Small Business Grants and Funding Opportunities
You need money to make money, the saying goes.
Whether it’s a bank loan, investment, self-funding or reinvesting profits, knowing where to find cash is critical for small business owners, especially those that are just starting out or are dealing with narrow operating margins.
One particularly enticing form of funding is a small business grant. Unlike a loan or investment, small business grants from government agencies, philanthropic organizations and large corporations, typically aren’t meant to be repaid. That’s right: small business grants are essentially free money.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t strings attached. Government grants in particular can require recipients to thoroughly document how they’re using the funds to make sure they’re complying with the terms of the grant.
Still, others have few to no strings attached, with sums ranging from a few hundred dollars to $10,000 or more to help entrepreneurs with whatever aspect of their business they need.
We’re keeping close track of the small business funding landscape. This list of active small business grants will be updated regularly as new funding opportunities are announced. So check back regularly to stay on top of the latest small business grants.
You can learn more about how to fund your small business in our business funding hub.
Private small business grants
The Awesome Foundation: This global network funds “awesome” projects through monthly $1,000 micro-grants from its local chapters around the world. The funds come out of pockets of the chapter’s “trustees” and are given on a rolling basis to people and groups working on awesome projects. There are no strings attached to these funds, which are meant to support a wide range of ideas in technology, community development, the arts, and more.
The Freed Fellowship: Each month, the Freed Fellowship awards $500 to an up-and-running small business to invest in their operations. Awardees also become eligible to vie for a $2,500 year-end grant. Beyond funding, recipients of the $500 grant also get two months of free virtual mentoring through the fellowship’s online community of entrepreneurs and business owners, the Freed Studio.
Hustler’s Microgrant: This monthly $1,000 micro-grant is offered by HerSuiteSpot, an organization that seeks to expand opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs. But U.S.-based small businesses of all kinds are welcome to apply for funding. Applicants just need to answer a few questions about their business and how they would use the funds, as well as pay a $15 application fee.
HerRise MicroGrant: This monthly $1,000 grant from HerSuiteSpot is specifically for women entrepreneurs. Eligible businesses must be 51% or more owned by women, currently registered in the U.S. and make less than $1 million in gross revenue. Winners are revealed during each month’s HerSuiteSpot First Friday Mixer, though applicants don’t need to be present to be selected.
Skip Small Business Grants: Skip, an online funding marketplace, has several active funding opportunities:
Skip $10k Member Grant: U.S.-based entrepreneurs and small business owners can vie for a $10,000 grant to support their operations. The grant is open to business owners of all sizes and stages. But applicants must be active Skip Plus members, which costs $30 per month. The deadline to apply is April 25, 2025. Finalists will be notified by May 15 and a winner will be announced by May 31.
Skip Instant Grants: Open to all U.S.-based entrepreneurs (not just Skip members), Skip awards $1,000 Instant Grants once or twice a week. Winners are selected live on YouTube. In order to qualify, applicants need to download the Skip App to receive their grant entry and pin number, then attend the YouTube live drawing to see if their number is drawn. The instant grants page can be accessed from the Skip dashboard on their website.
Amazon Small Business Grants: Each year, Amazon awards grants to U.S. small businesses who are existing Amazon Business customers and have annual revenues of $1 million or less. In 2025, Amazon is awarding a $25,000 grand prize, as well as four awards of $20,000 and 10 awards of $15,000. Applications are being accepted until May 23.
Start.Pivot.Grow Microgrants: This support organization for entrepreneurs offers a $2,500 micro grant each quarter to a small business to help cover essential expenses and invest in growth opportunities. Eligible companies must be based in the U.S. and have been in business for at least two years, with annual revenue of $50,000 or more.
Secretsos Small Business Grant: Once a quarter, the business intelligence organization Secretsos awards a $2,500 grant to a U.S.-based entrepreneur either just starting out or looking to accelerate growth in their business. The grant recipient has full control over how they use the funds. Applicants just need to provide details about their business, what makes them unique and how they would utilize the funds, plus pay a $15 application fee.
NASE Growth Grant: If you’re a member of the National Association for the Self-Employed, you can vie for one of the organization’s quarterly Growth Grants, which offers up to $4,000 in funding for small businesses for marketing, hiring part-time help, upgrading equipment and more. NASE memberships are $120 annually or $11.95 monthly.
Wish Local Empowerment Program: The online shopping app Wish is in the process of disbursing $2 million in support funds to Black-owned small businesses. Recipients will receive grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 to support their operations. There are no strings attached to how the funds are used, though Wish encourages recipients to use the funds to keep their workforce employed, pay rent, operation or inventory costs, or connect with new customers.
The Big Idea Grant: YippityDoo, a women’s small business mentorship program, awards $1,000 each month to a woman entrepreneur to invest in their business or idea. Woman-owned businesses that have already launched or are just in the idea stage can apply. Grant awardees also get access to an online wealth mindset coaching group run by YippityDoo to support their venture’s growth.
Etsy Emergency Relief Fund: Through a partnership between Etsy and the non-profit CERF+, Etsy business owners who live in an area where a natural disaster has been declared by the federal government are eligible for $2,000 emergency relief grants. The grants are issued quarterly to Etsy owners with accounts that have been in good standing for at least a year, to help their business recover following emergencies.
DoorDash Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund: DoorDash and Hello Alice have teamed up to help restaurant owners recovering from a declared disaster with $10,000 grants. Applications for the current round of funding are open through May 30, 2025. Eligible recipients must operate a brick-and-mortar restaurant, own no more than three locations with less than 50 employees at each location, and have revenues of $3 million or less at each location.
Government grants and resources
Grants.gov: This is the primary online portal managed by the Department of Health and Human Services where federal agencies post discretionary funding opportunities. It centralizes over 1,000 grant programs, allowing businesses and organizations to find and apply for federal grants in one location, streamlining the application process.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): A key federal agency created to “aid, counsel, assist, and protect” the interests of small businesses. The SBA helps entrepreneurs start, grow, expand, and recover through various programs including loan guarantees, counseling via partners like SBDCs, federal contracting assistance, and disaster relief, aiming to strengthen the overall U.S. economy.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): A national network, often hosted by universities and state economic development agencies and partially funded by the SBA, providing counseling and training to small businesses. SBDCs offer confidential, no-cost advising on business planning, financial management, marketing, access to capital, and other support for startups and existing businesses.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program: A competitive federal grant program encouraging U.S. small businesses (≤500 employees) to engage in federal Research/Research and Development (R&D) with potential for commercialization. Managed by the SBA but implemented across 11 federal agencies, it funds projects related to agency missions, aiming to stimulate technological innovation.
State Trade Expansion Program (STEP): An SBA-funded grant program administered at the state level to help small businesses enter and expand into international markets. Funds can typically be used for export-related activities like participating in foreign trade missions, designing international marketing materials, or obtaining export training, helping businesses increase export sales.
Minority Business Development Agency: A U.S. Department of Commerce agency focused on promoting the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises (MBEs). MBDA achieves this through a network of Business Centers providing strategic consulting to help minority entrepreneurs access capital, contracts, and new markets.
Economic Development Administration: Part of the Department of Commerce, the EDA provides grants and technical assistance to communities to support locally-driven economic development strategies. While often funding infrastructure or planning, it also supports initiatives like Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) that provide gap financing to local small businesses.
USDA Rural Development Business Programs: The USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers various programs to support economic development and job creation in rural areas. This can include grants and loans often channeled through local utilities or intermediaries for business expansion, infrastructure improvements, and enhancing access to capital for rural entrepreneurs.
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund: Part of the U.S. Department of Treasury, the CDFI Fund invests in and supports a national network of CDFIs (community development lenders, investors, etc.). Its mission is to expand economic opportunity for underserved people and communities by increasing the capacity of these local institutions to provide financial products and services.
Elon Glucklich
Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oregon.
