Black History Month: Grant opportunities for Black entrepreneurs
Grants provide critical funding for small businesses that may need additional capital to start or grow their businesses. To celebrate Black History Month, we have compiled a list of grant opportunities available to Black entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses and recover from the pandemic.
Power Forward Small Business Grant
Accepting applications on a rolling basis
The Power Forward Small Business Grant program aims to create a lasting impact through the economic empowerment of Black-owned small businesses across New England. Through a joint commitment of $1 million, Vistaprint and the Boston Celtics are teaming up with the NAACP to award transformative grants of $25,000 on a rolling basis. Through this initiative, grant recipients will have opportunities to be featured on national co-branded platforms along with receiving marketing and design resources customized to their specific needs to help their business grow and thrive.
SoGal’s Black Founder Startup Grant
Accepting applications on a rolling basis
SoGal Foundation has teamed up with Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, and other sponsors to make a small step towards progress by providing several $10K and $5K cash grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs. Awardees will also receive tactical help navigating the fundraising environment at large so that they will have a more equitable opportunity at scaling the next billion dollar idea. They will also receive lifetime “ask-me-anything” access to the SoGal Foundation and SoGal Ventures teams.
Comcast RISE
Accepting applications on a rolling basis
Comcast RISE is a multi-year commitment to provide marketing, creative, media, and technology services to small businesses owned by people of color. If your business qualifies, you’ll have the opportunity to receive marketing consultations, media placements, commercial creative production services, or technology services from Effectv and Comcast Business.
Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator
Accepting applications on a rolling basis
Amazon's Black Business Accelerator is a grant program aimed to address historical, manifest imbalances by growing and advancing equity for Black-owned businesses. The program offers financial assistance, business education & mentorship, and marketing & promotional support.
Black Restaurant Accelerator
Accepting applications on a rolling basis; available in select cities
In partnership with PepsiCo Foundation, the National Urban League, through its 12 Entrepreneurship Centers in cities across the U.S., has launched the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program (BRAP). The BRAP will help address these barriers and take a long-term view by pairing participants with entrepreneurship advisors and PepsiCo employee volunteers to build an actionable plan for growth.
Black Girl Ventures (BGV) Pitch Program
Available in select cities and dates
The BGV Pitch Program flips the traditional pitch experience on its head: they coach entrepreneurs, host a live crowdfunded pitch competition, then connect them to community and professionals to support them on their journey. BGV democratizes funding by allowing the audience to vote with their dollars using the Raisify platform for the founders whose pitch they favor. Each founder has 3 minutes to pitch and a 3 minute Q&A from the audience. The person with the most votes wins (not the most money raised).
Fearless Fund, Tory Burch Foundation, Cru’s Women of Color Grant Program
Accepting applications until February 9
Fearless Fund and The Tory Burch Foundation are partnering again to launch the Women of Color Grant Program along with The Cru. Together, they will award up to 150 deserving small businesses $10,000- $20,000. In addition, business owners will be awarded access to a peer network to help them continue to build and grow their business.
Fedex Small Business Grant Contest
Accepting applications beginning February 10
By entering the 2022 FedEx Small Business Grant Contest, you have a chance to do even more and set your sights on even bigger goals. In celebration of the Contest’s 10th anniversary, Fedex is awarding more grand prizes and support for you to discover what’s next for your business.
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