Small Business Grants for Minorities in 2022

Research shows that BIPOC entrepreneurs receive less business financing, less often, and at higher interest rates compared to white business owners. Small business grants can be helpful alternatives (or supplements) to more traditional forms of funding.

Small business grants can be competitive and require lengthy application processes. The payoff, however, is free funding that you don’t have to repay. 

Here are some grants that could be good fits for minority business owners and what you’ll need to know to apply.

1. Grants.gov

This federal portal is a great resource for finding grants applicable to your specific industry and eligibility. Overall, Grants.gov offers eligibility guidelines, application information, and deadlines for more than 1,000 small business grants.

All federal government agencies offering grants will post their information on this site. Over two dozen federal agencies offer grants, including the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

In particular, minority-owned businesses might narrow the search based on the category “small business,” or your individual eligibility criteria, like “Native American tribal organization,” or “nonprofits.”

2. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STRR) Programs

The SBIR and STRR programs provide business development grants for small businesses engaged in cutting-edge research and development. Eleven government agencies including NASA, DOD, DOE, DHHS, and the National Science Foundation reserve a portion of their research and development funds for this grant program.

The grant qualification requirements and amounts awarded are largely specific to the program and individual grant you’re applying for. You must have an American-owned and independently operated, for-profit small business, with the principal researcher employed by your business. Your business also must have 500 employees or fewer.

Refer to our guide for a comprehensive breakdown of the SBIR program.

3. USDA Rural Business Development Grants

Do you run your business in a rural area? If so, you’ll want to explore the Rural Business Development Grant program from the USDA, which offers small business grants between $10,000 and $500,000.

This program is available to businesses operating in rural areas, with a population under 50,000. Additionally, grant money must be used for projects that benefit your rural area or town. A variety of entities are eligible for this program, including nonprofit corporations, federally recognized tribes, rural cooperatives, state agencies, and more.

 

You can find the documentation and other requirements relevant to your state on the USDA website.

4. USDA Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program

The USDA Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program helps qualified business owners who aren’t able to obtain more traditional business financing. This program, as the name suggests, provides both grants and business loans.

To qualify for this grant program, your business must be in the field of water or waste disposal in an eligible area—a rural area or town with a population of 10,000 or less, tribal lands in rural areas, or colonias. Most state and local government entities, private nonprofits, and federally recognized tribes are eligible for this program.

5. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

The MBDA provides grants to organizations that operate their Minority Business Centers throughout the United States. Through one of these centers, you can receive business consulting, procurement matching, and financial assistance for your minority-owned business.

Additionally, the MBDA also runs a separate ongoing grant competition program. In 2021, this program looked for proposals to open and operate one of four MBDA Export Centers.

6. SBA 8(a) Business Development Program

This program helps socially or economically disadvantaged small business owners compete for set-aside and sole-source government contracts. Although the SBA 8(a) program is not technically a grant program, it offers excellent opportunities for minority-owned businesses. On top of the actual business contract, those who qualify for the program receive access to a Business Opportunity Specialist, a mentor-protégé program, as well as business training, counseling, and executive development.

7. The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grants Program

The nonprofit association NASE runs their Growth Grants Program which offers microgrants up to $4,000 each. These grants are designed to help businesses grow.

Although NASE doesn’t exclusively offer grants for minority-owned businesses, this program is designed for smaller businesses that can’t always find other methods of financing. Plus, a NASE Growth Grant can be used for a variety of business purposes—including purchasing equipment, hiring employees, or creating marketing materials.

NASE offers these grants on a monthly basis and applications are reviewed quarterly.

8. Asian Women Giving Circle (AWGC) Grants

The AWGC provides grants for Asian American women-led organizations and individual artists in NYC. The nonprofit organization awards these grants to businesses that are using arts and culture to bring about progressive social transformation, raising awareness and action around issues that affect Asian American women, girls, and families, and highlighting and promoting women’s central role in these projects.

The AWGC typically awards five to eight project grants in each cycle (usually on an annual basis) in amounts up to $15,000.

9. First Nations Development Institute Grants

First Nations is a nonprofit that runs a national grantmaking program that provides technical and financial resources to Native nonprofits and tribes.

As their available grants change, you can look for current applications on the First Nations website.

10. Operation HOPE Small Business Development Program

The Operation HOPE Small Business Development program is designed to help small business owners in underserved communities. The nonprofit organization offers an eight-week entrepreneurship training program to provide minority business owners with business training, personal development, access to professional services, and financial counseling.

The program also helps business owners create and maintain a business plan, as well as gain access to funding and other business resources.

11. National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Scale-Up Pitch Challenge

The NBMBAA scale-up pitch challenge is a grant competition that encourages business owners to think about creative, scalable startup ideas. The NBMBAA connects startups with early-stage investors and venture capitalists and gives them the opportunity to present their business idea. The winning business owner or team receives a grant of $50,000, second place receives $10,000, and third place receives $7,500. A People’s Choice Award is also given for $1,000.

This grant competition is a great option for Black-owned businesses that are looking for startup funding for their first business or are trying to launch a new idea. You must be a member of the NBMBAA to participate and the competition is held annually.

12. FedEx Small Business Grant Contest

The FedEx Small Business Grant Contest is a nationwide competition that awards grants to around 10 different deserving business owners every year. Grants range from $15,000 to $50,000, plus $1,000 to $7,500 in FedEx print services.

Many of the past winners of this grant contest have been minority-owned businesses—and overall, the grants are awarded to those with a unique business idea that positively impacts the community.

More Grant Opportunities

Fundera has also identified small business grant opportunities and other resources for women, Black women, veterans, and felons. Explore to see if those grants might be good fits for your business too.

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