Private Business and Commerce Grants

This funding opportunity supports local artists in Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga Counties to create new public art projects that engage and involve their communities.

The Ìpàdé Tanna Fund is a giving circle dedicated to awarding microgrants to early-stage Black women and gender-expansive innovators in the Washington, DC metro area. This initiative directly aligns with Ìpàdé's mission to contribute to the growth and success of Black innovators, recognizing the historical and current systemic barriers, including racism, that lead to funding disparities for Black business owners. The fund aims to address these inequities by providing crucial capital and support to launch transformative business ideas. The target beneficiaries of the Tanna Fund are Black women and gender-expansive entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of launching their businesses. The impact goals are centered on fostering economic empowerment and reducing the funding gap experienced by Black innovators. By providing microgrants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, the Tanna Fund seeks to enable these entrepreneurs to establish and sustain their businesses, thereby contributing to wealth creation and community development. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly defined by its eligibility criteria. Applicants must identify as a woman or gender-expansive person and as Black or of African Descent. Their business structure must be established or formally established within six months, and they must have received less than $5,000 in previous grant funding. Furthermore, the business must be based in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC. These criteria ensure that the grants are directed to those most in need and most aligned with the fund's objectives. The expected outcomes include an increase in the number of successful Black-owned businesses in the Washington, DC region, improved access to early-stage capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs, and a reduction in the disparities in business funding. Measurable results would include the number of microgrants awarded, the survival rates of grantee businesses, and the growth in revenue or employment among these businesses. The Tanna Fund's strategic priority is to dismantle systemic barriers to economic success for Black innovators, operating under the theory of change that targeted financial support and resources at critical early stages can significantly mitigate the effects of systemic racism and foster entrepreneurial success within this demographic.

The Rise Challenge is an innovation contest designed to address the systemic challenges faced by entrepreneurs of color in establishing and expanding their businesses. This program directly aligns with Prosperity Now's mission to foster economic access and opportunities, particularly for communities that are disproportionately impacted by economic disparities. The contest serves as a mechanism to generate innovative ideas and solutions that can bridge the capital gap and other barriers that hinder the growth of businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color. The primary target beneficiaries of the Rise Challenge are entrepreneurs of color, who frequently encounter significant hurdles in securing capital and accessing vital economic opportunities. The program aims to alleviate these challenges by fostering an environment where new solutions can emerge, ultimately leading to greater market competitiveness and wealth accumulation for these entrepreneurs. The broader impact goal is to create more equitable economic conditions within underserved markets by strengthening the ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs of color. A key priority of the Rise Challenge is to support the development of non-profit loan funds, especially those facilitated by Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). These institutions play a crucial role in providing much-needed capital to economically underserved markets, where traditional financial avenues may be limited. The contest focuses on identifying and rewarding innovative approaches that enhance the effectiveness and reach of such financial mechanisms, thereby empowering entrepreneurs who have historically faced capital constraints. The expected outcomes of the Rise Challenge include the identification and implementation of innovative solutions that address economic access and opportunity disparities. Measurable results will include the recognition and funding of promising initiatives, with three prize tiers: $75,000 for the First Place Team, $50,000 for the Second Place Team, and $25,000 for the Third Place Team. These awards are intended to catalyze the development and scaling of solutions that can drive real change in the economic landscape for entrepreneurs of color, aligning with Prosperity Now's strategic priorities to promote inclusive economic growth and wealth building.

This funding program provides financial support for building and business improvements in downtown Jamestown, including a new grant for planning future projects, aimed at local businesses and organizations looking to revitalize the area.

The Community Climate Collaborative Energy Efficiency Grants program offers funding to small businesses for upgrades aimed at improving energy efficiency. This includes enhancements to appliances, lighting, and heating/cooling systems. The program's core objective is to facilitate emissions reductions and generate financial savings for businesses through strategic capital investments. While not explicitly stating the "foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change" in a separate section, the program's focus on emissions reduction directly aligns with a broader mission of combating climate change, which is implicitly the strategic priority of an organization named "Community Climate Collaborative." The target beneficiaries of this grant program are small businesses operating within the City of Charlottesville or Albemarle County, Virginia. Specifically, eligible businesses must hold a business license in one of these locations and qualify as a Microbusiness according to Virginia SBSD criteria, meaning they have 25 employees or fewer. The program also prioritizes Woman- or Minority-owned Businesses, as defined by Virginia SBSD criteria, and encourages SWaM certification or equivalent documentation. This focused approach aims to empower local, smaller enterprises in their transition to more sustainable operations. The program's priorities and focuses are squarely on tangible energy efficiency upgrades that yield demonstrable savings in energy usage and/or a reduction in emissions. This indicates a results-oriented approach where the proposed upgrades must show a clear environmental benefit and potentially economic advantage for the grantee. The maximum grant amount of $2,000 per project highlights an emphasis on supporting numerous smaller-scale, impactful interventions rather than fewer large-scale projects, making the grants accessible to a wider range of microbusinesses. The expected outcomes and measurable results of these grants include both environmental and economic benefits. On the environmental front, the primary outcome is the reduction of emissions, contributing to local climate goals. Economically, businesses are expected to achieve financial savings due to decreased energy consumption. The requirement for proposed upgrades to have "demonstrable savings of energy usage and/or reduction of emissions" signifies a commitment to measurable impact, ensuring that the allocated funds lead to verifiable improvements. The program's design implicitly supports a theory of change where targeted financial assistance for energy efficiency upgrades directly leads to reduced environmental impact and improved economic resilience for small businesses in the local community.

This funding opportunity provides $25,000 to eligible nonprofit organizations in North Carolina to support small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 for growth investments that enhance community vitality and economic resilience.

This program provides training, mentorship, and funding for underserved agricultural entrepreneurs in the U.S. to help them develop and scale their businesses, ultimately benefiting their communities.

This grant provides $25,000 and mentorship to early-stage climate technology companies in Illinois, helping them develop innovative solutions that positively impact the environment.

The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) is pleased to announce the Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant Program, an open and responsive grantmaking opportunity designed to offer flexible funding to organizations. This program aligns with OCF's mission to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion by supporting Oregon's diverse regions and populations. The Foundation is committed to funding across all regions of Oregon, including remote, rural, suburban, and urban communities, and prioritizes investments that creatively address needs and position entrepreneurs to thrive. The Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant specifically targets entrepreneurs who are women, people of color, living in under-resourced rural communities, or working in under-resourced sectors such as consumer products. The program's impact goals include providing flexible funding and prioritized support to organizations serving these priority populations. OCF anticipates awarding $750,000 in 2024, with each grant lasting for one year (12 months), aiming to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem for these underserved groups. Key priorities for the Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant include addressing clear and compelling business community needs, with goals relevant to Oregon's entrepreneurs, including small and micro businesses. Proposals that demonstrate cultural expertise of staff and board when serving specific populations, show meaningful leadership or influence from people with lived experience, reflect realistic goals and solid planning, and demonstrate strong potential to build organizational stability, effectiveness, or capacity are highly valued. Strong community support, a clear communication of OCF's impact, and a realistic plan for securing remaining funds are also critical considerations. The OCF's strategic priorities and theory of change are reflected in its guiding principles: valuing Oregon’s diverse regions and populations, advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion through funding, and prioritizing investments that demonstrate strong community support, solid planning, and wise stewardship. Expected outcomes include positioning entrepreneurs to thrive in Oregon and fostering positive, substantive change. The Foundation prioritizes organizations that primarily serve one or more of the identified priority populations, are reasonably positioned for long-term organizational viability, support OCF in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion, and reflect a strengths-based orientation.

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute's Community Partnership Program (CPP) is designed to cultivate sustainable collaborations with Oregon communities to address identified cancer needs. The program's mission is to partner with these communities as allies in the Knight Cancer Institute's goal of ending cancer. This aligns with a broader strategic priority to enhance community-OHSU collaboration on local cancer issues and disparities, fostering long-term sustainability of local efforts. The CPP targets various Oregon community groups, including organizations, schools, government bodies, health/medical clinics, health systems, and businesses. A key focus is on proposals that address cancer-related health disparities and increase equity for historically disadvantaged and/or marginalized Oregon communities. Organizations led by and/or committed to serving these populations are highly encouraged to apply, underscoring the program's commitment to equitable cancer outcomes. The program's priorities revolve around supporting communities in identifying and addressing pressing cancer-related needs, enhancing collaboration, and building community skills for sustainable long-term efforts. This is operationalized through three grant tiers. Tier 1, "Define Need," focuses on developing local action plans through needs assessments or committee formation. Tier 2, "Develop and Pilot," supports the development and piloting of programs to address priority cancer issues or disparities. Tier 3, "Evaluate and Sustain," aims to evaluate existing approaches and establish sustainability strategies. Expected outcomes include communities effectively identifying their most pressing cancer-related needs, increased collaboration between OHSU and local communities, and enhanced capacity within communities to sustain efforts addressing local cancer issues. Measurable results would be tied to the specific objectives of each tier, such as the completion of community cancer needs assessments (Tier 1), the successful piloting of new programs (Tier 2), and the evaluation and sustained implementation of effective approaches (Tier 3). The overall impact goal is to collectively work towards ending cancer as communities know it, with a strong emphasis on reducing health disparities.

This program provides financial support to small businesses owned by veterans and military spouses, helping them grow and strengthen their operations.

This grant provides financial and volunteer support to nonprofit organizations in the Sacramento area that focus on youth development and promote diversity, equity, and community empowerment.

This grant provides funding for community-driven projects in New Bedford, Massachusetts, that enhance public spaces and promote cultural preservation, inclusivity, and engagement among residents and visitors.

The Gener8tor has introduced the gBETA Oklahoma City Accelerator, a free seven-week program for early-stage companies based in Oklahoma City, offering coaching, mentorship, investor pitches, and over $1M in deals and perks to help local businesses grow and become investor-ready.

Mountain BizWorks in North Carolina is offering 20 micro-grants of $2,500 each to startups and emerging businesses owned by historically underrepresented groups, aiming to support their growth and contribution to the local community.

This grant provides financial support to established livestock farmers in select New England counties to implement regenerative agriculture practices that enhance soil health, water quality, and pollinator habitats.

The Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice (SRRJ) Expansion/Growth Grant supports Black-owned restaurants and food businesses across the United States by providing financial assistance aimed at start-up costs, business improvements, and sustainability efforts. Originating in 2020 as a coalition focused on aiding Black-owned restaurants during the Covid-19 pandemic, SRRJ has since partnered with The LEE Initiative and has raised over $4 million in corporate funding. The grants are part of an ongoing effort to preserve and promote Black culinary traditions and leadership. For 2024, each grant will be awarded in the amount of $20,000. The deadline for applications is September 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST.

This funding opportunity provides financial support and mentorship to U.S.-based businesses focused on innovative, sustainable practices in the fashion industry.

This grant provides financial support to Indiana-based charitable organizations focused on transforming the industrial workforce through education and training in various technical and leadership fields.

Feet First Philly's Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant, ranging from $500 to $2000, supports projects that enhance walkability and safety in public spaces across Philadelphia, with applications open to organizations, businesses, and individuals, provided the enhancements are not used for financial gain.