviation, and education. Website: www.gatesfoundation.org
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Grants: Offers grants to non-profit organizations working in areas such as education, environment, and community development. Website: www.mott.org
The Ford Foundation Grants: Offers grants to non-profit organizations working in various fields, including social justice, economic development, and education. Website: www.fordfoundation.org
The Google.org Impact Challenge for Nonprofits: Provides grants and resources to non-profit organizations leveraging technology for social impact. Website: www.google.org/nonprofits
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants: Provides grants to non-profit organizations in the arts and culture sector, supporting programs and initiatives that promote creativity and artistic expression. Website: www.arts.gov
The National Recreation Foundation Grants: Offers grants to non-profit organizations that provide access to recreational opportunities, including sports, for underserved youth. Website: www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org
The Open Society Foundations Grants: Provides grants to non-profit organizations addressing issues related to human rights, justice, and democratic governance. Website: www.opensocietyfoundations.org
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grants: Provides grants to non-profit organizations focused on improving health and healthcare in the United States. Website: www.rwjf.org
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grants: Offers grants to non-profit organizations working to improve the well-being of children and families, with a focus on equity and racial justice. Website: www.wkkf.org
Sports Grants:
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America Sports Program Grants: Offers grants to Boys & Girls Clubs and other non-profit organizations that provide structured sports programs and activities for youth. Website: www.bgca.org/programs/sports-recreation
The Good Sports Equipment Grants: Provides grants for sports equipment to non-profit organizations that serve youth in need. Website: www.goodsports.org
The LPGA Foundation Grants: Provides grants to non-profit organizations that promote women's golf, provide opportunities for girls to participate in the sport, and support educational scholarships. Website
ESSER Grants:
ESSER LINK AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY GRANT: A government initiative providing schools and communities access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet connectivity.
CARL PERKINS GRANT SAMPLE FOR VR: Federal funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, supporting the development of academic, career, and technical skills in students. Perkins V is an act of the U.S. Congress that provides over $1.4 billion in federal funding for CTE education each year.
Foundation Grants:
American Honda Foundation: Offers grants ranging from $20,000 to $75,000, focusing on education, particularly literacy and STEM.
Kinder Morgan’s Foundation STEM Grants: Supports programs promoting science, math, and music education for youth in communities across North America.
Whirlpool Foundation: Supports programs centered on quality family life, cultural diversity, and lifelong learning.
American Express Foundation Grants: Supports non-profit organizations under themes of historic preservation, conservation, leadership, community service, and engagement.
Hasbro Children’s Foundation Grant: Assists children in overcoming life obstacles and bringing joy through play.
Broad Foundation Grants: Supports entrepreneurship for the public good in education, science, and the arts.
Educational Grants:
3M Community Giving: Invests in teachers and innovative learning methods, supporting science and math education for elementary and middle school students.
Acellus Matching Grant Program: Provides grants to schools for implementing the Acellus Learning System.
Adopt-A-Classroom Grant: Empowers teachers with community partners and funds to purchase classroom resources.
Digital Wish Grants: Aims to solve technology shortfalls in classrooms through grants and resources.
Foundation Center: Leading source of information about foundations, corporate giving, and philanthropy worldwide.
NEA Foundation: Provides grants focusing on improving student achievement and teacher leadership.
GrantsAlert.com: Database of education grants to help schools find and secure funding opportunities.
Learning & Leadership Grants: Supports educators in planning, presenting, and attending professional development sessions.
Digital Wish Grants: A non-profit helping teachers solve technology shortfalls in classrooms.
Corporate Foundation Grants:
AT&T Foundation Grants: Invests in education, community needs, and initiatives to create opportunities.
Bank of America Foundation Grants: Supports community development, arts, culture, and environmental initiatives.
Lockheed Martin Foundation: Supports STEM education and military and veteran causes.
Motorola Solutions Foundation: Focuses on supporting programs advancing STEM education and public safety.
Resource Guides:
Grants.gov: A platform to find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from federal agencies.
List of "Global" opportunities then 'Country-Specific" then "US State" specific.
Listings are in alpha order within each category.
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