A range of organizations now offer grants to Minority business owners
Corporations, associations and foundations offer grant programs specifically for minority entrepreneurs and small business owners. Each sets their eligibility requirements and some programs may not be offered year to year.
The best approach is to review each grant opportunity and then confirm it is active in the coming period. Follow this by learning eligibility requirements and application due dates.
The top eleven small business grants for minorities are:
- Amazon Black Business Accelerator & Grants: providing training and access to capital to black entrepreneurs who are sellers on the Amazon platform. Learn more
- The Black Women in Food Grant: Made possible by support from UberEats and EatOkra, $100,000 in grants are given for Black women-owned food businesses on UberEats. Grants of $10,000 will be given to 10 food enterprises that show how the funds will catalyze impactful growth in their companies. Learn more
- The Coalition to Back Black Businesses: 14 Coalition to Back Black Businesses grantees were judged to receive $25,000 to support the long term success of their businesses and further strengthen their communities. Since inception, the Coalition has distributed grants to over 1,400 small businesses, as well as providing mentoring and other resources to help their small businesses scale. Learn more
- The BOSS Network and Sage Invest in Progress Grant: $10,000 grants to 25 eligible entrepreneurs that in its inaugural year 2022 included one year of monthly mentorship through the BOSS University, an online program that helps Black women successfully start and grow a business. Every applicant receives free access to the thousands of curated resources and a community of nearly 600,000 small business owners on Hello Alice. Learn more.
- Comcast RISE Investment Fund: In addition to a range of resources offered tominority and female entrepreneurs, a $5,000 grant is given for investment in their businesses, plus a 30-second TV commercial is made with a media strategy consultation that includes a 180-day media placement. Learn more
- Democratizing the Friends & Family Round: In partnership with Hello Alice, UBS provides $25,000 in grants and mentorship to 20 female founders of color in NYC who are leading venture-scalable companies. Learn more
- The Entrepreneurial Spirit Fund: Established by Hispanic entrepreneur Carin Luna-Ostaseski, the Fund provides entrepreneurs of color with access to the capital and mentorship that will help them grow their companies. In 2022 for the 2nd consecutive year it gave 11 grants of $10,000 to entrepreneurs of color. Learn more
- Fearless Strivers Grant Contest: Four $20,000 grants given to Black women-owned businesses each year via Mastercard sponsorship. In addition, digital tools to grow their business online and mentorship. Four entry periods throughout the year. Learn more
- First Nations Development Institute Grants: A national grantmaking program established in 1993 has managed 3,052 grants totaling $64.7 million to Native American projects and organizations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territory American Samoa. The currently active grant is the “Strengthening Native Programs & Feeding Families Grant” which just closed Round 3 in October. Check the site for new grant initiatives. Learn more
- Instagram and Brooklyn Museum: A collaboration that was launched in 2022 as the #BlackVisionaries Program with $650,000 in Grants to Black artists, Black designers and Black small businesses. Learn more
- National Black MBA Association Scale-Up Pitch Challenge: Established in 2017 the Challenge is intended to meet the mission of the Association to support wealth-building opportunities for its members. From the pitches submitted, 10 semi-finalists are selected to compete at the upcoming National Black MBA Association’s annual conference. The three top applicants move on to a final round of pitching to win a $50,000 first prize, $10,000 valued second prize and a $7,500 valued third prize. Learn more
- Women of Color Grant Program: 75 women of color-owned businesses to receive $10,000 and $20,000 grants and access to education and community in the partnership of Fearless Fund and the Tory Burch Foundation. Learn more
- Publish Her Business Impact Grant for Women of Color Business Owners: With community partner BankCherokee, Publish Her awards a $5,000 grant to each woman of color who 100% own their business and is making a difference in people’s lives. Application period is June through August, with 10 qualifiers chosen for September public vote of winner. Learn more
To see a full list of grants open to all small businesses, visit Top Small Business Grants. For grants specifically for women small business owners, visit Top Small Business Grants for Women.
