Small Business Grants: Where to Find Free Funding
Grants are a form of funding that doesn’t need to be repaid. They are offered by corporate entities as well as government initiatives.
Starting or growing a business can be expensive, and small business owners often have to look for funding from a variety of sources to achieve their goals. Small business grants can be an especially attractive type of financing because they offer access to funds that don’t need to be repaid.
However, finding viable grants is often one of the biggest challenges faced by small business owners searching for this type of funding. With that in mind, below is a list of some current grant programs to help you get started on your search.
Corporate small business grants
Businesses, associations, foundations, societies and other organizations may offer private grants for starting a business or growing it further. These private grants are often reserved for specific groups of business owners, companies or industries, which can make finding the grants you qualify for more complicated. Popular private grants include:
National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grant
Award amount: $4,000
Grants awarded each year: 16 (4 each quarter)
Application deadline: Apply on a rolling basis. Applications are reviewed quarterly in April, July, October and January.
The NASE offers grant funds to its members for things like covering marketing and advertising costs, hiring employees and expanding facilities.
Since 2006, NASE has awarded nearly $1 million in grants, typically awarding grants each quarter.
You must be an NASE member in good standing to apply. The following members may apply immediately upon receiving their membership:
Annual members
Veteran members
Silver members (paying annually)
Gold members
Meanwhile, the following members may apply after 90 days of membership:
Monthly members
Silver members (paying monthly)
You can apply by visiting the NASE grants and scholarships application page.
Black Ambition
Award amount: $20,000 to $100,000
Grants awarded each year: 27 winners received awards in 2025, including two co-grand prize winners.
Application deadline: Not yet announced. You can sign up for updates on Black Ambition’s website.
Black Ambition has an annual grant program that awards up to $100,000 grand prizes and multiple additional substantial prizes to Black founders and entrepreneurs. Winners and semi-finalists may receive access to benefits like leadership coaching, networking opportunities with other founders, graphic design support, and mentorship.
In order to apply for this grant you must meet the following qualifying criteria:
- You must be a for-profit business in the field of consumer products and services, healthcare, technology, AI and/or media and entertainment.
- Must have a team lead or founding member headquartered in the U.S.
- The business must be based in the United States.
- Must have teams of two or more, with team members playing critical roles in the venture.
Once the application opens, you can access it through the grant’s website.
Amazon Small Business Grant
Award amount: Up to $25,000
Grants awarded each year: 15
Application deadline: Not yet announced. Last year, applications opened in May.
Amazon provides grant funds and supplemental goods and services, like an Amazon Business Prime membership and Amazon Basics office supplies, to businesses making an impact in their communities.
Amazon gives out a total of 15 awards in the following amounts:
- One $25,000 award
- Four $20,000 awards
- Ten $15,000 awards
To be eligible to receive grant funds, business owners must:
- Be 18 years of age or older or the age of majority in their state
- Reside in the United States and have a business headquartered there
- Be a current Amazon Business account holder with an annual revenue of $1 million or less
- Must have purchased from Amazon Business within the 12 months preceding May 1
- Be able to show proof of business registration with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Applications are currently closed. The 2025 application period took place in May 2025 and voting occurred in June 2025. Information on any 2026 grants is not yet available.
Once this year’s application goes live, it will be available on the Amazon Small Business Grants website.
American Express Backing Small Business Grant
Award amount: $10,000, with some businesses eligible for an additional $30,000
Grants awarded each year: 500 awards of $10,000 each, plus 25 additional $30,000 awards
Application deadline: Not yet announced. Last year, applications opened in July.
American Express partners with Main Street America to help provide financial support to independent small business owners who are serving their communities. The grant focuses on small businesses that are in the “heart” of their communities, and can be used for things like marketing, technology upgrades, making your business more accessible and buying new equipment.
In 2025, 100 of the grants were earmarked as “Disaster Recovery” grants to help businesses that were affected by natural disasters – it hasn’t yet been announced whether this will continue for 2026. All 500 grant recipients were considered for the additional $30,000 Enhancement Grant awards.
To qualify for American Express’s Backing Small Business Grant, you must:
- Be a business owner who is at least 18 years of age or older
- Run a business based in the U.S., with a brick-and-mortar storefront located in your area’s main street, downtown or commercial district
- Be an independent business and not part of a franchise
- Have 20 or fewer full-time employees
- Have at least a 12-month business history
- Be in good standing with the state in which your business was formed and have an active business license if required by government regulations
Applications are currently closed. The 2025 application period ran from July 16th to July 31st, and the grant recipients were announced in June.
While the 2026 application is not yet open, you’ll likely be able to get information on applying on the Backing Small Business Grant page.
Grants to start a business
Startups often have unique challenges getting funding because some business loans and grants require applicants to have been in business for six months to a year. Fortunately, several small business startup business grants are targeted to early-stage companies. Some are open only to specific demographics, so review the eligibility requirements carefully.
The Amber Grant
Award amount: Up to $10,000 for monthly grants, up to $50,000 for Year-End grants
Grants awarded each year: 3 monthly finalists receive $10,000 grants, who are eligible to receive one of 3 Year-End $50,000 grants
Application deadline: Applications accepted each month
This program was founded by WomensNet in 1998, and accepts applications on a monthly basis. Three finalists will receive $10,000 each month, and each finalist is eligible to receive one of three grants at the end of the year for $50,000. This grant does charge a $15 application fee, but you can submit a request to have this fee waived.
In order to qualify for an Amber Grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:
You’re a woman who is 18 years or older.
Your business is 50% women-owned.
Your business operates in the United States of Canada
If your business is not yet operational, there’s a $10,000 startup grant you can apply for instead.
You can apply through the grant’s website; the deadline is the last day of each month.
AWS Imagine Grant
Award amount: Up to $200,000 cash
Grants awarded each year: Varies each year
Application deadline: Not yet announced. Last year, applications opened in April.
This grant is for nonprofits that consider technology to be mission-critical parts of their overall projects. They accept proposals for pilot projects, existing projects, or proofs of concepts if you’re using technology new or in expanded use cases. There are three different awards, with one each focusing on AI, cloud-based technology, and foundational technology projects.
To be considered eligible for the grants, applicants must:
- Be a nonprofit organization with 501(c) status or equivalent based in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or Australia.
- Not be an education institution, as they fall outside the priority funding areas.
Applications aren’t currently open, but if you’re interested, you can subscribe for email alerts here. Last year, applications opened in April, but it’s unclear whether the timeline will be the same for 2026.
Bizee Fresh Start Business Grant
Award amount: $2,500
Grants awarded each year: 1
Application deadline: Not yet announced.
Bizee’s grant funds are intended to help aspiring entrepreneurs get their business ideas off the ground.
In addition to the $2,500 grant toward business startup costs, winners also get free business entity formation services from Bizee.
Those interested in applying for Bizee’s Fresh Start Business Grant will need to meet eligibility criteria, including:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Be a U.S. resident
- Be planning to start a business or grow an existing business in a significant way
When applying, applicants must do the following:
Complete the online application found on the Bizee grant website.
Submit a two-minute video explaining how your life will be impacted by the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship.
Submit a sample business plan.
Bizee hasn’t announced any winners for its 2025 grant season and there’s no 2026 application dates published, so it’s unclear whether the grant will continue to operate this year. Checking the grant website is the best way to stay on top of when applications may launch.
Federal government grants for small business owners
You may be familiar with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the main federal agency tasked with helping small business owners find funding. However, there are also many other government small business funding options available, including the following government business grants:
USDA Rural Business Development Grant
Award amount: No maximum
Application deadline: Not announced
Grants awarded each year: Not specified
The USDA works to promote economic development and job creation in rural areas by providing funding to eligible business and community projects.
While there is no maximum grant amount, smaller requests will be given priority.
As a note, the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is currently undergoing clearance for this grant. The program is temporarily closed, but the respective NOFOs will be listed on Grants.gov once applicable.
To qualify for one of the USDA’s grants, your organization must:
Be a nonprofit, government entity, public body or Native American tribe
Serve an eligible rural area
(Need help navigating the map? Check out our guide on how to use the USDA loan map for more information.)
Get information on how to apply in your state on the USDA grant website.
Small Business Administration (SBA)’s America’s Seed Fund
Phase I award amount: Up to $305,000
Phase II award amount: Up to $1.25 million
Grants awarded each year: Not specified
Application deadline: Varies by agency
The SBA’s America’s Seed Fund houses the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs connect entrepreneurs with federal funding for technological innovation and scientific research projects.
The grant awards up to $305,000 for proof of concept in Phase I. Some winners of Phase I grants may be eligible for a Phase II grant later, which can include up to $1.25 million for technology development.
As a note, this program is temporarily paused as of December 22, 2025 while waiting for congressional authorization.
To qualify for federal funding through America’s Seed Program, your business must:
Be a for-profit entity located in the United States
Have fewer than 500 employees (most applicants have fewer than 10)
Be owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Use all funds for work in the United States
Read more details about the program’s specific eligibility requirements.
In order to receive funding, you need to apply with applicable participating government agencies. However, the SBA also partners with a number of local organizations that can help you prepare your proposals before you apply.
SBA’s Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME)
Award amount: $75,000 to $400,000
Grants awarded each year: Not specified
Application deadline: Not yet announced
PRIME funds are meant to help support microenterprise development organizations or provide training and guidance to disadvantaged microentrepreneurs.
This grant fund gives out multiple awards, with amounts ranging from $75,000 to $400,000 each. Applications are currently closed. The 2024 application cycle ran from March to April. In 2025, shutdowns affected the SBA’s funding, but there is no announcement of a permanent termination of the PRIME grant program so it may resume this year.
To be considered eligible for PRIME funds, your business must be one of the following:
- A private, state or public institution of higher education
- A nonprofit organization other than institutions of higher education
- A federally recognized Native American tribal government or non-federally recognized tribal organization
- A special district government
When the application is posted, information will be made available on PRIME’s Grants.gov webpage.
Want more federal grant options? Grants.gov has a search tool that can help you identify grant opportunities that could be a good fit.
Regional government grants for small businesses
Just as there are government grants at the federal level, state governments also offer grants for small businesses. These grants are usually available through state agencies, where the competition may be less fierce due to the smaller applicant pool. They can also run across several states, so check the fine print before ruling one out because it seems to be out of your area.
State Business Incentives Database
The State Business Incentives Database can be a valuable database for business owners. It has a map feature that allows you to select your state to see the number of grants available, plus find information on tax credits and exemptions.
However, it requires a login that is only available to members of the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). A basic membership, which includes access to the database, costs $399 per year.
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)
A bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the EDA can be an excellent resource for small businesses looking for state grants. The EDA collaborates with communities and regions to drive economic development across the country. It does so by offering grants and working directly with communities so they can encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
The research and work that go into applying for any business grant can be daunting, but an SBDC might be able to help. Business owners can use them to seek free counseling and training on various topics. SBDC consultants can help you find and apply for the right grants for your business.
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Centers
If you’re already an established business owner and a minority, you might be able to get help connecting with capital, contracts and other new opportunities to expand your business through a regional MBDA center. These centers provide entrepreneurship education for minorities of all backgrounds.
State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
Expanding into international markets can be intimidating to many small business owners, but it can also be one of the best ways to grow some types of small businesses.
Another SBA offering, the STEP grant program offers funding to state agencies for educational and financial assistance in helping entrepreneurs go global. You can’t apply for a STEP grant directly since those funds go to state agencies, but you can follow the money to your relevant state agency to find out what support options are available.
Don’t forget to search your state government’s website for small business grants and assistance opportunities. Many operate their own small business funding programs. Here are a few examples:
Small business hardship grants
Hardship small business funding can take many forms in addition to grants. You may qualify for subsidized small business emergency loans, for example. Here are some of the top options for grant assistance during times of hardship:
Etsy Emergency Relief Fund
Award amount: $2,000
Grants awarded each year: Varies based on the amount of financing available at the time of need.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Etsy partners with CERF+, a nonprofit organization that helps artists impacted by natural disasters, to assist Etsy sellers in need.
To be considered eligible for an Etsy Disaster Relief Grant, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have experienced a federally declared natural disaster within the last year
- Run a business located in a federally declared disaster area within the United States or one of its territories
- Maintain a selling account on Etsy that’s been active for at least a year
- Have an account in good standing, meaning that you have not violated any of Etsy’s policies and that you have a record of providing good customer service.
Interested applicants can apply by filling out the Etsy Disaster Relief Grant application form.
DoorDash & Hello Alice Local Business Relief Fund
Award amount: $5,000 to $15,000
Grants awarded each year: Not specified
Application deadline: Applications awarded quarterly
Hello Alice and DoorDash partner to deliver grants to local businesses in the US, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada that have been impacted by natural disasters.
Eligible restaurateurs will meet the following criteria:
Own a restaurant located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand or Canada.
Have experienced revenue loss as a result of a natural disaster within the last year
Operate a brick-and-mortar location
Own a maximum of three locations with fewer than 50 employees per location
Have been in business for at least six months
Have made less than $3 million in revenue per location within the last 12 months
A full list of terms and conditions is available on the Hello Alice website.
You’ll need to complete the following steps to apply:
1. Create a Hello Alice account
2. Complete the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund application
Specialty small business grants
Some small business grants are geared toward certain demographics. Here are a few curated lists of grants that serve specific communities:
How to get a small business grant
The process to get a small business grant is a lot like how to get a business loan. Remember that every grant will vary, so check the requirements before applying. The following is a general step-by-step guide you can follow to get started.
1. Review the program’s requirements
Each small business grant has different requirements that applicants need to meet to be considered for the grant award. Before applying for a grant, check that you meet the basic program requirements, including location, business size, industry and match requirements, if any. Some may even require that you have a membership to a specific organization before applying.
2. Gather your organizational documents
Once you know that your business falls into the right category (or categories) to apply for a grant, you’ll want to gather your documents. A business plan and a cover letter laying out why you’re applying for funds and how you plan to use them will most likely be required. You may also need the following:
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- DUNS number
- Revenue history
- Organizational chart, including the number of employees
- Bank statements
- Tax returns
- List of contracts your business holds
- Location(s) information
- Contact information
3. Complete the grant application
Lastly, you need to fill out the actual grant application, which is likely the most time-consuming part of the process. These applications typically require small business owners to answer open-ended questions, and application complexity can vary depending on the granting organization.
You might need to explain why you need the funds, your plan for the money if you win, the background of your business or how your business contributes to your community. These questions can be technical and specific depending on the grant you’re applying for, and they’re an opportunity to make sure your application stands out among the competition.
Grant scams are common, unfortunately, but they’re relatively easy to spot if you know what to look for. Legitimate grants will never ask you to do the following:
Ask for payment to receive funding
Guarantee you’ll receive funding
Pressure you to act immediately or use high-pressure sales tactics
Request sensitive financial information like your bank account number early in the application process
Contact you about grants you didn’t apply for
Additional warning signs include:
Official-sounding names that are similar to real government agencies
Vague eligibility requirements or lack of clear application guidelines
Promises that seem too good to be true
Before applying for any grant, verify the program’s legitimacy by researching the organization and checking for reviews from other applicants. This is especially true for any grant that requests personal information, like your social security number, or an application fee.
You can also visit the Grants.gov fraud alert page for more information on identifying and reporting grant fraud.
How to find more grant opportunities
If you’re looking for more grants, these steps can help you find opportunities that you may be eligible for:
- Search Grants.gov by category: Use the advanced search filters to narrow results by location, eligibility, funding agency and business category.
- Visit your state’s economic development website: Many states maintain dedicated pages listing available grants, tax incentives and funding programs for small businesses. Try searching for “[Your State] small business grants” or “[Your State] Department of Commerce” to get started.
- Check your city and county websites: Don’t overlook local government grants. These programs often receive fewer applications than state or federal programs, which could improve your chances. Look for economic development departments or small business resource centers on your local government’s website.
- Contact your local SBDC: Many Small Business Development Centers offer free consulting and some maintain databases of current grant opportunities in your area. They can help you identify grants specific to your industry and location.
- Join industry associations: Trade organizations frequently offer grants exclusively to their members and can alert you to industry-specific funding opportunities you might not find elsewhere.
- Search by demographics: If you’re a woman, minority, veteran or other underrepresented business owner, be sure to search specifically for grants targeting your demographic. These specialized programs may have less competition. You can use search engines or dedicated grant search tools.
AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini can be a great way to find grants you may not have heard of. To avoid getting incorrect data or grants you can’t qualify for, be specific in your prompts and tell the tools to give you links to grant websites so you can verify any information.
For example, one prompt might look like: “Provide a list of links to business grants that have announced 2026 application deadlines and announced winners in 2025. Only include grants that I can qualify for. My business has been open for 3 years, is fully owned by a white woman, and it’s a brick-and-mortar shop in a small town with 5 employees that sells jewelry, clothing, and home goods.”
You may need to try a few prompts to get a list of grants that fit your criteria.
Alternatives to small business grants
Applying for free grants to start a business or expand your current operation can be time consuming. If you don’t think your odds of getting a small business grant are worth the effort involved, it may be better to focus on other avenues for small business funding instead:
- Small business loans: These may be hard to get for newer businesses or for business owners with bad credit or fluctuating income, but it can be the best way to obtain a large source of funds and build business credit.
- Small business credit cards: These offer a convenient way for you and your employees to make business purchases, as well as earn rewards for your spending and help you build your business credit.
- Crowdfunding for business: If you have a buzzworthy product, asking for funds upfront before launching a new product can often be a fruitful avenue to consider.
- Peer-to-peer lending: Although this is becoming less common, peer-to-peer lending offers a way for small business owners to receive funds directly from investors.
- Bootstrapping: Many entrepreneurs are forced by necessity to start their business from scratch, with whatever savings they have on hand — a recipe that can yield positive results for strong business ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, in general, grants that are awarded for business purposes are typically subject to both federal and state income tax. There are some exceptions, however, so it’s a good idea to check with your CPA or tax preparer.
While grant writers can be helpful, you can complete grant applications yourself. There are multiple resources and templates available for free online that details how to write strong grant proposals. Just make sure you’re following the application’s instructions for each individual grant.
Most legitimate typically do not have an application fee, though some may have a small fee. Some may only be eligible to paying members, but the grant application alone typically doesn’t require fees to apply.