Business Grants: A Comprehensive Guide
If you're a small business owner, the word "grant" probably sounds like music to your ears. Free money, right? Grants are a bit more complicated than that, but they're definitely worth considering as part of your overall funding strategy. Let's dive in.
What Are Grants?
Grants are essentially free money that doesn't have to be repaid. However, they often come with strings attached, like reporting requirements or specific use cases. They should be part of a strategy to fund your company and are usually geared towards short-term, tactical goals.
Where to Start? Look to Uncle Sam
Federal grants require meticulous applications through the Grants.Gov website. Errors can get your application rejected faster than you can say "free money."
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
Highly competitive programs encouraging small businesses to engage in Federal R&D.
11 Federal Agencies participate.
State and Municipal Grants
Typically offered through Economic Development or Community Affairs offices.
Other Government Grants
US AID, USDA REAP Grant for rural businesses, and more.
Important Note:
The SBA does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business. The SBA provides grants to nonprofits, Resource Partners, and educational organizations. These grants aim to support entrepreneurship through counseling and training programs.
See below for SBA Microloans.
Grants Databases
Only 1% of foundations award grants through open RFPs. So, you'll need to dig deep and possibly subscribe to some databases.
Small business grants are recommended based on your unique profile.
Search for small business grants based on location, industry, eligibility, and interests.
Features an AI search filter.
A searchable database of national and regional small business grants
Foundation Directory Online (non-profits)
Search for Foundations by various criteria.
Database of more than 25,000 foundations, corporate donors, and more.
Demographic-Specific Grants
Many grants are targeted towards specific demographics, so make sure to look for grants that align with your business profile.
Woman and BIPOC-Owned Businesses
The Ladies Who Launch Grants Database
Updated weekly and free to use.
Links to a page full of additional grant opportunities for women: Other Grants
A rolling grant that awards at least $30,000 every month.
A pitch competition for Black/Brown female business owners with prizes up to $10,000.
Featuring partnerships with organizations such as BeyGOOD, Vistaprint and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Diversity Capital, Hello Alice, and more
SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant
$10K and $5K cash grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs
Virginia Black Chamber’s Grants to Consider
A database of Virginia resources.
For women & minority business owners.
Nav.com Blog: How to get Native American business loans and grants in 2026
A guide to available resources for American Indians and Alaska Natives
A Guide to Grants, Loans, and Seed Money for Latino Business Owners
A collection of resources for Latino entrepreneurs, including financial assistance and capital access.
Veteran-Owned Businesses
A Small Business Grant Program for small businesses owned by veterans and/or military spouses
Featuring “Business Showers”, where veteran founders, military spouses, and immediate family members compete for capital.
A yearly award for veteran-owned businesses that have a social impact on the American military veteran community
Other Demographics
Opportunity Grants program that has awarded business grants to Black, Female, Native-Owned, AAPI Restaurant Owners, and Kid-Entrepeneurs
See our Venture Capital, Angel Investments, and Loan Resources section below for more demographic-specific funding opportunities.
Additional Grant Opportunities You Don't Want to Miss
State-Specific Grants
Incumbent Worker Training Grants
Offered through Virginia Career Works Northern Region, these grants help employers re-train their existing workforce.
Virginia Venture Partners (VVP), supports entrepreneurs and founding teams building transformative companies in Virginia.
Virginia Department of SBSD Small Business Investment Grant (SBIG)
Small Business Investment Grants are awarded to eligible Investors that have invested in eligible small businesses. They are not grants awarded to the small business that received the investment.
Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)
Grants for small businesses in the tourism and travel industry.
Industry-Specific Grants
Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program
Grants for expanding processing capacity.
Non-Profit Grants
Grants to global non-profits with an annual budget of less than $50,000.
Patagonia Corporate Grant Program
Between $10,000 and $20,000 supporting grassroots activist organizations that have direct-action agendas and are working on strategic, multipronged campaigns to preserve and protect the environment.
Other Opportunities
Disaster relief grants to eligible Etsy sellers issued on a monthly basis.
A monthly $500 grant and a two-month free membership in the Freed Studio.
Venture Capital, Angel Investments, and Loan Resources
Venture Capital and Angel Investments
Invests in early-stage startups from both women and men. Pitch forums are held every two months.
Specializes in technology and healthcare-focused venture capital. Raised $200 million to invest in funds started by women and minorities.
Invests in companies led by underrepresented founders. Over $7 million invested in 200+ companies.
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund
Provides loans, investments, and technical assistance to underserved populations and communities.
Financing for businesses led by women of color. Partners include Coca-Cola, Mastercard, and UPS.
Invests in women-owned and women-run startups across various sectors.
Founders First Capital Partners
Offers "revenue-based investment" for service-based companies led by minority, veteran, or women founders.
Invests in minority and women founders around the U.S. Fund II closed in March 2021 at $134 million.
Hivers and Strivers Investment Program
Provides capital to veteran-owned and veteran-led businesses. Funding ranges from $250,000 to $1 million.
Invests in diverse founders and organizations, creating solutions for diverse audiences.
Invests in diverse entrepreneurs. 62% of its investments go to companies with diverse founders.
Invests in technology startups leveraging shifts in cultural trends and behaviors.
Focuses on seed and Series A investment opportunities at companies led by women and minority-led startups.
A pitch competition with a $50,000 grand prize. 2023 applications are now closed.
Invests in diverse founding teams. Has invested in more than 70 companies.
Loan Resources
Provides small business loans ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 with interest rates as low as 5.99%.
Offers loan programs and consulting services. Over $5.8 million in new funding options as of 2022.
Business Warrior Small Business Loans
Provides between $5,000 and $50,000 loans without high rates.
Offers startup loans, micro loans, and small business loans.
Latino Economic Development Center
Offers loans from $1,000 to $250,000 with interest rates as low as 6.5%.
Provides loans up to $50,000. The average microloan is about $13,000.
Grants can be a valuable part of your funding strategy, but they require a lot of work and attention to detail.
So, roll up those sleeves and start applying!
Please verify all information independently. We cannot guarantee current grant availability or accuracy as this collection may not have been verified recently. The SBDC does not explicitly recommend or endorse any grant or organization.
Do you know about a great resource we should add to this list? Are YOU or your organization awarding grants? Let us know!
Updated 6/12/2026
