FUNDING & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
General Opportunities
Creatively Made - New program that supports rising, breakthrough talent on Creatively through mentorship, unique connections, and exclusive grants up to $5,000 to kickstart your creative projects. Apply by 3/2/2022. Learn more here.
Fed Ex Small Business Grant Contest - Opportunity to win $20,000-$50,000 as well as FedEx service credits. Note – you will need to create a FedEx account if you don’t already have one – which will require that you tie in a credit card. Apply by 2/28/22 Learn more here.
Fresh Start Business Grant thru Incfile - Entrepreneurs 20 years or older can apply to receive $2,500 to put toward business startup costs and will also receive free formation services from Incfile. Apply by 3/31/2022. Learn more here.
Inspired Women Community Grant - This grant is for entrepreneurial women in America who have annual business income below $50,000. There is a "pay it forward" aspect to the application. Grant is for $1,000. Apply by 3/1/2022. Learn more here.
Services That Back Us Grant - More than 250 grants of $5,000 each will be awarded in four cycles over 12 months to small businesses located in older or historic commercial districts across the country, with priority given to businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and preference given to businesses owned by underrepresented groups. Apply by 3/1/22. Learn more here.
Voodle Visionaries Grant Contest - Open to all female, non-binary, and/or BIPOC founders. To enter, submit a 60-second video about their company’s plans to change the future of work. Grant is for $10,000. Apply by 2/25/2022 Learn more here.
General Opportunities – Specifically For Women of Color
AT&T Black Future Maker - Black Future Makers are dedicated individuals pursuing greater possibilities for the greater good. Submit a video of 30-60 seconds, or photo, on your Instagram feed. Tell us how you are pursuing greater possibilities for you and the community. Tag @att and use #dreaminblack and #attcontest. Winners chosen monthly. Grants for $10,000. Apply by 12/31/2022. Learn more here.
BOSS Impact Fund’s “Invest in Progress” grant - Organization will invest $10,000 grants for 25 Black female for-profit business owners. In addition, The BOSS Network and Sage will provide 1-year of monthly mentorship through the BOSS Business University, marketing for each business, and guidance to help Black women achieve their goals with everything that’s needed to successfully start and grow a business. Apply by 2/25/2022. Learn more here.
Caress Dreams to Reality Fund - 60 women of color founders will be selected to receive grant money and access to resources that will set them up for success and reach their funding goals through crowdfunding campaigns. Grant for $5,000. Apply by 3/4/2022. Learn more here.
CCWC Women of Color Entrepreneur Grant - Corporate Counsel Women of Color will award 5 grants to Women of Color entrepreneurs. Your business much be established as of January 1, 2020. Grants are $5,000. Learn more here.
CitiTrends - Citi Trends wants to advance and further the businesses of Black entrepreneurs with a $5000 grant. Only available to residents of 30 US states. Applications due 2/28/2022. Learn more here.
Fearless Strivers - Open to black women who are legal U.S. residents (including DC), 18+ and the principal owner of a U.S.-based small business. Grants for $10,000. Apply by 12/31/2022. Learn more here.
HerRise Micro-Grant - Each month a $500 micro-grant will be awarded to a for-profit small business owned by women of color. Past recipients used grants for computers, equipment, marketing materials, software purchase, website creation and more. Learn more here
Invoice2Go - Businesses must be minority-led, less than five years old, and have less than $1 million in annual revenue. The opportunity is open both to sole proprietors and businesses with employees. Grant for $10,000. Apply by 2/28/22. Learn more here.
Kinetic Black Business Support Fund - Must be a black-owned small business in the state of GA, Charlotte, NC or Lexington, KY and receiving broadband internet Services from Windstream. Grant for $2,500. Learn more here.
Silver & Riley Women Entrepreneurship Grant - In this round, they are focusing on black women owned businesses that have been in operation less than three years (i.e. founded no earlier than February 2019). Grant for $2,000. Apply by 2/28/2022. Learn more here.
Industry Specific Funding Opportunities
Beauty
Aveeno Skin Health Startup Accelerator - Aveeno is looking for Black female entrepreneurs with a product, brand or technology that meets the skin or hair care needs of Black consumers. Create a 1-2 minute video introducing yourself, your business, and why you got started. Grant for $100,000. Apply by 4/30/2022. Learn more here.
Environmental Health and Justice
Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) Small Grants - CHEJ has a Small Grants Program for grassroots groups working on environmental health and justice issues. Grassroots communities of color, low wealth, rural and urban groups are encouraged to apply. Grants up to $20,000. Apply by 2/25/2022. Learn more here.
Non-Profits
Pollination Project - Grants to global non-profits. Annual budget for your group or organization must be less than $50,000. The total cost for the immediate project for which you are requesting funding must be less than $40,000. Learn more here.
Women’s Health
FemTech Accelerator - Tech4Eva - A Femtech community and a 9-month equity free Femtech start-up acceleration program for companies developing innovative solutions to improve technologies relating to women’s health. Apply by 3/1/2022. Learn more here.
Regional Funding Opportunities In The United States
California
Citrus Heights Small Business Recovery Grant - For commercial business located and licensed in Citrus Heights with 20 or fewer employees. Grants up to $15,000. Applications open 2/24/22. Learn more here.
Kern County Small Business Grants - Businesses must have revenues under $50,000 and five full-time employees or fewer as of 2019. They also must be able to prove pandemic-related losses and lack of support from other relief programs. Grants of $2,500. Learn more here.
La Miranda Restaurant Owners - The City is providing grants up to $15,000 to La Mirada restaurant owners. Restaurants must be in La Mirada, have been open for business during the state-mandated lockdown and have had an active business license from January 2020 through December 2021. Apply by 3/31/22. Learn more here.
Los Angeles County Development Authority - The City of Claremont and the Los Angeles County Development Authority are providing eligible small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19 up to $10,000 as part of their small business grant program. Applications open 2/28/22 and close 3/4/22. Learn more here.
Orange County Microbusiness Grants - Grant for $2500 for Orange County, CA microbusinesses that began prior to December 2019. Business must have had less than $50,000 in revenues in the 2019 taxable year and fewer than five full-time equivalent employees. Apply by 3/15/2022. Learn more here.
San Diego Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program - Grant of up to $2500 to purchase equipment, invest in working capital, apply for new permits, or for debts and costs accrued because of COVID-19. The funds will be prioritized for those in rural areas, low-income or low-wealth communities, and businesses majority-owned and operated by veterans, women or persons of color. The grants could benefit businesses such pet sitting, professional shopping, cleaning and home health care, and sidewalk vendors or food cart operators. Apply by 3/31/22. Learn more here.
Florida
Miami Dade Small Business Grant - Mom and Pop Small Business Grant Program offers funding opportunities for small owned and operated businesses (in Miami Dade Districts 1, 4, 10 and 12) to purchase equipment, supplies, advertising/marketing, inventory, building liability insurance, security systems and to make minor renovations. Grants up to $5000. Learn more here.
Georgia
Resurgence Grant Fund - For-profit businesses are eligible for a Resurgence Grant Fund grant if they hold a 2022 City of Atlanta business license and had fewer than 250 employees as of December 31, 2021. Grants up to $40,000. Applications open 3/1/22. Learn more here.
Idaho
Moscow, ID Small business and Non-profit grants - City of Moscow is launching two new grant programs – one is Social Service Non-Profits and the second grant program is for Small Businesses. Grants are $15,000 - $25,000 and issued on a first come, first served basis. Learn more here.
Illinois
Fulton County Small Business Relief - Small businesses in Fulton County, IL who experienced losses due to COVID-19 in 2020 or 2021 are eligible to apply. Grants are $2500-$50,000. Apply through 3/31/22. Learn more here.
Illinois Restaurant Foundation Grant - Grants for restaurant workers facing hardships. Grants cover living expenses after life-altering events like accident, illness, or death of a close family member. These are for individuals rather than businesses. Grants for $250 to $1500. Learn more here.
Kansas
Shawnee Small Business Grant Program - Business must be located in Shawnee, Kansas and have 1-50 full time employees, or equivalent part-time employees, including the owner. Grant for up to $5,000. Apply by 3/25/22. Learn more here.
Louisiana
Baton Rouge Outdoor Dining Grant - Downtown Development District of Baton Rouge has a grant program for downtown restaurants looking to add or improve outdoor dining spaces. Grants reimburse up to 50 percent of expenses for things like furniture and layout plans. Grants up to $1500 and issued on a first come, first served basis. Learn more here.
Junior League of NOLA WE Fellowship - For-profit business-owner should be a woman who is over 21, legal resident of US and be operating within 40 miles of New Orleans. Grants for $5,000. Apply by 2/23/2022. Learn more here.
Massachusetts
Boston Small Business Relief Fund – The fund to support small businesses has been replenished but the website is a little confusing - not sure they have completely updated it yet. If you are a small business in Boston looking for grant support check this website for more information.
Cambridge, MA Restaurant Relief Program - Relief to local, non-franchise cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues impacted by COVID. Grants up to $10,000. Apply by 2/28/2022. Learn more here.
Minnesota
George Floyd Community Benevolence Fund - For businesses, community organizations and 501(c)(3) organizations serving the community at 38th & Chicago in Minneapolis and/or encouraging the success and growth of Black citizens and community harmony. Grants for $5000-$25000. Apply by 3/31/2022. Learn more here.
Arch Grants Startup Competition - Awards innovative, scalable, and job-creating startups with $75,000 non-dilutive grants (plus an additional $25,000 for companies relocating to St. Louis) and access to an ecosystem of resources in exchange for headquartering their business in St. Louis for at least one year. Competition applications are evaluated by over 400 investors and industry experts from the St. Louis community and around the country. Grants for $75,000. Apps open 3/18/22. Learn more here.
SQ1 Ignite - SQ1 Ignite is a 4-week training program created to help founders in the St. Louis area quick-start their business model validation process. Applications are rolling thru May 2022. Learn more here.
New Jersey
Morris County Small Business Grant Program - Available to businesses in Morris County with 25 or fewer full time employees (or equivalent) and less than $5MM in revenue. Grants for up to $15,000. Learn more here.
NJ Small Business Improvement Grant - Businesses and nonprofits may be reimbursed for capital improvements, or purchase and/or installation of new furniture, fixtures, and equipment up to $50,000. Learn more here.
Nevada
Nevada Arts Grants - Nevada Arts Council will award grants to individual artists throughout Nevada to support the production and presentation of artistic projects across all disciplines and help artists rebuild after the impacts of COVID-19. Examples of eligible projects include art exhibitions, performances, readings, concerts, the creation of art, and portfolio creation. Virtual/online projects are also eligible. Grants for $1,000. Learn more here.
New York
Erie County Small Business Working Capital Grants - Grant program provides a grant of up to $10,000 to small businesses that have suffered loss of revenue due to the pandemic. Eligible businesses include those who employ five or fewer employees and whose household income is below HUD Section 8 income guidelines. Learn more here.
Queens Startup Competition - The StartUP! Competition is a 4-month program for Queens-based startup founders and small business entrepreneurs who are at the early stages of developing their businesses. Opportunity for $10,000 cash prize Apply by 3/1/2022. Learn more here.
Syracuse Retail Incubator Program - Ecodessa will identify & train entrepreneurs who collaborate with the Downtown Syracuse Foundation to secure a 3 month Popup shop location in Downtown Syracuse. Entrepreneurs will be eligible to receive a grant amount of up to $5,000 to fund expenses associated with their Popup shop. Learn more here.
Chautauqua County NY Small Business Marketing Grant - Reimbursable grant program for businesses and not-for-profits of 50 employees or less throughout Chautauqua County to assist them with upgrading their marketing presence. Grants for up to $10,000. Learn more here.
Oregon
Gresham Small Business Relief Grant - Funding for Gresham businesses with 25 employees or fewer who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis placed on Black, Indigenous and people of color, women and veteran-owned businesses. Grants for up to $10,000. Apply by 2/28/2022. Learn more here.
Rhode Island
o Rhode Island Rebounds - Rhode Island-based for-profit business established before October 1, 2021 with less than $1MM in gross receipts or sales for 2020 or 2021 that has experienced a revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for grants from $2500-$5000. Learn more here.
Tennessee
Memphis Small Business Exterior Improvement Grant Fund - Small Business Exterior Improvement Grant offers up to $5,000 in funding and is open to owners of commercial properties in Whitehaven. To qualify, applicants must also be able to front 20% of the amount requested. Apply by 2/24/22. Email info@gwercmemphis.org for an application.
Texas
Breakthrough Dallas - To apply, you must identify as a Black or Latina woman, have an established business in the Dallas, Texas area that has been registered for at least 1 year and generate a minimum of $50,000 annual business revenue. Grants for $5,000. Apply by 2/22/2022. Learn more here.
Killeen Small Business Grant Assistance Program - Small businesses located in Killeen can request up to $10,000 to mitigate financial hardships occurring because of the coronavirus pandemic. Must have 50 or fewer employees. Learn more here.
Texas Restaurant Grants - TX Restaurant Relief Fund will distribute grants of up to $5,000 to immediately support financial needs. These funds are earmarked specifically for use to keep their doors open and their workers employed. Learn more here.
Utah
Women’s Business Center of Utah - Open to women business owners, solopreneurs, home-based businesses, e-commerce, brick-and-mortar locations, and franchisees based in Utah. Grant for $1,000. Apply by 2/28/2022. Learn more here.
Virginia
Roanoke Small Business Grants - Created to help Roanoke-based microbusinesses that are at-risk of closing or laying off employees due to COVID-19. Grants range from $5000 - $25,000. Learn more here.
Washington, DC
Bridge Fund - Eligible businesses include restaurants, retailers, or entertainment small businesses located in the District of Columbia with an active DC Basic Business License, less than $5 million in gross receipts each in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and the ability to demonstrate at least a 30% loss of revenue during the period of April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Grants of $20,000 - $100,000. Apply by 2/25/22. Learn more here.
Wisconsin
Main Street Bounceback Grants - Grant program is to provide financial support to businesses that move into existing vacant commercial properties in urban Wisconsin areas, helping to create a foundation for long-term success for themselves and their communities. Grants for $10,000. Learn more here.
Black Business Boost - Support and resources for black entrepreneurs and business owners in Milwaukee, WI area. Learn more here.
Regional Funding Opportunities Outside The United States
Canada
Prince Edward Island Small Business Grants - Eligible businesses are those businesses closed to in-person services restricted by the enhanced Public Health Measures introduced on January 18, 2022 and must be operating in PEI. Grant for $2500-$7500. Apply by 3/21/2022. Learn more here.
Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant - Grant provides a one-time payment of $10,000 to eligible small businesses that have been required to close indoor operations as a result of the province’s modified Step 2 restrictions that came into effect on January 5, 2022. Apply by 3/11/2022. Learn more here.
United Kingdom
South East Business Boost (SEBB) Grants - South East Business Boost (SEBB) Grants of up to £10,000 are available to small to medium sized businesses in East Sussex. Apply by 8/1/2022. Learn more here.