November and December 2022
Capital Readiness Program from the Minority Business Development Agency and US Chamber of Commerce is for non-profit organizations and private entities that are focused on helping women or minority owned businesses grow. In effect, the government is providing free grant money to incubator and accelerators of MWBE small businesses. The program will launch in early 2023. Learn more. https://www.mbda.gov/news/press-releases/2022/12/commerce-departments-minority-business-development-agency-announces
National Pride Grant, which is for LGBTQIA+ small business owners, is offered by Founds First and partners. Applications will be taken over the next few months. Up to 25 businesses will receive free grants, and the applicants need to have 20 or fewer employees as well as under 5 million in revenue. The applicants can be in any state, and learn more here. https://www.prweb.com/releases/announcing_the_national_pride_grant_for_lgbtqia_led_small_businesses/prweb19061077.htm
DOVE Chocolate Instagrants are for women owned businesses. Grants of up to $10,000 will be provided to women entrepreneurs, including those of color. This is a pitch content with one winner of the $10,000. there is also additional help, such as advertising, PR, online sales and more. Apply here. https://dovechocolateinstagrants.com/
Association of African American Vintners provides support to Black owned wine producers/vinters. The goal is to help African-American / Black owned wine company owners, and start-ups, get the capital they need as well as other support. There will be occasional grant programs too. Read more. https://www.aaavintners.org/
Black-owned farms can get assistance from the Black Farmer Equity Initiative. This program, provided by Cargill and NMSDC, has a few components. There is strategic support, educational and coaching programs, as well as financial assistance. There is MWBE certification, microloans, group buying power and other resources given too. Learn more here. https://nmsdc.org/black-farmers-equity-initiative/
Gran Coramino Tequila (owned by Kevin Hart) is offering grants to small businesses and start-ups owned by people of color. The grants focus on Latinx and Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Free $10,000 grants will help pay for equipment, manufacturing, marketing costs and more. Apply here. https://www.lisc.org/our-initiatives/small-business/our-work/grants-small-businesses/coramino-fund/
Nextdoor, working with Hello Alice and other agencies, is providing free $5,000 grants to businesses owned by people of color. The program is known as the Keep it Local Business Fund. There are also free advertising credit for marketing on Nextdoor, coaching and counseling and other services. Learn more here. https://about.nextdoor.com/nextdoor-kind-foundation/keep-it-local-business-fund/
SheaMoisture has a couple grants for Black-owned businesses. Businesses, no matter their industry, can apply for financial help. Two black owned, small businesses will get assistance. Read more here. https://form.jotform.com/222904776922059
The Fifteen Percent Pledge has grants for Black owned-businesses. Corporations, the donors to the program, non-profits and others are helping Black-owned businesses. Get help increasing sales, marketing, free grant money and more. Apply here. https://15percentpledge.org/award
Visa Creator Commerce Program helps small internet businesses, such as sole-proprietorship content creators, get paid faster. The program will in effect help free up the businesses cash flow and limit credit risk. Visa has other programs for small MWBE and veteran owned businesses as well. Find details here. https://partner.visa.com/site/programs/visa-ready/creator-commerce.html
BK-XL is a business accelerator program for BIPOC owned businesses and startups. The assistance offered in wide ranging, and includes grants, capital or loans of up to $500,000. The Brooklyn Nets and non-profits including Social Justice Fund and Visible Hands or coordinating the program. Continue reading here. https://bk-xl.com/
October 2022
MicroBiz Capital Accelerator Program (MCAP) from National Community Reinvestment Coalition is for non-profits only that are owned by people of color. The non-profit most be focused on helping other small businesses and start-ups. Learn more here. https://ncrc.submit.com/
Pearl Milling Company provides grants as part of the P.E.A.R.L. Pledge program. The free grants are for Black Women and/or Girls, as well as non-profits that focus on helping them. The goal is education, businesses development, and similar needs. Find details here. https://www.pearlmillingcompany.com/pearlpledge
Antares is working with partner to provide free, $20,000 grants to small, minority owned businesses. The goal is to help businesses that are close to (1) accelerating revenue and/or (2) hitting a high growth phase. The financial aid is part of the REACH program, and learn more on the lender here. https://www.antares.com/
Aurora Tech Award is a free grant program for female found businesses. There will be 3 awards given, and the applicants need to be in technology, IT, or some type of high-tech business. Up to $30,000 will be given as the maximum grants. The business needs to have been started in the last 5 years. Read more. https://auroratechaward.com/
Alibaba, Black Entrepreneurs Day, Hello Alice, Indiegogo, AMZScout and Payoneer are partnering together to provide free grants to minority owned businesses. The assistance program is known as the 2022 Manifest Grants Program. There is also marketing help, educational resources, IT and online website support and more. Apply here and/or learn more on the Manifest Grants. https://helloalice.com/grants/alibaba/
Free grants and mentorship is offered by the Stacy’s Rise Project. Up to $15,000 is offering to each qualified MWBE or LGTBQ+ business. The money will go tom food and beverage businesses that are owned by women, including black, Latino, Asian and other minorities. Hello Alice is a partner as well. Read more and apply online here. https://www.stacyssnacks.com/riseproject
Amazon Community Lending Program provides affordable or low-interest loans (or in some cases 0% loans) to small businesses. The internet retailer partners with Lendistry as well as B.S.D. Capital on the program. A major focus is on helping disadvantaged businesses get the money they need for their online business and sales. Apply here. https://sell.amazon.com/programs/amazon-lending
August, September and October 2022
Veteran owned business can apply for $1,000 grants as part of the Stephen L. Tadlock program. Applicants will need to give a video pitch and the funds are for existing veteran owned businesses, regardless of gender or ethnicity. Find details on the veteran grant program, as well as learn about other criteria, here. https://foundersfirstcdc.org/stephen-tadlock/
Amazon has grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 as part of Small Business Month. The corporation is providing financial help as well as access to Prime Services, Amazon Webhosting, free business supplies and more. Applicants need to have under $1 million in revenue as well as an Amazon account. Apply here. https://www.amazon.com/b?node=24035139011&ref_=b2b_sow_events_absbm22_gnt
UPS and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are providing $5000 grants to small, Hispanic owned businesses. Applicants need to have less than 20 employees and be majority Hispanic owned. The program is known as the Proudly Unstoppable Latinx-Owned: Small Business Grant, and apply here. https://ushcc.formstack.com/forms/upsgrants_2022
Southern Opportunity and Resilience fund (SOAR) operates in several southern, coastal and SE states including FL, TX, VA, the Carolinas, Georgia, the deep south and others. Low cost or interest free loans are offered in partnerships with many banks, corporations and other lenders. Apply here. https://www.connect2capital.com/p/soar-fund/soar-get-started/
Bank of America has a limited grant program, in some cities and it will be expanded later, that will help them purchase real estate. The program is known as Small Business Down Payment Grant Program, Applicants need to be minority or woman owned companies and also be using a Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 or 7(a) commercial real estate loans. BOA will provide a free grant to help offset upfront costs. Learn more here. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bank-of-america-announces-small-business-down-payment-grant-program-to-drive-women-and-minority-business-growth-301614676.html
$5000 grants are offered to Black-owned businesses from the Coalition to Back Black Businesses. The financial assistance is combined with a number of resources to help businesses succeed. There are many training programs, free mentoring and more. The funds are for small companies with under 20 employees, and the free grants are offered in partnership with American Express as well as U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Apply here https://webackblackbusinesses.com/
The AARP is launching a grant program for minority-owned business owners who are age 45 or older. There are multiple versions of the program being offered, with recipients getting around $4000. The AARP is working with other partners such as NASE, and learn more here. https://www.nase.org/become-a-member/grants-and-scholarships/sponsors/aarp
Jack Daniel’s New Beginnings is offering grants as part of competition to Black-owned businesses. Note the focus of the program is on Washington D.C., Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and Richmond Virginia. Up to $40,000 will be provided overall with multiple winners. Read more https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/New-Beginnings
Lenovo has a program known as Evolve Small that launches in October. It focuses on small minority owned businesses. There are a number of parts to the service, ranging from grant money. There is mentoring, technical support, marketing help and much more. The program is run in partnership with AMD and Microsoft too. This has been a multi-year effort, and learn more on Evolve Small here. https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/evolvesmall
July and August 2022
SIA Scotch has grants as part of the The Entrepreneurial Spirit Fund. Several businesses owned by people of color (Black, Latino, Asian, etc. owned) can get financial help as well as free mentoring from Carin Luna-Ostaseski, who is the founder of the Scotch company. Priority is for restaurants, food or beverage companies.Learn more here. https://helloalice.com/grants/sia-scotch-fund/
GoFundMe has $2,000 grants for Black owned businesses as part of Black-owned business month. The company itself is providing the financial help, but they also encourage the borrower to start a fundraiser as part of the application process. Apply here for a GoFundMe $2000 grant. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfB0t7O-HjVbmCu2JtkejTrBIFGlwGfQet-Mo24F7Jnkh0ekA/viewform
Clover and Comcast are partnering together to offer one black owned business a $15,000 to $25,000 grant. The program is part of Black Business Month. There will also be free legal aid to address and business related needs, marketing and advertising services and more. Read more on the OBWS Black Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Clover, and apply here. https://form.typeform.com/to/AKxg8smD?typeform-source=www.blackenterprise.com
TikTok Support Black Businesses accelerator program provides a number of free services to pitch “winners”. Black owned businesses will get help with creating content, networking services, marketing, and learn more about SEO and TikTok optimization among other support. Apply here https://tiktoksupportblack.com/
Latino owned businesses that are in the Taco industry (food trucks, restaurants, stands, etc.) can apply for free grant money from Siete Foods. They are providing up to $40,000 to a few businesses. The businesses need to be focused on the food industry, and apply here. https://sietefoods.com/pages/sietejuntosfund
Boss Women Media, Capitol One and partners are providing free grants to Black women owned businesses. Applicants will need to pitch their idea, company, story, reason that they need the funds. There will be a few grants available, and the financial aid is combined with a number of other services. Learn more here. https://bosswomen.org/blackgirlmagic
Female Founder Collective is providing a pitch contest for a $20,000 grant. The program is run in partnership with Cisco, the network marketing S&P 500 company. Applicants need to be women-owned businesses with at least 100K in annual revenue and meet other criteria. Learn more here. https://femalefoundercollective.com/grant
Venmo (owned by Paypal) is providing a select number of users of the app a free, $10,000 grant. Applicants need to sign up for or be Venmo users. Priority is for underrepresented business, including those owned by people of color, immigrants, LGTBQ+ or women. There is also other support, such as free legal aid, help with digital marketing, and more. Find how to apply for the Venmo Small Business Grant program here https://venmo.com/business/small-business-grant
Texas travel type businesses (including but not limited too Arts, Breweries, Entertainment, and Recreation, Hotels, Accommodation and Meetings, and Food Services and Bars) can apply for free $20,000 grants. The Travel and Tourism industry is providing the support to help businesses, including MWBE, recover from the pandemic. Learn more. https://ttir.gov.texas.gov/Home/Signup
Texas, female owned (or led) businesses can complete for grants from the EMPOWherMENT Business Pitch Competition. The winner will be given a $10,000 grant to help grow and expand their women owned small business. Continue reading. https://gov.texas.gov/organization/women/pitch-competition
Asian American or Pacific Islander American (AAPI) small businesses can get free grants. AAPISTRONG is overseeing the financial assistance programs, accepting applications, and reviewing/approving the grants. The funds are offered in partnership with Meta/Facebook and the non-profit Reimagine Main Street. Find free small business grants for Asian and Pacific Islanders here. https://www.reimaginemainstreet.org/AAPISTRONG
Black women can get $5,000 or $10,000 grants from the SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant. Several companies and non-profits are partnering on this program. WalMart, Winky Lux, Twilio, bluemercury, twelveNYC, and other groups that focus on Racial Equity are working with SoGal Foundation to provide assistance. The free grants are intended to help Black women with an innovative idea who need support/capital to launch their business. Apply here. https://www.iamsogal.com/black-founder-startup-grant/
Certified Black Owned businesses and businesses with unique products can apply to the Amazon Launchpad program. The e-commerce company is offering $20,000 grants to a select number of qualified small businesses. Winners will be given the free grants as well as help expanding internationally, increasing publicity as well as marketing support, as well as other business services. Learn more on the Launchpad program here. https://sell.amazon.com/programs/launchpad
Black owned restaurant owners can apply for grants ranging from $15,000 to $25,0000 from the LEE Initiative. Not only will financial help be given, but also “winners” of the grants will be given other support. this will include free seminars on how to run a successful restaurant, mentoring, menu preparation help and so much more. The free grants are also partly funded by the Heinz corporation as well as Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice as well as the LEE Initiative. This is the 2nd year of the program, and apply here. https://www.leeinitiative.org/
Women of color can apply for free grant money from the Caress Dream Fund. $5000 grants will be provided as well as a wide variety of other assistance programs including coaching, networking opportunities (for publicity and marketing reasons), crowdfunding resources and more. A major focus is on free grant money for Black women, Latina and immigrant owned businesses. Apply to the Dream Fund here. https://ifundwomen.com/caress
Black artists and designers (business owners or sole-proprietors) can apply for free grants of up to $100,000 each from Instagram and the Brooklyn Museum. The Facebook owned company, working with the museum, are working together to help Black owned artists, designers, and artistic companies get the capital they need. There will also be free publicity, possible exposure in the museum and other resources. Learn more or apply here. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIzoXvGoaMk1jmFLUBV5fUUPHSsqeZScn2hQ8odmtliZaYtQ/viewform
Famous Amos and the National Black Chamber of Commerce are providing a few free grants to Black owned businesses. The financial assistance is combined with mentoring, coaching, networking and PR services. All applicants will need to go through a pitch process as part of the applications. Learn more on the “Ingredient for Success” grant program here. https://famousamos.nationalbcc.org/
May, June and July 2022
Olay is providing grants (in partnership with The Fearless Artist (TFA) to women-owned businesses that focus on arts and social causes. There are also free scholarships as well as coaching. All the Olay services will be for minorities, businesses owned by people of color, and minorities. In total, up to $100,000 will be made available. Learn more here. https://www.olay.com/body/fearless-artist
Under-represented businesses can apply for the Antares REACH Grant Program. This includes businesses owned by people of color, anyone with a disability, LGTBQ+ or veterans. The grant is aimed at helping owners get the funds they need to grow their business. The assistance program is run in partnership with Hello Alice. Learn more on the Antares Grant here. https://helloalice.com/grants/antares-capital/
Small businesses in Detroit’s Corktown Neighborhood can apply for grants from the Advancing Community Business program. A couple dozen businesses will be given loans, financial help, and other support, including mentorship, training and more. The goal is to help small businesses, including MWBE ones, grow and revitalize the region. More data here https://michigancentral.com/programs/advancing-community-businesses-program/
Women and underserved businesses that focus on health and/or social issues can get grants from the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator. It is a regional, statewide service that helps startups, social entrepreneurs and disadvantaged companies. Clients will be enrolled into a multi-month accelerator program and given free grants by the American Heart Association. Medical companies, health living businesses, and businesses with a social cause are eligible. Read more. https://www.empoweredtoserve.org/en/capital-access-grant-funding/business-accelerator-program
Women in Science Incentive Prize is grants to women owned businesses in the science field. The funds can also be for entrepreneurs. The grants will be for women focused businesses that are focused on environmental issues, in particular around global warming and cleaning up the air. Winners get funds as well as free publicity/marketing help. Find details here on the Science Grant for women. https://form.jotform.com/221284488790163
Tito’s, the Vodka company, is providing a total of 10 grants of $25,000 each to small businesses. The program is known as Love, Tito’s Small Business Grant Program, and the goal is to help small businesses, with under 1 million in annual revenue, get capital. A major focus is on providing the grant money to small businesses that have a “connection” to their community as well as a solid business plan/growth plan. Some of the fund will also be given to Latino and minority businesses. Learn more and apply here. https://aofund.org/program/titos-small-business-grant-program/
Hispanic owned businesses, that need transportation/car/truck for their business, can apply to the Driving Small Business Forward Fund from Progressive Insurance. Up to 25K will be provided for the commercial vehicle. As an example, the money can help pay for a delivery truck, car for appointments and other transportation that a Hispanic owned business may need. Learn more here and apply. https://helloalice.com/partners/progressive/
Famous Amos is providing free grants to a few “winners” of a pitch content. $50,000 grants are being provided as part of the Famous Amos Ingredients for Success Entrepreneurs Initiative in partnership with the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC). Applicants need to have been operating for at minimum of five years, and the grant money is provided along with coaching services, networking, and of course free publicity. Learn more on the grant program and apply here. https://famousamos.nationalbcc.org/
Indeed is helping small businesses hire. They are providing financial help and free credits, among other support. The job market is “tight”, though layoffs are rising and that may change. In the meantime, Indeed is giving back to help SME (Small and Mid-size Enterprises), with a focus on women and minorities, hire talent. Learn more on the Small Business Hiring Fund Sponsored Job Credit and how to get assistance. https://www.indeed.com/hire/interview-promo?utm_source=hotwire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=smbexp_us_50m_interviews
Small businesses that sell items on E-Bay can apply for a grant of up to $10,000. Hello Alice as well as Ebay are offering the funds to help sellers grow their business. There is financial help as well as coaching and advice on marketing, keyword optimization, SEO and more. A major focus is on helping businesses that struggle to get capital. Find details on the eBay Up & Running Grants program here. https://helloalice.com/partners/ebay/
April and May 2022
AWS Impact Accelerator is for Black Founders. there are many parts of this assistance program from the world’s largest online retailer. There are both free grants given as well as Credits for the business. The Accelerator also provides training, help marketing and setting up online businesses, help with cloud infrastructure or fulfillment and more. The goal is to help minority, Black owned businesses, including women and men, to give them grant money they need as well as other support. Learn more https://aws-startup-lofts.com/amer/program/accelerators/black-founders
Searchspring focuses on retail industries (both physical and online). They have a MWBE accelerator program, which provides a number of free services, information on financial help, SEO and website development, and other tools that can help retail businesses grow. A major focus is on very small women or minority businesses as well as start-ups/pre-revenue companies. Get help with website design, e-commence, and other needs. Continue reading about the program and services here. https://searchspring.com/ecommerce-accelerator
KKR and Hello Alice are providing $10,000 grants to women owned businesses, including those owned by woman of color. The financial assistance is for small to midsized businesses (under 7 million in annual revenue). In addition, any beneficiary of the KKR Small Business Builders Grant Program needs to be a female found (or identify as female). It is a worldwide, free grant program. Learn more here. https://helloalice.com/partners/kkr/
Unfinished Business Grant is available from Asian American Business Development Center as well as 100 Black Men and Hispanic Federation. Up to $7500 will be provided to qualified small businesses, and the grant program is free to apply too. The funds are for Latin, Immigrant, Black or Asian owned businesses – woman can apply too. This is a nationwide effort to help small businesses that have under $3 million in revenue. Learn more. https://www.aabdc.com/post/unfinished-business-grant-is-open-for-application
March and April 2022
Door Dash has the Accelerator for Local Goods program for consumer package companies that are minority, LGBTQ, immigrant, or women owned. The assistance, including financial, is for small companies of under 20 employees and less than $1 million in revenue. Selected businesses will receive a $5,000 grant, publicity and marketing on the Door Dash app and website, and other services. There are also weekly one hour coaching/business training classes too. Continue reading. https://doordashimpact.com/index.php?p=localgoodsaccelerator&utm_source=pressrelease
Eat Me Guilt Free is a $10,000 grant for a women owned business. There is financial aid as well as counseling, support and motivation to help the small women owned business keep going. In some cases, the free grant can help a female start a company. There is even a mental health part of the Eat Me Guilt Free Grant program to ensure the female entrepreneur has stress relief and other support throughout their journey. Apply here. https://www.eatmeguiltfree.com/pages/youglowgirl
FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab combined $2,000 grants, website development, coaching, ecommerce operations and more. The assistance program from the world-wide shipping company is focused on helping minority owned businesses develop and/or increase their ecommerce sales. The grants can help with financial needs and there are shipping and other business development services. The program is run in partnership with Accion Opportunity Fund. Apply for grants and help here. https://aofund.org/program/fedex/
Main Street America and American Express are providing hundreds of free $5,000 grants as part of Main Street America. The funds will be going to parts of the country that are “older” or more “historical” districts. Another focus of the financial assistance programs is to help businesses that normally lack access to capital, such as veterans, LGBTQ, minority, the disabled and female owned companies. Main Street America will be providing the grants throughout the entire year. Find details here. https://www.mainstreet.org/howwecanhelp/inclusivebacking
February and March 2022
Yotpo is a brand building business, and they have launched a Black Business Accelerator program. Up to 10 small Black owned businesses will be accepted. The clients will get marketing and sales help, information on building their brand, get help with publicity and other free business development services. It is a year long program. Learn more/apply. https://www.yotpo.com/yotpo-grow/
Ladies Who Launch is providing $10,000 grants as well as ongoing support (up to 6 months) to female and “non-binary” owned businesses. The goal is to ensure women owned companies get both capital as well as access to other resources, whether it is mentoring, free marketing help, publicity and more. This is an ongoing, annual financial assistance program. Learn more here. https://www.ladieswholaunch.org/launch-program
Caress Dreams to Reality Fund is offering $5,000 grants as part of its 2022 program. Applicants will need to make a pitch their business and/or idea to qualify. There are a number of other free businesses services provided as well, including an accelerator program, networking, publicity services and more. The IFund woman organization is a key partner on the Caress Dreams to Reality Fund program. Read more. https://ifundwomen.com/caress
Black owned businesses or non-profits in the Greater Milwaukee region, Los Angeles County, New Orleans, and Indianapolis – Marion County area can apply for grants from Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund. There is financial aid, coaching, free technical help and more in addition to the grants. A major focus is on low-income parts of those regions, the underserved, and businesses or non-profits with a social cause. Apply here. https://www.jlhfund.org/
Any MWBE owned businesses in the Coffee Industry can apply for a $5,000 grant from Roast Magazine. The free grant will only be issued to one small business, with less than 100 employees. It can be a retailer, coffee manufacturer, shop or anything in the industry. Free social media following and publicity will also be given to the winner. Learn more. https://www.roastmagazine.com/grant/
HerRise is a microgrant for businesses owned by women of color. The grant program is focused on innovative companies with differentiated/unique products. This is a recurring, often annual financial assistance programs that helps Latina, Black, immigrant, Asian, and other women of color who often struggling to get the capital they need. Read more on the HerRise grant. https://www.hersuitespot.com/herrise/
FedEx is giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of the Small Business Grant Contest. Winners will get 50K or 20K, and there needs to be a pitch/presentation provided. Note only that, but a number of people, including the general public, will vote on grant winners. A major focus of the financial assistance programs is on helping businesses owned by people of color. The winners will also get other help, including around website development, SEO, marketing and more from FedEx and partners. Apply here. https://www.fedex.com/en-us/small-business/grant-contest.html
Capital One is providing Black owned businesses with up to $10,000 grants, in partnership with Association for Enterprise Opportunity. Grant winners will also have access to the Business Hub. A major focus is on assisting Black-owned businesses that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, but others can apply as well. The lender has a variety of other financial services that may help as well. Learn more here. https://aeoworks.org/capitalone/
Sage Invest in Progress Grant is providing grants to female, Black entrepreneurs. The financial aid program is part of the BOSS Network. It is a multiple year coaching supporting, and training program. In addition, the recipients will be given a $10,000 grant from the program. In addition, the women owned business will be enrolled into the Boss Network program, in which networking, technical help, marketing advice and other assistance is given. Apply here. https://www.bossimpactfund.com/
January and February 2022
Voodle is providing one $10,000 grant to either a female or BIPOC owned small business. Applicants need to make a pitch to the company, and based on results and review, one free grant will be paid out. The goal is to provide financial help to underserved businesses that share the same vision as the company. Learn more here on the Voodle Visionaries Grant. https://voodle.com/voodle-visionaries-grant/
The Eastern Area of The Links and Keybank are providing microgrants to Black women owned businesses. The assistance program is known as the Key4Women Business Education Series, and the program and grants are offered in the NE, SE, and Eastern coast of the US. The financial aid is combined with a wide variety of operation programs to help the female owned business of color succeed. Learn more here. https://www.3blmedia.com/news/keybank-partners-eastern-area-links-incorporated-bring-financial-resources-women-color-small
The Fearless Fund is providing free grants from $10,000 to $20,000 as part of the Women of Color Grant Fund. The financial assistance is being provided in partnership between the Tory Burch Foundation as well as an organization called The Cru. Not only will the grants help provide Capital that a Black, Latina, Asian, or other women of color business needs, but The Cru is also providing free coaching and mentorship to the recipients. Apply here or learn more. https://www.fearless.fund/
Uber and Visa are offering $10,000 grants to small business restaurants in several cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, the NYC metro/New Jersey area, Philadelphia, as well as the San Francisco Bay Area. The fund is being distributed by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) with a focus on food service businesses, such as restaurants, Cafes, bars, breweries and the like. A focus is on giving the free grants (up to $10,000 each) to women, veteran, minority, and LGBTQIA restaurants. Apply here. https://www.lisc.org/covid-19/small-business-assistance/small-business-relief-grants/uber/
EnrichHER has a $5000 grant for businesses owned by either (1) or people of color. Note there is an application fee to this. The company is a fin-tech lender that focuses on women and minority businesses, and they help facilitate everything from loans to free coaching services as well as other support. Learn more here. https://enrichher.com/grant/
Corporate Counsel Women of Color, or CCWC, is providing several $5000 grants to women of color that are starting or that have a small business. In addition to that, there will be free or low cost legal advice from female attorneys who are providing their own time to mentor female owned businesses. Applicants can get free business advice, financial aid in the form of grants, and other support. Learn more. https://ccwomenofcolor.org/
December 2021 and January 2022
SnapChat (SNAP) is providing grants to small, minority owned businesses. This can include LGBTQ, women, veteran, disabled and businesses owned by people of color. Tens of thousands of dollars will bb provided. The funds from the financial aid program known as 523 will be used to help BIPOC and/or MWBE businesses develop content, build their internet and social media following, and in general increase their revenue. Apply here. https://523.snap.com/
The Sisters Accord Foundation is providing grants to female small business owners as well as women who need education help. A major focus is also on the African American community – women of color. Up to $20,000 ( in aggregate) is being issues to qualified applications. Most of the free grants will be in the “hundreds” of dollar ranges, but the goal is to help women succeed. Learn about the Foundation here. https://thesisteraccordfoundation.org/
There are national grants from 2021 as well. They can serve as a referral or give business owners more information. Locate 2021 MWBE Grants and Loans.
By Jon McNamara