Post by freefundingdeal on May 8, 2020 15:24:54 GMT
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startup grants
Free money to start your business – isn’t that every entrepreneur’s wildest dream? It’s too bad that startup grants are so hard to come by. You can think of business grants sort of like scholarships for adults. Just as with a scholarship, you have to convince the grant-issuer that a) you will put the funds to really good use and b) you are more deserving of the money than other applicants.
There are many types of business grants offered by myriad organizations, both public and private. As you might figure, eligibility requirements vary for different grants. In general, though, only certain types of businesses are eligible for grants. These include businesses belonging to economically disadvantaged demographics such as Native American Indian tribe members, single mothers, and veterans returning to civilian life. There are also grants for innovative businesses breaking new frontiers that benefit society—think green tech startups, doctors, and scientists.
In this post, I’ll talk about the types of businesses that might qualify for a startup grant, and give a few examples of organizations that offer grants to these businesses.
If you belong to any of the following business categories, you might eligible for a startup grant.
Everything you need to know about small business grants
Learn More About Our Preferred Lenders
Company Summary Next Steps
Fundera is a business funding matchmaker who will match you up with other business funders you may be qualified for. Fundera is a good place to start your search for business funding, including SBA/PPP loans. Not only is Fundera convenient and helpful, but they have transparent terms and fees.
Get Started
See Our Review
Lendio is a business financing platform that matches customers to funders, including SBA/PPP lenders. It has a relaxed credit score requirement and there’s no fee for using the service.
Get Started
See Our Review
Credibly is an online lender that offers short-term financing in the form of business loans and merchant cash advances, including SBA/PPP loans. Credibly’s qualifications are much lower but its origination fee is high. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have access to other financing options, Credibly might be the lender that works for your business.
Get Started
See Our Review
BlueVine is an online lending service that's suited for small businesses. It offers SBA/PPP loans, term loans, lines of credit, and invoice factoring. BlueVine is one of the most accessible invoice factors available and a good choice for B2B businesses.
Get Started
See Our Review
OnDeck is a hugely prolific online small business lender and offers two types of business loans: short term loans and revolving lines of credit. Despite potential drawbacks, if you need a fast loan or don’t qualify elsewhere, it's hard to beat OnDeck.
Get Started
See Our Review
See more options
Table of Contents [show]
Innovators
Many startup grants are for innovators and businesses that contribute valuable creations to society. These grants are generally for entrepreneurs in the fields of technology, medicine, science, agriculture, education, and research and development. Here are some grants you might qualify for if your business falls into this category.
Grants.gov
While this is the one-stop shop for all U.S. government grants, the majority of these grants go toward businesses and nonprofits in science, medicine, and R&D.
Search for grants on Grants.gov or check your eligibility to apply for a grant from the federal government.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
From The Small Business Innovation Research website:
The SBIR program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization.
This US government-funded program awards grants of up to $150K in Phase I of funding. Depending on the results achieved after six months, recipients may receive up to $1 million over the next two years (Phase II). Phase III, when applicable, involves the commercialization of the product you’ve developed.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)
The U.S. Economic Development Administration is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce that focuses on sustainable job growth by way of regional investment and strategy. The bureau offers a number of grants for businesses, some of which are aimed at research and development. Startups operating in economically distressed areas may also have some additional opportunities here.
Green Businesses
There are some public and private grants for green businesses, including startups. Generally, these grants cover the cost of installing sustainable infrastructure and/or energy systems.
Rural Energy For America Program
As part of the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), this program awards renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement grants. Grants are awarded to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)
Operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE keeps an active database of green energy incentives across the country. Since most green energy grants are offered at the state level, it’s a great resource for finding grants in all 50 states.
Rural Businesses
Various grants aim to stimulate the economy in rural and economically distressed areas. These grants serve to attract new businesses to struggling regions. Depending on where you are opening your business or nonprofit — and the specifics of your organization’s goals –, you might eligible for some of this grant money.
Rural Business Development
This grant is specifically for nonprofit and public entities. From their website:
This program is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas which will employ 50 or fewer new employees and has less than $1 million in gross revenue.
From the same agency, rural farmers/agricultural producers might be eligible for the Value Added Producer grant, while for-profit businesses that provide education or health care to rural areas through telecommunications might be eligible for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant.
U.S. Economic Development Assistance Grants
From their website:
EDA supports development in economically distressed areas of the United States by fostering job creation and attracting private investment. Specifically, under the Economic Development Assistance programs (EDAP) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), EDA will make construction, non-construction, and revolving loan fund investments under the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Programs.
Interested? Check out the EDA’s grantee resources.
Women-Owned Businesses
There are certain business grants you might be eligible for if you are a female entrepreneur. Additionally, some grant money goes to businesses that create solutions that benefit women and families.
Amber Grants
Amber Grants is an organization that awards $2,000 to a woman-owned business every month, and at the end of the year, one of the 12 monthly qualification winners wins another grant for $10,000. These grants do not have any particular qualification criteria, other than that recipients must be female entrepreneurs (age 18 and up) living in the United States or Canada. Amber Grants are open to any type of business and you can apply online.
The Girlboss Foundation
The Girlboss Foundation awards $15,000 grants on a biannual basis to female-identifying entrepreneurs and helps promote winning businesses through its platform.
Chicago Foundation For Women
Women living in the Chicago metropolitan area are eligible to apply for a grant to start a new business through this nonprofit fund. Grants range from $15,000 to $150,000. These grants are very competitive and are only available to businesses that benefit women’s economic security, freedom from violence, and/or access to health care.
There’s a bit more to business grants for women:
Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit startups that have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS are eligible for some government and private grant money. In fact, you’re much more likely to be awarded a grant if you run a nonprofit organization, as opposed to a for-profit business. While there are tons of nonprofit grants, I won’t spend too much time on this section, assuming this audience is mostly for-profit entrepreneurs.
Wells Fargo Community Giving Grants
These grants, which you can apply for year-round, are mainly for nonprofits and educational programs, though some small businesses may be eligible as well.
As mentioned, Grants.gov is the main stop for government grants, many of which go to nonprofit causes.
Veteran-Related Businesses
small business loans for veterans
Veteran business grant money includes retraining grants for veterans returning to civilian life and grants to nonprofits providing services to veterans.
StreetShares Commander’s Call Veteran Business Award
This StreetShares program awards annual grants to veterans and spouses of veterans who own small businesses. The first place award is $5,000, the second is $3,000, and third is $2,000.
StreetShares also offers conventional business loans to some small businesses, veteran-owned or otherwise. Head over to our StreetShares review for a rundown on their loan services.
2501 Program
These grants, awarded through the USDA, go to veteran and minority farmers and ranchers. You might think that most startups aren’t in the farming sector, and you’d be right, but ag-tech startups are gaining prominence—think sustainable farming and other “smart” farming practices now possible with the help of new technology.
Go to our full guide on business grants available for veterans
Minority-Owned Businesses
While there are grants designed to benefit various non-white business owner demographics—Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and others—most government grants for minority businesses are specifically for members of federally recognized Native American Tribes. Here are a couple grants that may help fund minority-owned startups.
Community Programs To Improve Minority Health Grant Program
Healthcare-related small businesses can use this grant for programs that provide health services to minorities.
Native Arts Capacity Building Initiative
Offered through the American Indian First Nations Institute, this initiative awards six grants of up to $30,000 each year to Native American institutions that support arts and culture.
Note that while the Minority Business Development Agency offers various resources designed to help minority business owners, this program does not include grants.
Go to our full guide on business grants available for minorities
Just Plain Amazing Small Businesses
loans for business
There are a few general small business grants available to any kind of business, but they are very competitive, so you will need a super impressive story to wow the judges. An impressive track record is a particular challenge for a startup business, which is usually defined as a business that’s been around for less than six months. But hey, if you’ve achieved a lot in just a few months or you have an especially amazing idea, you might want to apply to one of these highly competitive small business grant contests.
⭐️ Featured Marketplace for SBA/PPP Loans ⭐️
Want to outsource the job of comparison shopping for SBA loans or other types of financing? Try Fundera.
Fundera
Get Started
Read our Review
Fundera is a marketplace that gives you access to quotes from a large pool of lenders. This makes it easy to do meaningful side-by-side comparisons with no strings attached, whether you’re looking for an SBA loan or other financing options.
FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
Any type of small business may apply. To give you an idea of what kind of competition you’d be facing, in 2017 there were 4,500 applicants and 10 winners. The grand prize is $25,000, and the other winners in the top ten get $5,000.
Visa’s Everywhere Initiative
This contest awards startups with innovative IT solutions, awarding $50,000 to the top three finalists.
Startup Grant Alternatives
online business loan
Very few private businesses are actually eligible for a business grant. Unless your business or startup is highly innovative and provides a demonstrable benefit to your community or the world at large, unfortunately, you are probably not grant-recipient material. Even if you are eligible for some grant money and you make it through the lengthy proposal process, you may only land a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Furthermore, startup grants are particularly hard to come by, as grantees will generally want to see what kind of results you’ve achieved on other projects carried out by your organization. Don’t fall for government grant scams that will have you believe there are piles of free grant money out there for the taking—this is not the case at all.
So, rather than hoping to be among the fortunate few who are granted free money, you might want to look into grant alternatives for your business.
Startup grant alternatives include crowdfunding, online loans, equipment financing, and others. Some examples might include:
Launch a Kickstarter campaign
Get a 0% interest crowdfunded loan from Kiva U.S.
Get a startup loan from Credibly
Review
Visit Site
Must be in business at least 6 months with a revenue of $15,000 per month.
Must have a personal credit score of 500 or above.
Borrower requirements (click to expand)
Apply for a PayPal Working Capital loan
Use Fundable for equity-based business crowdfunding
For more ideas on how to get the seed money for your new business endeavor, check out our article on the best ways to finance a business startup.
startup grants
Free money to start your business – isn’t that every entrepreneur’s wildest dream? It’s too bad that startup grants are so hard to come by. You can think of business grants sort of like scholarships for adults. Just as with a scholarship, you have to convince the grant-issuer that a) you will put the funds to really good use and b) you are more deserving of the money than other applicants.
There are many types of business grants offered by myriad organizations, both public and private. As you might figure, eligibility requirements vary for different grants. In general, though, only certain types of businesses are eligible for grants. These include businesses belonging to economically disadvantaged demographics such as Native American Indian tribe members, single mothers, and veterans returning to civilian life. There are also grants for innovative businesses breaking new frontiers that benefit society—think green tech startups, doctors, and scientists.
In this post, I’ll talk about the types of businesses that might qualify for a startup grant, and give a few examples of organizations that offer grants to these businesses.
If you belong to any of the following business categories, you might eligible for a startup grant.
Everything you need to know about small business grants
Learn More About Our Preferred Lenders
Company Summary Next Steps
Fundera is a business funding matchmaker who will match you up with other business funders you may be qualified for. Fundera is a good place to start your search for business funding, including SBA/PPP loans. Not only is Fundera convenient and helpful, but they have transparent terms and fees.
Get Started
See Our Review
Lendio is a business financing platform that matches customers to funders, including SBA/PPP lenders. It has a relaxed credit score requirement and there’s no fee for using the service.
Get Started
See Our Review
Credibly is an online lender that offers short-term financing in the form of business loans and merchant cash advances, including SBA/PPP loans. Credibly’s qualifications are much lower but its origination fee is high. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have access to other financing options, Credibly might be the lender that works for your business.
Get Started
See Our Review
BlueVine is an online lending service that's suited for small businesses. It offers SBA/PPP loans, term loans, lines of credit, and invoice factoring. BlueVine is one of the most accessible invoice factors available and a good choice for B2B businesses.
Get Started
See Our Review
OnDeck is a hugely prolific online small business lender and offers two types of business loans: short term loans and revolving lines of credit. Despite potential drawbacks, if you need a fast loan or don’t qualify elsewhere, it's hard to beat OnDeck.
Get Started
See Our Review
See more options
Table of Contents [show]
Innovators
Many startup grants are for innovators and businesses that contribute valuable creations to society. These grants are generally for entrepreneurs in the fields of technology, medicine, science, agriculture, education, and research and development. Here are some grants you might qualify for if your business falls into this category.
Grants.gov
While this is the one-stop shop for all U.S. government grants, the majority of these grants go toward businesses and nonprofits in science, medicine, and R&D.
Search for grants on Grants.gov or check your eligibility to apply for a grant from the federal government.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
From The Small Business Innovation Research website:
The SBIR program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization.
This US government-funded program awards grants of up to $150K in Phase I of funding. Depending on the results achieved after six months, recipients may receive up to $1 million over the next two years (Phase II). Phase III, when applicable, involves the commercialization of the product you’ve developed.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)
The U.S. Economic Development Administration is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce that focuses on sustainable job growth by way of regional investment and strategy. The bureau offers a number of grants for businesses, some of which are aimed at research and development. Startups operating in economically distressed areas may also have some additional opportunities here.
Green Businesses
There are some public and private grants for green businesses, including startups. Generally, these grants cover the cost of installing sustainable infrastructure and/or energy systems.
Rural Energy For America Program
As part of the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), this program awards renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement grants. Grants are awarded to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)
Operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE keeps an active database of green energy incentives across the country. Since most green energy grants are offered at the state level, it’s a great resource for finding grants in all 50 states.
Rural Businesses
Various grants aim to stimulate the economy in rural and economically distressed areas. These grants serve to attract new businesses to struggling regions. Depending on where you are opening your business or nonprofit — and the specifics of your organization’s goals –, you might eligible for some of this grant money.
Rural Business Development
This grant is specifically for nonprofit and public entities. From their website:
This program is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas which will employ 50 or fewer new employees and has less than $1 million in gross revenue.
From the same agency, rural farmers/agricultural producers might be eligible for the Value Added Producer grant, while for-profit businesses that provide education or health care to rural areas through telecommunications might be eligible for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant.
U.S. Economic Development Assistance Grants
From their website:
EDA supports development in economically distressed areas of the United States by fostering job creation and attracting private investment. Specifically, under the Economic Development Assistance programs (EDAP) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), EDA will make construction, non-construction, and revolving loan fund investments under the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Programs.
Interested? Check out the EDA’s grantee resources.
Women-Owned Businesses
There are certain business grants you might be eligible for if you are a female entrepreneur. Additionally, some grant money goes to businesses that create solutions that benefit women and families.
Amber Grants
Amber Grants is an organization that awards $2,000 to a woman-owned business every month, and at the end of the year, one of the 12 monthly qualification winners wins another grant for $10,000. These grants do not have any particular qualification criteria, other than that recipients must be female entrepreneurs (age 18 and up) living in the United States or Canada. Amber Grants are open to any type of business and you can apply online.
The Girlboss Foundation
The Girlboss Foundation awards $15,000 grants on a biannual basis to female-identifying entrepreneurs and helps promote winning businesses through its platform.
Chicago Foundation For Women
Women living in the Chicago metropolitan area are eligible to apply for a grant to start a new business through this nonprofit fund. Grants range from $15,000 to $150,000. These grants are very competitive and are only available to businesses that benefit women’s economic security, freedom from violence, and/or access to health care.
There’s a bit more to business grants for women:
Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit startups that have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS are eligible for some government and private grant money. In fact, you’re much more likely to be awarded a grant if you run a nonprofit organization, as opposed to a for-profit business. While there are tons of nonprofit grants, I won’t spend too much time on this section, assuming this audience is mostly for-profit entrepreneurs.
Wells Fargo Community Giving Grants
These grants, which you can apply for year-round, are mainly for nonprofits and educational programs, though some small businesses may be eligible as well.
As mentioned, Grants.gov is the main stop for government grants, many of which go to nonprofit causes.
Veteran-Related Businesses
small business loans for veterans
Veteran business grant money includes retraining grants for veterans returning to civilian life and grants to nonprofits providing services to veterans.
StreetShares Commander’s Call Veteran Business Award
This StreetShares program awards annual grants to veterans and spouses of veterans who own small businesses. The first place award is $5,000, the second is $3,000, and third is $2,000.
StreetShares also offers conventional business loans to some small businesses, veteran-owned or otherwise. Head over to our StreetShares review for a rundown on their loan services.
2501 Program
These grants, awarded through the USDA, go to veteran and minority farmers and ranchers. You might think that most startups aren’t in the farming sector, and you’d be right, but ag-tech startups are gaining prominence—think sustainable farming and other “smart” farming practices now possible with the help of new technology.
Go to our full guide on business grants available for veterans
Minority-Owned Businesses
While there are grants designed to benefit various non-white business owner demographics—Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and others—most government grants for minority businesses are specifically for members of federally recognized Native American Tribes. Here are a couple grants that may help fund minority-owned startups.
Community Programs To Improve Minority Health Grant Program
Healthcare-related small businesses can use this grant for programs that provide health services to minorities.
Native Arts Capacity Building Initiative
Offered through the American Indian First Nations Institute, this initiative awards six grants of up to $30,000 each year to Native American institutions that support arts and culture.
Note that while the Minority Business Development Agency offers various resources designed to help minority business owners, this program does not include grants.
Go to our full guide on business grants available for minorities
Just Plain Amazing Small Businesses
loans for business
There are a few general small business grants available to any kind of business, but they are very competitive, so you will need a super impressive story to wow the judges. An impressive track record is a particular challenge for a startup business, which is usually defined as a business that’s been around for less than six months. But hey, if you’ve achieved a lot in just a few months or you have an especially amazing idea, you might want to apply to one of these highly competitive small business grant contests.
⭐️ Featured Marketplace for SBA/PPP Loans ⭐️
Want to outsource the job of comparison shopping for SBA loans or other types of financing? Try Fundera.
Fundera
Get Started
Read our Review
Fundera is a marketplace that gives you access to quotes from a large pool of lenders. This makes it easy to do meaningful side-by-side comparisons with no strings attached, whether you’re looking for an SBA loan or other financing options.
FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
Any type of small business may apply. To give you an idea of what kind of competition you’d be facing, in 2017 there were 4,500 applicants and 10 winners. The grand prize is $25,000, and the other winners in the top ten get $5,000.
Visa’s Everywhere Initiative
This contest awards startups with innovative IT solutions, awarding $50,000 to the top three finalists.
Startup Grant Alternatives
online business loan
Very few private businesses are actually eligible for a business grant. Unless your business or startup is highly innovative and provides a demonstrable benefit to your community or the world at large, unfortunately, you are probably not grant-recipient material. Even if you are eligible for some grant money and you make it through the lengthy proposal process, you may only land a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Furthermore, startup grants are particularly hard to come by, as grantees will generally want to see what kind of results you’ve achieved on other projects carried out by your organization. Don’t fall for government grant scams that will have you believe there are piles of free grant money out there for the taking—this is not the case at all.
So, rather than hoping to be among the fortunate few who are granted free money, you might want to look into grant alternatives for your business.
Startup grant alternatives include crowdfunding, online loans, equipment financing, and others. Some examples might include:
Launch a Kickstarter campaign
Get a 0% interest crowdfunded loan from Kiva U.S.
Get a startup loan from Credibly
Review
Visit Site
Must be in business at least 6 months with a revenue of $15,000 per month.
Must have a personal credit score of 500 or above.
Borrower requirements (click to expand)
Apply for a PayPal Working Capital loan
Use Fundable for equity-based business crowdfunding
For more ideas on how to get the seed money for your new business endeavor, check out our article on the best ways to finance a business startup.