Finding a grant is one thing. Finding the right grant is another.
A restaurant owner looking for funds to buy kitchen equipment should not spend three days applying for a technology accelerator. A software founder preparing to grow should not pursue a $500 community project award that won’t cover product development.
The more closely your business aligns with a grant’s purpose, eligibility requirements, and preferred applicant profile, the stronger your application will be.
This guide connects four types of Black entrepreneurs with available funding opportunities in the US. It also updates several outdated grant recommendations that continue to circulate online, despite no longer accepting applications.
As of July 16, 2026, the Coalition to Back Black Businesses is not promoting a new application cycle. Google’s US Black Founders Fund page discusses awards already given rather than a current application process. The JLH Social Impact Fund’s main website directs visitors to funding alerts instead of an open national round.
Brick-and-Mortar and Main Street Businesses
Best match: Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 Grant
This is one of the best options for retailers, restaurants, salons, barbershops, local service companies, repair shops, and other established small businesses.
The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program is accepting applications for $10,000 grants throughout 2026. Owners of for-profit businesses based in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands can apply, as long as they are at least 18 years old. An entrepreneur with multiple companies can submit only one application.
To access the application, business owners must register on the platform and complete at least two eligible courses or events during 2026. A single application remains eligible for consideration throughout the year.
Applications are reviewed monthly from June to December 2026, with 10 businesses chosen each month. Applicants who are not selected initially remain eligible for later rounds.
Why it fits traditional small businesses
Brick-and-mortar businesses often need funds for specific operational improvements rather than a complex venture capital strategy.
Your application should clearly connect the $10,000 to one measurable business problem. This might be buying new equipment, expanding inventory, improving an ordering system, renovating a customer area, or launching a local marketing campaign.
Avoid generic statements about how the money will “help the business grow.” Instead, specify what you will purchase, how much it will cost, and what results you expect.
An ideal applicant
Consider a Black-owned beauty salon that has been in operation for three years and often has to turn customers away due to too few workstations.
Its application could outline the cost of adding two stations, detail the extra weekly appointments that expansion would allow, and project the additional revenue the salon expects to earn.
This is more persuasive than a vague request for “support.”
Tech Founders and Startups
Best match: Kickstarter x Google Next Wave Fund
The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund was a valuable source of equity-free capital, mentorship, Google Cloud credits, and product support. Google says the initiative awarded more than $40 million, but its current US page does not list an active application window.
A new option backed by Google is the Kickstarter x Google Next Wave Fund.
This program supports early-stage businesses creating hardware, software, digital games, connected products, new materials, and technology-enabled products. Eligible companies must have fewer than 20 full-time employees. At least one team member must be a US citizen, resident, or O-1 visa holder, and the project needs a US bank account.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
What selected founders receive
Winners receive a $10,000 pledge toward their Kickstarter funding goal.
They also get campaign support from Kickstarter’s Design and Technology team, access to Google-led training, including AI and Grow with Google programs, community access, promotional opportunities, and the chance to apply to Google accelerator programs later.
There is an important stipulation: this is not a traditional grant issued before the work starts.
Recipients must launch a Kickstarter campaign within six months of selection. The $10,000 pledge is only released when the campaign reaches its funding goal under Kickstarter’s all-or-nothing model.
Why it fits technology businesses
This program helps founders who have moved beyond an idea but still need funding and market validation.
A strong applicant should have a product that is easy to understand, a working prototype or a clear development plan, realistic production costs, and a specific customer group.
It is less appropriate for a consulting agency, traditional e-commerce store, or software company that cannot frame its offer as a Kickstarter project.
An ideal applicant
A Black founder creating a portable health-monitoring device could be a good fit.
The founder should be able to present the prototype, explain the problem the device addresses, describe how the $10,000 pledge will help with production, and build a campaign that can attract additional backers.
The application should emphasize the product and customer needs—not just the founder’s background.
Nonprofits and Community Organizations
Best match: The Pollination Project Daily Grant
The JLH Social Impact Fund has supported Black-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations in various cities. Its official website discusses its initiatives and encourages visitors to sign up for grant alerts, but it does not feature an open nationwide application round.
For small, early-stage community projects, a presently available alternative is The Pollination Project Daily Grant.
This program offers one-time seed grants up to $500. It accepts applications on a rolling basis from individuals, informal community groups, and registered nonprofit organizations. Applicants do not need to be large 501(c)(3) organizations.
The organization or group must have an annual budget under $50,000, and the proposed project must cost less than $10,000. The program typically supports volunteer-led efforts and does not accept organizations with paid staff. Applicants must demonstrate that work on the project has already begun.
Applications submitted before the end of a month are usually reviewed the following month.
Why it fits community initiatives
This grant is designed for small projects where $500 can unlock a visible result.
That could involve materials for a youth financial literacy workshop, supplies for a neighborhood food growing program, transportation for a community clean-up, or printing costs for a public education campaign.
It is not suitable for a mature nonprofit seeking salaries, large construction funding, or a substantial annual operating grant.
An ideal applicant
A volunteer-led group hosting free coding workshops for Black middle-school students could be an ideal applicant.
The group could ask for $500 for learning materials, internet access, and venue costs. Its application should explain how many students will participate, what they will learn, and how organizers will track completion.
The strongest proposal would demonstrate that the team has already secured volunteers, contacted a venue, or run a small pilot session.
Freelancers, Solopreneurs, and Very Small Businesses
Best match: Skip Small Business Grants
Skip offers several funding options for US entrepreneurs, including smaller $1,000 Instant Grants and occasional $10,000 competitions.
For founders needing a larger amount, the Big Skip $10,000 Summer Grant is available to US-based entrepreneurs and small business owners aged 18 or older. The current deadline is July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Applicants must be Skip Plus or Pro members. Skip states that entrepreneurs can start with a free Plus trial, but founders should read the membership terms before applying, rather than assuming participation is always free.
Skip also promotes several $1,000 Instant Grants awarded throughout the week, providing freelancers and small operators access to lower-value opportunities that require less preparation than major national competitions.
Why it Fits Freelancers and Small Operators
These grants are open to businesses across a wide range of industries.
This makes them relevant to photographers, designers, consultants, content producers, mobile beauty professionals, online sellers, independent contractors, and owners of very small service businesses.
However, flexible eligibility does not mean your application should be vague.
A freelancer might seek funding for a new camera, professional software, customer acquisition campaigns, or specialized certification. An online retailer may need inventory, packaging materials, or a website update.
Whatever the purpose, demonstrate how the expense will boost revenue, improve capacity, or enhance customer service.
An ideal applicant
A Black freelance videographer who earns regular income but is losing larger contracts due to outdated equipment could present a strong case.
The application should specify the exact equipment needed, provide costs, and show what type of paid work the purchase would enable.
The proposal is even stronger when the applicant can point to existing clients, confirmed inquiries, or past income rather than relying solely on future potential.
How to Choose the Right Grant
Start with the type of organization you operate, not the size of the award.
A $500 grant that aligns well with your community project may be easier to obtain and more beneficial than a $50,000 grant aimed at tech companies.
Select one or two programs that match your current stage. Then create a reusable grant application package. This file should include a brief business plan, recent financial statements, ownership details, business registration records, a spending budget, and an impact statement.
Your impact statement should answer three questions: What problem are you solving? Who benefits from it? What will change if you receive the funding?
For business grants, also explain how the funding will influence revenue, employment, productivity, or customer growth. For nonprofit grants, emphasize community outcomes and how you will measure those outcomes.
Before applying, check the official funding page for any updates. Black business grants, startup grants, and other small business funding programs may close, change eligibility rules, or start new application rounds with little notice.
Grant funding is competitive, and rejections are common. Treat each serious application as valuable. Improve the budget, refine the business case, and resubmit when the right opportunity arises. Persistence matters, but success often comes from applying for the opportunities that best match your business and stage of growth.