Private Business and Commerce Grants

This competition provides independent small business owners in the U.S. with the opportunity to showcase their resilience and innovation for a chance to win cash prizes and gain national exposure.

This program provides financial support to LGBTQ+-owned and allied restaurants, cafes, and bars to help them thrive and recover.

This grant provides financial support to small businesses in the U.S. that need a commercial vehicle to grow, specifically targeting those with ten or fewer employees and under $5 million in annual revenue.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and community groups in Washington, DC, to create Family Success Centers that help vulnerable families improve their economic stability and access essential resources in underserved neighborhoods.

This grant provides funding for organizations in Minnesota and Wisconsin to implement impactful water quality improvement projects and promote environmental stewardship within their communities.

This funding opportunity supports researchers conducting in-depth studies on job quality and labor market changes in the U.S., particularly in relation to technology and economic shifts.

The Oregon Community Foundation is offering a grant of $10,000 to $100,000 for projects that enhance economic vitality and workforce development in specified Oregon counties, with priority given to initiatives that improve prosperity, tax base, competitiveness, workforce skills, and image of the region, and can be used for equipment, facility upgrades, start-up costs, and other necessary services.

The Alaska Community Foundation (ACF) is seeking applications for its Kodiak Community Foundation Grants program, targeting charitable organizations and programs within the Kodiak Archipelago Area. This grant opportunity aligns with the ACF's broader mission to support diverse community needs, with a focus on local impact in the Kodiak region. The program aims to address a wide range of needs, ensuring that funding contributes to the well-being and development of the community. The target beneficiaries of these grants are charitable organizations and programs operating in the Kodiak Archipelago. The impact goals are broad, encompassing health and wellness, education, outdoor activities, arts and culture, and community development. The foundation's strategic priority is to empower local initiatives that directly benefit the residents of the Kodiak area, reflecting a theory of change that grassroots efforts are crucial for sustainable community growth. The program prioritizes projects that address a broad spectrum of community needs. While specific outcomes are not rigidly defined beyond these categories, the expectation is that funded projects will contribute to an improved quality of life, enhanced community resources, and increased opportunities for residents in the aforementioned areas. Measurable results would likely be defined by individual grant recipients based on their specific project goals, within the broader framework of the foundation's focus areas. Funding information indicates average awards range from $1,000 to $3,000, with a potential for higher or lower amounts, and grant projects must be completed within one year of the award. The eligibility criteria emphasize support for 501(c)(3) public charitable organizations, faith-based organizations providing social services, federally recognized Tribes or Tribal non-profit organizations, and city or borough governments. This structured approach ensures that resources are directed towards credible and impactful entities capable of delivering on the grant's objectives.

The Fairfield County's Community Foundation is offering the Greater Bridgeport Grant: Arts in the Service of Equity, a 3-year renewable grant opportunity. This initiative stems from the foundation's belief in the power of arts and culture to amplify community voice, change narratives, promote inclusivity, and transform communities. The grant specifically focuses on arts innovation for systems change in Greater Bridgeport, honoring the legacy of the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation, which merged with Fairfield County's Community Foundation in 2008. With a total funding pool of $1 million, this grant will support up to three collaborative projects in Greater Bridgeport. Each selected project will receive general operating support over three years, with the largest portion of funding in the first year and smaller wind-down grants in subsequent years. This flexible funding approach allows collaborating organizations to allocate resources in ways that best support their project goals and objectives, aiming to leverage the arts to accelerate and catalyze social change within the community. The grant targets Arts and Culture-focused organizations within Greater Bridgeport whose work directly benefits residents of the eligible communities: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, and Trumbull. A strong emphasis is placed on impact for Black, Indigenous, and People of color (BiPoC) and low-to-moderate income communities. Competitive proposals must clearly articulate how their work addresses racial inequities in Fairfield County and demonstrate strong partnerships with defined roles and responsibilities. Grassroots, BiPoC-led organizations with systems-level change goals will receive preference, and organizations are encouraged to apply regardless of budget size. Expected outcomes include influencing economic, physical, and social change, with a clear, detailed connection between the project and key results areas. Proposals are required to have a clear three-year project plan/program design with an aligned budget, ensuring a strategic and measurable approach to achieving their social change objectives through artistic and cultural endeavors. This aligns with the foundation's strategic priority of fostering community transformation and addressing systemic inequities through innovative and impactful initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to public agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations for the preservation and interpretation of historic sites along the Route 66 corridor, with a focus on underrepresented communities.

This program recognizes and honors young professionals under 40 in the Denver metro area who demonstrate exceptional leadership, community involvement, and significant career accomplishments.

This funding opportunity supports community-based organizations in small to medium-sized U.S. cities that engage volunteers to assist newcomers with essential resettlement services.

New Mexico Arts offers grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations and other entities for arts and cultural programs, including performing, visual, literary, media, multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary arts, with a focus on equitable distribution of funds across all categories and communities, to be used during the state fiscal year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

The Women’s Fund through Stark Community Foundation in Ohio offers grants ranging from $1000 to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations serving women and children in Stark County, focusing on economic stability, mental health support, and neighborhood-based programming.

This program provides $5,000 grants to small businesses in Woodbridge, New Jersey, to support their growth and development while fostering local economic vitality.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations in the Pacific Northwest working to address environmental justice and public health challenges in historically underinvested communities.

This funding opportunity provides $2,500 to small U.S.-based for-profit businesses with at least two years of operation and annual revenues of $50,000, helping them achieve stability and growth through essential expenses and business development tools.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for innovative marketing projects that promote tourism and boost the local economy in the Tillamook Coast area.

This funding is available to dental practices in Arkansas that were temporarily closed due to tornado damage, helping them recover and resume patient care.

The Riverside Small & Micro Business Grant Program is a City of Riverside initiative designed to foster local small business resiliency by offering grant awards of up to $25,000 to qualified businesses. This program aligns with a mission to support long-term economic stability and growth within the community, addressing not only ongoing pandemic recovery needs but also promoting access to valuable partner resources. The program's foundation is rooted in the Department of Treasury State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), demonstrating a commitment to enhancing financial stability for small businesses. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant program are small and micro businesses located within Riverside city limits, particularly those in disadvantaged communities. The program focuses on businesses with under 50 employees, an annual gross revenue between $10,000 and $2,500,000, and those that can demonstrate a COVID-19 financial impact. By targeting these specific businesses, the program aims to reduce barriers to success and promote equitable economic development. A key priority of the Riverside Small & Micro Business Grant Program is to offer direct financial support, with grant sizes ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Beyond monetary aid, the program also emphasizes capacity building through a FREE one-on-one Strategic Planning Consultation. These consultations are designed to help applicants identify opportunities for improvement, develop customized strategies for increased financial stability, and build long-term sustainability. The focus is on holistic support, extending beyond immediate financial relief to include strategic planning and resource connection. The expected outcomes of this program include enhanced financial stability, long-term sustainability, and increased capacity for success among Riverside's small and micro businesses. Measurable results will likely stem from the improved financial health of participating businesses, their ability to sustain operations, and their growth within the community. The program's strategic priorities are centered on recovery, resiliency, and growth, operating under a theory of change that postulates that by providing financial assistance and strategic guidance, small businesses will be better equipped to overcome challenges, thrive, and contribute to the local economy.