White Papers & Insights - Diversity in Technology | digitalundivided

15 August Grants You Need to Apply to Right Now! — digitalundivided

Written by digitalundivided | Aug 5, 2023 4:00:00 AM

Image via pexels

From Spokane to NYC to your Venmo app, this month’s list of local, national, and brand-powered grants will make your company’s bank account happy. Grant sizes range from $500 to $200,000, and application deadlines vary from August 4th to August 31st. So, what are you waiting for? Don’t leave money on the table — apply for these grants today!

Please Note: descriptions of grants were pulled directly from grant websites. Please click on the name of the grant to link to the source for more information.

AccelerateHer Fund

It provides grants of up to $50,000 to support women entrepreneurs building breakthrough technologies or tech-enabled companies.

Sponsor: Tiger Global, Hello Alive, Global Entrepreneurship Network

Award: $50,000

Deadline: August 5th, 2023

Eligibility:

  • An entrepreneur who is the leading executive (i.e., Founder and/or President, CEO, CFO, COO, or any other similar title)

  • A legal resident of one of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico

  • Eighteen (18) years of age or older (19 in AL and NE)

  • For-profit business

  • Tech-enabled business

  • Has yet to receive funding from angle venture investors

  • Demonstrated need for funding to reach the next stage of growth

Antares REACH Grant Program

The Antares REACH Grant Program, presented in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), will provide $20,000 grants to small businesses, with an emphasis on those that have an established product/market fit, have an identified need for growth capital, and are owned by historically underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Sponsor: Global Entrepreneurship Network, Antares Capital

Award: $25,000

Deadline: August 4th, 2023

Eligibility:

  • Be a for-profit business that is majority (51%+) owned by an individual(s) who is from a historically underrepresented group(s)(HUGs): (Womxn, People of color, Military-affiliated, Persons with disabilities, or LGBTQ+)

  • Have a venture-scalable or venture-viable product or service

  • Have generated a minimum of $25,000 USD in revenue in 2022

  • Complete the Business Health Score before application close (the results of the BHS will not impact eligibility for the program)

  • Have a demonstrated need for funding to support growth

BGE Energizing Small Business Grants

In 2023, the BGE Energizing Small Business grant program, presented in partnership with Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), offers funding to help central Maryland businesses succeed and thrive.

Sponsor: Hello Alice, BGE

Award: $20,000

Deadline: August 18th, 2023

Eligibility: Applicants must be a for-profit business and an existing BGE electric and/or gas customer with positive BGE credit history.

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion, so that preference will be given to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Other eligibility criteria include:

· A for-profit business founded in 2021 or prior

· In good standing (or on the way to) with the State of Maryland

· A maximum of twenty-five (25) employees

· Annual gross revenues in 2022 of less than USD 7 million

· Demonstrated need for funding to support business and serve customers

Catalyst Fund

The Fearless Fund was created to strive to provide access to financial tools, access to capital, and a community of small Black businesses.

Sponsors: MasterCard

Award: $25,000

Deadline: August 31st, 2023

Eligibility:

· Black women who are legal U.S. residents (including DC)

· Must be 18+

· Must be the principal owner of a U.S.-based small business

Cook County Source Grants

Cook County, Illinois, is currently running its 2023 Source Grant program. The program offers $40 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding.

Sponsors: American Rescue Plan Act

Award: $10,000 — $20,000

Deadline: August 18

Eligibility: Businesses located in Cook County with fewer than 20 full-time employees that were in business before 2020 are eligible to apply. This opportunity is available for businesses in all sectors. The program will prioritize businesses:

  • Located in suburban Cook County

  • In sectors hardest hit by COVID-19, including:

  • Arts & Entertainment;

  • Childcare & Social Assistance;

  • Hospitality, Food & Tourism;

  • Retail Trade

  • Transportation & Warehousing

  • Owned by veterans

All are welcome to apply regardless of resident or immigration status. Business owners who have used or received other federal, state, county, or city grants can apply. Any business applying to the 2022 Cook County Grow Grant must submit a new application for The 2023 Source Grant.

Image via pexels

Danbury American Rescue Plan Act Small Business Assistance Program

Danbury, Connecticut, is preparing to distribute $325,000 to small businesses negatively affected by COVID-19. This is the second round of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act Small Business Assistance Program. Eligible businesses can apply for grants of up to $5,000. Applications are due by August 31.

Award: $5,000

Deadline: August 31st

Foundation for the Carolina’s Beyond Open

Beyond Open is a competitive small business grant program centered on building economic mobility within Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity, and is focused on diverse-owned small businesses.

Sponsors: Wells Fargo FFTC Partners For Empowering Communities (“FPEC”), a supporting organization of Foundation For The Carolinas (the “Foundation”)

Award: $10,000 to $150,000

Deadline: August 31st

Eligibility:

· Physically located within one of the six Corridors of Opportunity as identified by the City of Charlotte.

· At least one full year of operation beginning on or before August 1, 2022.

· Minimum annual revenue of $30k and a maximum annual income of $5M.

· At most 200 full and/or part-time employees.

Harrisonburg Business Recovery Grant Program

Harrisonburg, Virginia, is setting aside $200,000 from its allocation of American Rescue Plan funds for the city’s Harrisonburg Business Recovery Grant program. This is the first funding round the city has launched since 2021. To qualify, businesses must not have received grant funding from the program in 2020 or 2021. Applications are due by August 31.

Sponsors: Friendly City’s American Rescue Plan (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Award: TBA

Deadline: August 31st

Eligibility: Must be a for-profit business entity with a place of business located in the City of Harrisonburg

  1. Must have been in business on or before March 1, 2020 (*unless located in a QCT)

  2. Must have had between 1 and 100 full-time employees (or full-time equivalent) as of March 1, 2020

  3. Must have at least $25,000, but no more than $5 million, in annual gross revenues

  4. The business is locally owned or locally operated, with headquarters in Virginia

  5. Locally owned franchises are eligible for only one grant regardless of the number of locations in the city

  6. All taxes and fees to the City of Harrisonburg are current

  7. Must be able to demonstrate:

  8. At least a 20% loss in revenue that can be attributed to COVID-19 or

  9. At least a 20% increase in costs that can be attributed to COVID-19 or

  10. Challenges covering payroll, rent or mortgage, or other operating expenses that can be attributed to COVID-19

Moore County Small Business Revitalization Grant Program

The Moore County, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce allocates $100,000 to its Small Business Revitalization Grant Program. Each business may receive between $500 and $5,000, covering various upgrades, from technology purchases to renovations. Businesses must operate a Moore County storefront with fewer than 100 employees to qualify for funds.

Sponsors: Duke Energy Foundation

Award: $500 to $5,000

Deadline: August 31

Opelika Chamber of Commerce Small Business Grant Program

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce in Alabama is currently accepting applications for its Small Business Grant Program. The Chamber is offering grants of up to $5,000 to needy businesses. To qualify, businesses must have ten or fewer employees and have yet to receive a Chamber grant within the past year. Additionally, 80 percent of funds are allocated to existing businesses, while 20 percent will go to startups.

Award: up to $5,000

Deadline: August 18

Eligibility:

  • Complete applications must be submitted by the published deadline.

  • Businesses must be licensed within the city of Opelika.

  • Should employ 10 or fewer employees (two part-time = one employee).

  • Must demonstrate a need for funding.

  • Must not have received a grant through this program in the past 12 months.

Pacific Power Electric Mobility Grants

Pacific Power in Oregon is supporting businesses through its Electric Mobility Grants. The program is open to nonprofits, local governments, and nonresidential customers working on projects that may increase electric vehicle access. August 31 is the deadline to apply. And projects must be completed within 18 months of receiving an award.

Sponsor: Pacific Power

Deadline: August 31

Eligibility:

  • California, Oregon, or Washington based

  • Projects must be completed within 18 months of receiving an award

Image via pexels

2023 Pitch Tank Business Competition

New York Women in Business and Accompany Capital have launched the 2023 Pitch Tank Business Competition, offering cash prizes of up to $25,000. To enter, submit an online application that describes you, your business — whether it’s early-stage or established — and why you think you should win! Contact pitch2023@accompanycapital.org with any questions.

Sponsors: Accompany Capital

Award: $5,000-$25,000

Deadline: August 21st, 2023

Eligibility: Your business must be a women-owned business based in New York City’s five boroughs to be eligible for this program.

Publish Her Business Impact Grant (BIG) Program

Publish Her is dedicated to providing resources to female-identifying business owners and authors.

Sponsors: BankCherokee

Award: $5,000

Deadline: August 31, 2023

Eligibility:

· You must be a legal resident of the U.S.

· 21 years of age or older

· A woman of color business owner

· Businesses must be 100 percent women-owned

· Businesses must be legally established business entities in the U.S. (established for one year or more)

· Businesses must generate $50,000 or more in annual revenue.

Spokane 2023 Assistance to Small Businesses Grant

Spokane, Washington, recently launched its 2023 Assistance to Small Businesses Grant. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, the program will offer grants of up to $45,000 to businesses that can show a decline in gross revenue or increase in expenses due to the pandemic. Businesses launched in 2020 or 2021 may also apply for grants of up to $15,000. The application period will remain open until August 31 or until funding is exhausted.

Sponsors: American Rescue Plan Act

Award: up to $45,000

Deadline: Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023

Eligibility:

Venmo Small Business Grant

We started the Venmo Small Business Grant to help small business owners make big things happen — especially those who may face additional barriers to economic growth.

To help level the playing field, we’re giving 20 business profile users the money and mentorship they need to reach the next level of success. Special consideration will be given to small business owners from historically underrepresented communities.

Award: A $10k grant to boost your business. Promotion on Venmo’s social channels. Mentorship from industry leaders

Deadline: August 7th, 2023

Eligibility: Venmo business users with:

  • A business description, profile photo, and background photo

  • Less than $50k in annual revenue

  • 10 or fewer employees