If you’re a woman who’s growing a business OR you know someone who is, you already know that money plays a HUGE role in reaching certain goals.
Well, get ready to sign up for one or more of these grant opportunities that can help take your business to another level.
First up….
Bank of America has committed to doubling the size of the Women’s Entrepreneurship program to 100,000 seats!
If you know someone who would benefit from this program, pleaseencourage them to put their name on the waitlist ASAP. Lots of other opportunities floating around - the following list includes links to funding, accelerators, incubators and general resources.
GENERAL OPPORTUNITIES -
Citizens Small Business Champion Award - Open to Eligible Small Businesses who are either Citizens Bank business banking account holders or based in CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA or VT. Entrant must be legal resident of US. Grants for $10,000. Apply by 3/17/22. Learn more here.
Classy Award For Nonprofits - Classy Awards recognize the work of US-based nonprofits that are driving lasting impact around the world. Classy, two of its founders, and GoFundMe are awarding a $90K prize pool to support the initiatives of the winning nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations must be headquartered in the United States but work can be global. Apply by 3/15/22. Learn more here.
ESSENCE x Pine-Sol Build Your Legacy contest - ESSENCE® + Pine-Sol™ are partnering to offer a $100,000 Legacy Award to help champion Black women and the entrepreneurial spirit. To enter you must have a registered business. Apply by 4/16/22. Learn more here.
F5 Tech For Good Grant - Grant funding for $10,000 is open to non-profits in all countries. Nonprofit organizations must serve at least 50% BIPOC and/or underserved communities. Funding must be used on technology needs. Apply by 3/31/22. Learn more here.
Female Founder Challenge - Viva Tech - Opportunity for women founders to master investor pitch, get access to investors and get visibility during an hybrid event open to a diverse audience. Challenge includes an online bootcamp on fundraising, 1:1 meetings with investors, a guided tour of VivaTech, an afterwork with women executives and VC, a pitch contest and an award ceremony. Apply by 3/18/22. Learn more here.
Halcyon Flagship Residential Fellowship - Halcyon Flagship Residential Fellowship is a diverse cohort of fellows who receive free residency and workspace, mentorship and leadership coaching, robust support from business consultants, and a living stipend to develop their entrepreneurial vision. Must be for-profit organization. $10,000 stipend . Apply by 4/8/22 Learn more here.
Jobber Grants For Home Service Businesses - Any home service business owner or aspiring business owner 18 years old or older, residing in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Québec is eligible to apply for a grant from $2500-$15,000. Apply by 5/26/22. Learn more here.
Ladies Who Launch Program – This program provides a $10,000 grant, business education, mentorship, advisory support, community, and amplification for US-based women and non-binary business owners and entrepreneurs. Apply by 3/28/22 Learn more here.
Plutus Foundation - The Plutus Foundation awards $2000 grants to support bloggers, podcasters, vloggers, journalists, educators, speakers, and authors who create financial literacy programs. Apply by 3/14/22. Learn more here.
Target Forward Founders Accelerator - Virtual, eight-week program for early-stage product companies looking to better understand retail. Program will connect participants with industry-disrupting founders, Target team members, and other cohort members while gaining access to industry-leading retail resources and partnerships. Apply by 3/21/22. Learn more here.
Techstars Anywhere Accelerator - Techstars accelerators have one goal: to help entrepreneurs succeed. During each three-month program, they surround companies with the best mentors and an unrivaled network of corporate partners, investors, and alumni. $20K for 6% of company. Apply by 4/6/22. Learn more here.
You Glow Girl Women Entrepreneur Grant – Grant for $10,000 is open to all women entrepreneurs in the US. Apply by July 1. Top 25 will be announced for round 2 on July 8. Winner announced mid-August. Learn more here.
OPPORTUNITIES - LISTED BY U.S. STATE
Arizona
Phoenix Small Business Grants - Micro and Small Businesses in the City of Phoenix can apply for up to $15,000 in grant funds that can be used for any business expense categorized by the Internal Revenue Service as a “deductible expense.” Must have less than 25 employees and operate in city of Phoenix. Apply by 4/15/22. Learn more here.
California
Pledge LA Founders Fund - Business must be led by a Black and/or Latinx co-founder based in Los Angeles County, have raised less than $250,000 from any source prior to applying and have an innovative product with evidence of traction. Grants for $25,000. Applications due by 4/10/22. Learn more here.
Riverside County Relief Grants – Grants for $2500 are available to for-profits located in Riverside County with less than $50,000 in revenue for 2019 and less than 5 employees. Apply by 6/30/22. Learn more here.
San Francisco Small Business Rent Relief Grant - Grants for up to $35,000. Must be a business currently operating in San Francisco and plan to stay for at least a year. Must have unpaid rent debt accrued between March 2020 and September 2021. Apply by 4/1/22. Learn more here.
Delaware
EDGE Grant Program for Small Businesses - Delaware based businesses who are less than 5 years old and employ no more than 10 individuals are eligible for grants up to $100,000. Apply by 3/31/22. Learn more here.
Florida
University of Central Florida Women's Business Incubator - For women-led for-profit small businesses in the Central Florida area. Incubator provides education and networking resources. Learn more here.
Georgia
Decatur Small Business Loans and Grants – Loans are available for up to $20,000 to small businesses in Decatur with less than 25 employees. Loan has potential to be forgiven. Applications due by 3/25/22. Learn more here.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Small Business Grant Program - Small business must have under $2.5MM in revenue. Grants of $10,000-$75,000 can cover payroll costs, mortgage and rent payments, and utility operating costs. Apply by 4/4/22. Learn more here.
Maine
Gorham Savings Bank's LaunchPad - Legally registered, Maine-based businesses and/or legal residents of Maine age 18 or older can apply. No formal business proposals or supporting documents are required. Selected finalists will deliver a live pitch in-person to a panel of judges on June 7, 2022. Prize of $50,000. Apply by 3/31/22. Learn more here.
New Ventures Maine Mini Marketing Grants- Eligible applicants include individual micro business owners, business partners, or groups of business owners. Non-profit organizations are not eligible. Businesses must apply to the region in which they are based in Maine. Grant for $1,000. Apply by 5/6/22. Learn more here.
Maryland
BGE Energizing Small Business Grant - For-profit business founded in 2020 or prior within the state of Maryland, Must have less than 25 employees. Grants for $20,000. Apply by 3/25/22. Learn more here.
Michigan
Growing MI Business Grant - For Michigan businesses that were in operation on October 1, 2019 and maintain a physical presence in Michigan. Apply by 3/31/22. Learn more here
Moving Flint Forward Small Business Grant Program – Grants for $10,000 are available to entrepreneurs who own and operate a business within the City of Flint. Business cannot be a franchise. Apply by 3/18/22. Learn more... (Note - this is the website - it was having technical issues when I checked it prior to sending this email blast but it is correct: https://developflintandgenesee.org/moving-flint-forward-application-process/)
Mississippi
Jones County Chamber of Commerce Grant - Group will offer Minority Owned Small Business Grant opportunities for $3000 to eligible businesses in Jones County. Must be a current Mississippi Power customer and have less than 50 employees. Apply by 3/25/22. Learn more here.
Missouri
Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Authority - Two funding opportunities - Missouri Value-Added Agriculture Grant and Missouri Value-Added Agriculture “Farm to Table” Grant. Applications for both programs are awarded on a competitive basis, and will be scored based on the economic development potential for the agriculture industry. Grants for up to $200,000. Apply by 4/1/22. Learn more here.
New Hampshire
Manchester Small Business Grant and Program Assistance – Grants up to $10,000 are available to support small businesses based in Manchester, NH with fixed business costs, including rent, utilities, and payroll, accrued during the pandemic, costs associated with transitioning to e-commerce business platforms, outdoor space upgrades, and other technical assistance needs. Learn more here.
New York
Affinity Grant Program – Grant up to $25,000 available to tax-exempt organizations under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code that operate programs within Affinity’s 10-county service area – Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester. Applications due 4/15/22. Learn more here.
HerRise PitchFest - PitchFest exists as a relief for women of color small businesses still impacted by the pandemic. Participant must be a HerSuiteSpot member with a small business registered in the state of New York. Award of $5,000. Apply by 3/19/22. Learn more here
Tourism Return to Work Program - Any NY state tourism business, including accommodations, transportation, and tour companies can apply for $5000 in funding to grow their teams. Learn more here.
Texas
Fort Bend TX Small Business Grant – To qualify, you must be a Fort Bend business that has been operational since December 30, 2019 and prove a revenue decline of at least 25 percent from 2019 to 2020. Grants are $5000-$25,000 and issued on a first come, first served basis. Learn more here.
Virginia
Newport News Microenterprise Grant - Micro Enterprise must be within Newport News and will have five or fewer employees. Not-for-profit businesses, organizations and entities are not eligible for this program. The business owners must be low to moderate income or the business must be located in a low to moderate-income area at the time of application. Grants are for $500-$3500. Learn more here.
Washington DC Area
Ascend Capital Accelerator - Thrive Cohort – The Thrive Cohort is designed to help entrepreneurs of color. The principal office of the business must be in Washington, D.C., Prince George's County (MD), Montgomery County (MD), Howard County (MD), Arlington County (VA), or Alexandria (VA). Apply by 3/18/22. Learn more here.
OPPORTUNITIES - AFRICA
WIA54 - WIA is committed to supporting African women entrepreneurs. Application is 2-step process. WIA team will get back to the pre-selected candidates after step 1. Grant for 5,000-10,000 Euros. Apply by 5/31/22. Learn more here.
OPPORTUNITIES - CANADA
Boost Your Business Technology - Grant for up to $15,000 offers support to Canadian-owned small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) who want to adopt new digital technologies. Learn more here.
Grow Your Business Online - Micro grants of $2400 are for help with the costs related to adopting digital technologies for small for-profit business based in Canada. Business must commit to maintaining digital adoption strategy for six months after participation in the program. Learn more here.
Main Street Innovation Fund - Provides funding to Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and not-for-profit organizations with ties to the business community to test innovative and creative solutions to local challenges and share their findings/results with others in the city of Toronto. Grants for $25,000-$50,000. Apply by 3/31/22. Learn more here.
She's Next Grant Program (Visa and iFundwomen) - Canadian women entrepreneurs can apply for a chance to receive one of ten grants for $10,000 each and one year of mentorship support to further develop their businesses. Apply by 3/15/22. Learn more here.
UPCOMING WEBINARS
The organization “Start Small Think Big” is a nonprofit that supports women entrepreneurs. They have upcoming free Spanish and English webinars:
IFundWomen of Color is supercharging access to funding and resources for diverse founders by hosting a pitch competition that will award exceptional women of color entrepreneurs with grants and coaching memberships to drive their businesses forward. Join us for a live, virtual pitch event which will include audience voting, feedback from a judges panel, and $30,000 in grants and prizes.
Our mission every day at IFundWomen is to close the funding gap for women-owned businesses and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate Women's History Month than to announce our second annual IFundWomen Entrepreneur of the Year program! Through this program, one grand prize winner will be rewarded with a $100K equity investment, plus access to premium educational resources and a ton of recognition as the best and brightest of 2022 through press and social coverage. Need we say more?
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’ve partnered with Clearco on a special edition of ClearPitch—an exclusive data-driven pitch competition for the boldest, most innovative female founders and women-owned businesses in the online space! Through this program, three high-growth companies will be selected to pitch their business to an esteemed panel of judges, and win up to $100K in prizes, including a $25K cash prize to support you in your business growth. Applications are open until March 13, 2022!
Last call for Visa Canada She's Next Grant Program!
Visa is providing more funding opportunities for women-owned businesses in Canada, in partnership with IFundWomen. As part of Visa’s continued commitment to support small businesses, 10 exceptional women entrepreneurs will be selected to receive a $10,000 CAD grant plus a one-year annual IFundWomen Coaching Membership. Don't miss out on this opportunity—there's still time to apply! Applications close on March 15, 2022 at 11:59pm PT.
We are excited to bring you another informational and networking program – “Women & Wealth – Insights to Build Your Business.” This program is jointly presented by WVF and JP Morgan Chase’s (JPMC) Minority Entrepreneurs Division.
Topic: How to make your small business more agile Date: February 29, Tuesday Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM EST We will cover…
how being agile can keep your operations running efficiently.
the benefits of small business owners in adapting agility
leveraging strategies and tools to embed and sustain agility.
We have changed the format of the workshop as we have networking and learning--all rolled into one workshop. This workshop includes…
panel discussion by owners on the successes and failures of their agility measures
a brief overview by JP Morgan on small business agility and how to achieve it
small-sized breakout sessions to meet your peers and discuss agility challenges
highlights of the breakout sessions and tips on applying your learning
Join us and help us make this program successful. It is an ideal meeting format to get to know other entrepreneurs and tap the expertise of JPMC’s business team.
Join the U.S. Small Business Administration on March 31, 2022 for an online event celebrating Women’s History Month. You will hear from industry experts including Natalie Madeira Cofield, SBA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Women’s Business Ownership; Candace Waterman, President and CEO of the Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP); and Alisa Sheard, SBA Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development.
The discussion will focus on financial wellness for women-owned small businesses, the importance of increasing equity and access to opportunities that help uplift and support women entrepreneurs, and SBA initiatives and resources that support existing women-owned small businesses and new startups as they pivot and grow in a post-COVID world.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, join the SBA's Office of Women’s Business Ownership and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center for the virtual Women’s Business Summit on March 29-30, 2022. The free event will include power-packed panels, inspirational fireside chats, and 'Ask an Expert' workshops to help you build, scale, and grow your business. Panels and discussion topics include:
Innovation and Investment
Building an Equitable Recovery Framework for Women Entrepreneurs
From Essential Worker to Essential Entrepreneur: CARE Economy Entrepreneurship Opportunities
The $100B Marketplace: Contracting Opportunities for Women-led Firms
Exporting & E-Commerce
The Changing Landscape for Entertainment and Hospitality Industries
In celebration of Women's History Month, we are highlighting small business owners like Princess Ousley who is making an impact on the economy and her community. Over a decade ago, Ousley and her business partner founded Florida-based Elite Business Strategies, an 8(a) firm. Ousley worked with her local Small Business Development Center, which helped her forecast business growth and connect with a Procurement Center Representative.
Ousley developed a crisis management plan and added a supply component to the business. This proved critical when the pandemic first hit and the demand for personal protective equipment soared. Through her established business relationships, Ousley was able to boost supplies, helping to meet the needs of federal agencies.
Join the SBA and Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI) for a webinar on March 16, 2022 to learn about critical resources and information including how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the American Rescue Plan, and Made in America create opportunities to help small businesses thrive.
Wednesday, March 16 Two Sessions: 12-2 PM and 4-7 PM
Job hunting should not take weeks; start and end your search in one day! Attend the Job Fair at the JCC and meet dozens of potential employers, participate in on-the-spot interviews, and walk away with a new outlook on where your life is going. The JCC Job fair has something for everyone whether you are looking for a part time gig, a summer job, a new career, or just a change.
Come during you lunch hour or after traditional work hours- 2 sessions to make our fair accessible and easy for all.
Come prepared with your resume and references to take advantage of on the spot interviews and leave a great first impression. Engage with employers in our community!
The Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award recognizes 30 small businesses for their exceptional involvement in their communities. You could be a winner, getting $10,000 for your business to continue to make a difference.
ENTERING IS EASY. Just answer a few questions about how your business contributes to your community, and how you would continue to do so with the prize money. Entries are only accepted for one more week (ending March 17). There’s no time to waste — enter now!
Big announcement last week – Bank of America committed to doubling the size of the Women’s Entrepreneurship program to 100,000 seats! (and the graphic in the press release isn't a stock photo - those are actual grads of the program - yay!)
If you know someone who would benefit from this program, pleaseencourage them to put their name on our waitlist ASAP. (If you know someone interested in taking our program in Spanish, we are currently enrolling for that program here.)
Lots of other opportunities floating around - the following list includes links to funding, accelerators, incubators and general resources. Cornell has no affiliation with these organizations - so any specific questions should be directed to them.
CTIA Wireless Foundation recently launched Catalyst 2022, its competitive grants program for social entrepreneurs using the power of 5G and leading edge wireless technologies to enhance our lives and address challenges in American communities.
Catalyst seeks to fund solutions that take advantage of the speed, efficiency and versatility of 5G and leading edge wireless technologies to deepen our connection to one another and make our communities stronger.
Are you a social entrepreneur using 5G or do you know one? Please share this opportunity with your network. Catalyst will award over $200,000 in unrestricted grant awards and first round applications are due April 7, 2022 at 11: 59 pm ET.
Hilton Diversity Advancement Fund Grant Program! Application Deadline 3/25 at 5pm EST
Calling all certified minority, woman-owned, disabled, veteran, and LGBTQ small businesses – pitch your business by March 25th to win a $10,000 grant!
The Supplier Diversity team at Hilton Supply Management (HSM) is now taking submissions for its Diversity Advancement Fund. This annual grant of $10,000 is given to a certified diverse small business that has the greatest impact on economic development strategies designed to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship.
Save the Date: 2022 ByBlack Conference at the MGM National Harbor
A hybrid curated experience produced in partnership with U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, Inc.
We are the voice consumers and corporations trust when making a decision to “Buy Black”. We are the verified resource and community providing support for businesses and broadcasters of all sizes. Connect, grow and promote your business at the ByBlack Conference October 19-21, 2022.
Join us online as we provide tools of empowerment from our global network of Black-owned media outlets and businesses.
More information coming soon!
Talks of Increased Tax Incentives for Innovation in Small Biz: Update Provided by Prism Group
A group of roughly 15 Senators have expressed their hopes for a larger tax break for small businesses who contribute to the innovation landscape in the US, including those who routinely conduct research and development activities. The two lead Senators on the issue, Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN), argue that the effort would bolster job growth and domestic investment. The two Senators led a bipartisan letter urging leadership to expand the research and development tax credit for small businesses to further incentivize innovation in the American economy.
White House Infrastructure School: Law Guidebook & Webinar Series
Last month, following the signing of the bipartisan infrastructure law in November, the White House released an infrastructure law guidebook. The guidebook is meant to provide information to American communities, so they know what to apply for, who to contact, and how to get ready to rebuild.
This guidebook is a roadmap to the funding available under the law, as well as an explanatory document that shows direct federal spending at the program level.
Continuous updates can be found online at www.build.gov.
To help partners better understand the programs within the guidebook, the White House also launched its Infrastructure School, a series twelve webinars to provide an in-depth look at the programs contained within each of the twelve major chapters in the Infrastructure Law guidebook.
Greenwood Women's Business Center Grand Opening Livestreamed from Tulsa Mar 16, 2022 at 12pm Noon ET
The grand opening of the Greenwood Women's Business Center takes place Wednesday, March 16, 2022 from 12 noon EST/11:00 am CST - 4:00 pm EST/3:00 pm CST at our new location. We unveil the state-of-the-art facility at 102 North Greenwood Avenue, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Tulsa, OK 74120.
We're excited about working with the Greenwood Tulsa community and expanding our reach to bring local resources, SBA products, local colleges and universities, along with committed partners and resources like META, LYFT, and others, to the Original Black Wall Street. Stay tuned for updates on the remarkable women served by the Greenwood Chamber and Greenwood WBC
PPP2 Loan Forgiveness Process Webinar Mar 17, 2022 at 2:00 PM ET
Register to learn more about the loan forgiveness process. This webinar will cover how lenders are participating in direct forgiveness along with how to compile documentation. Business owners should attend to learn all about the process related to the forgiveness of loans under the SBA's Payroll Protection Program.
Preparing for Tax Season Mar 22, 2022 at 2:00 PM ET
It's Tax Season! Come listen and learn about the most current information on processing your 2021 Federal Tax Filings! In this interactive virtual webinar you will learn about (1) the most current tax filing requirements, (2) implications of PPP and EIDL (3) the most recent adjustments to certain filing due dates, credits, deductions and provisions to help you manage your small business filing tasks. Register today! Space is limited!
CALLING ALL WOMEN OF COLOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN NEW YORK STATE (ALL COUNTIES).
You experienced challenges related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but your passion and drive could not be extinguished. You found a way to pivot and survive, but you still need support in order to grow and thrive. The HerRise PitchFest, sponsored by National Grid is providing one small business with a $5,000 equity free grant.
Applications are open until March 22, 2022 at 11:59 PM PT for the WBENC Collegiate Accelerator, previously the WBENC Student Entrepreneur Program, a premier startup program that fosters growth for the next generation of female founders and women-owned businesses. Seed capital grants will be awarded to the most disruptive and innovative businesses.
Help us spread the word about the 2022 Collegiate Accelerator! Please share this announcement with any aspiring collegiate female entrepreneurs (or recent graduates) that may be interested.
Aspiring collegiate female entrepreneurs (or recent graduates) accepted into the WBENC Collegiate Accelerator will learn to grow and scale their businesses through tailored entrepreneurship curriculum, focused on the fundamentals of growth, marketing, business strategy, leadership, and the essentials for an effective pitch. They receive mentoring from some of the most successful women-owned businesses and America’s largest Fortune 500 companies, while also participating in a showcase of their product or service to WBENC Corporate Members, a pitch competition, and join an alumni community of 200+ female founders.
Collegiate Accelerator participants will also have the opportunity to participate in NextGen & NextGen Pitch Intensive continuing August through October 2022.
We wanted to share another great opportunity that will help you take your business to the next level! Check out the information below to learn more about the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab.
One Million Black Women: Black in Business is a free 12-week business education program. Participants will learn how to better understand their finances, hire their first employee, price their products or services, and much more – at no cost to the business owner. Applications close March 15th 2022.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, join the SBA's Office of Women’s Business Ownership and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center for the virtual Women’s Business Summit on March 29-30, 2022. The free event will include power-packed panels, inspirational fireside chats, and 'Ask an Expert' workshops to help you build, scale, and grow your business. Panels and discussion topics include:
Innovation and Investment
Building an Equitable Recovery Framework for Women Entrepreneurs
From Essential Worker to Essential Entrepreneur: CARE Economy Entrepreneurship Opportunities
The $100B Marketplace: Contracting Opportunities for Women-led Firms
Exporting & E-Commerce
The Changing Landscape for Entertainment and Hospitality Industries
Only a few days left to register virtually for the 2022 USBC Women’s History Month Luncheon to celebrate the Giants of Women's Entrepreneurship and empowering WOMEN, powered by AT&T and The Humanity of Connection.
What makes this luncheon so unique is that the honorees are the women who serve as driving forces in their industries. USBC values women who are influential among their peers, who are acclaimed by their industries, and who have made outstanding contributions to society regardless of age or occupation.
This event is not only a celebration of women but also encourages empowerment, fosters community, and champions entrepreneurship. Guests will hear from global speakers and visionaries, who are advancing women across the world at this hallmark event. Register now to attend this event where guests will hear from global speakers and visionaries, who are advancing women across the world.
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