As of May 2025, there are numerous grants and accelerators available for founders globally and in the United States. Below is a list of 50+ grants designed to support and advance various entrepreneurial ventures. Thanks to the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce for compiling this list.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

Amazon App Store Small Business Accelerator – The Small Business Accelerator Program allows developers that earn less than 1 million USD in total annual revenue in the previous calendar year to access additional benefits up to or equivalent to 20% of Appstore revenue. If eligible, you’ll receive a 10% increased royalty payment and AWS credits equivalent to 10% of your app revenue. – https://developer.amazon.com/apps-and-games/small-business-program

Amazon Small Business Success Studio – The free service offers lessons in finance, marketing, procurement and operations, along with tips from founders –https://business.amazon.com/en/small-business/success-studio/welcome

American Express Leadership Academy – The Academy is for people in the non-profit sector who are intentionally striving to be better equipped to respond adaptively to challenges, and to keep going in the face of adversity. – https://commonpurpose.org/american-express-leadership-academy#anchor1

Antler Global Startup Program – Antler is a global early-stage VC that runs multiple programs for business startups around the world. See the website for more info about the program and application dates. – https://www.antler.co/platform/#apply-now

Awesome Foundation – Foundation distributes $1,000 grants, no strings attached, to projects and their creators. At each fully autonomous chapter, the money is pooled together from the coffers of ten or so self-organizing “micro-trustees”. Awarded monthly – https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en

Canva Pro For Nonprofits – If you are a nonprofit, you can register now to get Canva’s premium features for free. – https://www.canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits/

Cartier Women’s Initiative – The Cartier Women’s Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program that supports women-run, for-profit businesses making a measurable social or environmental impact. The program is open to early-stage entrepreneurs across all sectors and regions, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and scalable business models. Funding up to $100,000. Apply by 6/24/2025 – https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/about

D-Prize Competition – Will consider applications from existing organizations only if your core focus is distributing an existing and evidence-based poverty intervention. They typically will not support organizations with more than 18 months of full time operations or that have raised more than $30,000 USD in outside funding. Funding of $20,000. Apply by 5/18/2025 – https://d-prize.org/

Emergent Ventures Grant/Fellowship Application (through Mercatus Center at George Mason University) – Emergent Ventures, a fellowship and grant program from the Mercatus Center, seeks to support entrepreneurs with highly scalable, “zero to one” ideas for meaningfully improving society. Projects will either be fellowships or grants: fellowships involve time in residence at the Mercatus Center in Northern Virginia; grants are one-time or slightly staggered payments to support a project. https://www.mercatus.org/emergent-ventures

Etsy Disaster Relief Fund – Sellers will be eligible for a grant if they experienced a federally declared natural disaster within the past year, have been an active seller on Etsy for at least one year, and their Etsy account is in good standing. Grants for $2,500 – https://advocacy.etsy.com/etsy-emergency-relief-fund-at-cerf/

F6S List of Accelerators and Pitch Competitions – Provides a list of accelerators, contests and pitch competitions around the world. https://www.f6s.com/

GrowNY Food and Ag Pitch Competition – Innovative food and ag startups are encouraged to apply for Grow-NY, a global business competition providing funding, mentorship, business development support, and other key resources. Up to 20 finalists will be selected to compete for a $1 million grand prize, with $3 million in prize money awarded to seven startups. Apply by 5/15/2025 – https://www.grow-ny.com/

iF Social Impact Prize – The International Forum Design (iF Design) invites entries for its Social Impact Prize, supporting projects that address urgent societal challenges and align with one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1–15). This annual award empowers organizations and individuals driving measurable progress toward a sustainable future. Funding of $100,000. Apply by 6/3/2025 – https://ifdesign.com/en/if-social-impact-prize

Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub – Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub helps startups radically accelerate innovation by providing access to industry-leading AI services, expert guidance, and the essential technology needed to build a future-proofed startup. Up to $150K in Azure credits – https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/startups

Pollination Project – Grants to global non-profits. Annual budget for your group or organization must be less than $50,000. The total cost for the immediate project for which you are requesting funding must be less than $40,000 – https://thepollinationproject.org/apply/

Savvy Fellowship – Savvy is a 12-week virtual Fellowship program for young professionals seeking to be part of the new generation of impact entrepreneurs. Applicants should be 40 or younger – https://savvyfellows.com/team/

SKU CPG Accelerator – The SKU CPG Accelerator is a renowned 12-week program designed specifically for market-validated companies seeking to scale their innovative products across various consumer-packaged goods (CPG) categories. This program is ideal for brands in food, beverage, pet care, personal care, apparel, and health & wellness sectors. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or an emerging brand, SKU offers the perfect platform to accelerate your growth. Apply by 5/31/2025 – https://airtable.com/appe3LbVrAG8uRuMy/pagjOKI2akK7XBQL3/form

Techstars Accelerators – Techstars accelerators have one goal: to help entrepreneurs succeed. During each three-month program, they surround companies (companies should be based in North American time zones) with the best mentors and an unrivaled network of corporate partners, investors, and alumni. Companies can receive $20K for 6% of company. Various locations and due dates – https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/

TiE Women Global Pitch Competition – Applications are now open for the TiE Women Program 2025, an incredible opportunity for women founders to showcase their innovative business ideas on a global stage. Whether you are in the early stages of launching your startup or have an established business looking to scale, this competition offers a platform to gain visibility, network with industry leaders & investors, and access mentorship. Funding of $50,000. Apply by 6/15/2025 – https://www.tiewomen.org/

We Make Change – Global initiative that matches small businesses (mainly not for profits) with volunteers who are professional individuals or are from companies (including blue chip) that have an interest in supporting not for profits. Helps impact startups build a remote volunteer team for free – https://www.wemakechange.org/

AFRICA-SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES

Africa Business Heroes Grant – Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) is the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program in Africa to support entrepreneurs. Our mission is to showcase and grow local talent who are creating positive impact in their communities and beyond, and inspire a movement of African entrepreneurship. Business must be based in Africa and have been operational for at least 3 years. Funding up to $300,000. Apply by 6/30/25 – https://africabusinessheroes.org/en/

Founders Factory Africa Gen F Incubator – Gen F is for exceptional founders/aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build out and test their ideas, achieve commercial success, and create outsized, systemic impact and founders looking to build tech solutions that solve Africa’s largest problems and catalyze change. Funding up to $250,000 – https://www.foundersfactory.africa/gen-f-eir-initiative

GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize – The 2025 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prizeis a competition that searches for Africa’s most promising young co-founders and founders across Africa who have launched businesses across Africa’s agrifood value chain “from seed to fork”. Must be 35 or younger. Funding up to $50,000. Apply by 6/10/25 – https://gogettaz.africa/applications-open-for-the-7th-annual-gogettaz-agripreneur-prize-competition-africas-youth-agrifood-entrepreneurs-invited-to-drive-food-systems-transformation-with-a-us160000-prize/

Grindstone incubator – Incubator will include training, corporate advisory, coaching, mentorship and funding. Specific interventions for each company include a structured gap analysis, understanding of the company value system, building a digital go-to-market strategy, financial modelling, intellectual property assessment, strategic and financial valuation as well as populating a data room – https://www.grindstonexl.com/grindstone-accelerator

UNITED STATES – SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES

Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator – Dedicated to helping build sustainable equity and growth for Black entrepreneurs by enabling their success as sellers. Grow your business with access to financial support, strategic business guidance and mentorship, and marketing and promotional support. – https://sell.amazon.com/programs/black-business-accelerator

Amazon Literary Partnership Grant – With the goal of helping writers tell their stories and find their readers, the Amazon Literary Partnership supports innovative nonprofit organizations that empower writers to create, publish, learn, teach, experiment, and thrive. Funding up to $20,000. Apply by 5/18/25 – https://apply.amazonliterarypartnership.com/submit

Amber Grants ($15 application fee) – Must be a woman-owned business or non-profit in the US or Canada. Three $10,000 Amber Grants are awarded each month. Three of the 36 monthly winners get an additional $25,000 Year-End Amber Grant. –https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/

Another Chance Small Business Grant ($15 application fee) – This quarterly grant program is designed to provide financial support to businesses that need assistance to recover and thrive. Founded by Patrice S. Jordan, a resilient entrepreneur who overcame immense challenges herself, this grant is rooted in the belief that every business owner deserves a second chance. Funding of $2,500 – awarded quarterly – next deadline is 6/25/25 – https://www.anotherchanceforsmallbusinesses.org/grant

Bank of America’s Business Education Center for Entrepreneurs – Visit Bank of America’s Small Business Education site for access to free webinars on Accessing Capital, Building Business Credit and more – https://go.bofa.com/BusinessEducationCenter

Clever Girl Finance – Clever Girl Finance is one of the largest personal finance media/education platforms for women in the U.S. and has consistently been voted one of the best finance websites for women by the Plutus Awards celebrating excellence in financial media. The site offers free resources including personal finance courses, one-on-one mentor calls, articles, audio, and video content, an incredibly supportive community, and more. –https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/#

Coffee Futures Fund – The Coffee Futures Fund begins with an application process, resulting in a cohort of 10 coffee shop businesses between one and three years old. Participants then join an intensive 10-week business development, mentorship and workshopping program. All participants are then paired with established coffee industry professionals for a one-year mentorship program. Apply by 5/15/2025 – https://coffeefutures.fund/

CO.LAB Sustainable Mobility Accelerator Program – Applications accepted from sustainability- or mobility-related startups across the United States. Relocation to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the duration of the program is required. Funding of $20,000. Apply by 6/30/2025 – https://www.gener8tor.com/investment-accelerators/co-lab

Creative Business Boost Grant (Etsy and HelloAlice) – Applicants are now invited to submit applications for the Creative Business Boost Program to help empower entrepreneurs who contribute to the creative economy. Funding up to $5,000. Apply by 5/9/2025 – https://helloalice.com/grants/etsy-creative-business-boost-initiative/

EmpowerHer Grant – Boundless Futures Foundation – The Boundless Futures Foundation awards grants to U.S.-based female entrepreneurs and nonprofits that support female entrepreneurship. The EmpowHer Grant offers entrepreneurs up to $25,000, with funds provided as reimbursements for business expenses upon proof of payment. EmpowHer Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis – https://boundlessfutures.org/our-impact/

First Interstate BancSystem Foundation grants – First Interstate Bank and the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation provide support in communities served by First Interstate Bank in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. Must be a nonprofit to apply. The majority of the Foundation’s grants are focused on alleviating poverty by assisting low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. Funding minimum of $2500 –https://www.firstinterstatebank.com/company/commitment/grants.php

Fund Her Future Program – This program is recognizing six women-owned small businesses with high growth and community impact potential. Grant recipients will receive a combined award of $100,000 in funding plus a year of small business services from Block Advisors valued at nearly $30,000. Apply by 5/30/25 – https://www.blockadvisors.com/fund-her-future-small-business-grants/

gener8tor Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator –The gener8tor Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator helps founders working on innovative water technology build lasting companies that drive economic growth and technological advancement in the Great Lakes region. Funding of $100,000. Apply by 6/30/2025 – https://www.gener8tor.com/greatlakes

Goldman Sachs 10000 Small Businesses – The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is actively seeking ambitious entrepreneurs to join their upcoming cohorts. The program aims to help entrepreneurs increase revenues, create jobs, and stimulate economic opportunity in their communities. It provides a mix of training and support to enable small business owners to grow their companies and make a meaningful impact. Apply by May 2025 or Nov 2025 – https://10ksbapply.com/program-details

HerRise Micro-Grant ($10 fee to apply) – Each month a $1000 micro-grant will be awarded to a for-profit small business owned by women of color. Past recipients used their growth grants for computers, equipment, marketing materials, software purchase, website creation and more. – https://www.hersuitespot.com/herrise/

Home Depot Foundation’s Veteran Housing Grants program – The Home Depot Foundation’s Veteran Housing Grants program awards grants to nonprofit organizations for the new construction or rehabilitation of multifamily, permanent supportive housing for veterans throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico. The grants fund physical construction costs, and must comprise less than 50% of the total development cost of the project. While rural areas will be considered, priority will be given to large cities with populations of over 300,000 people. Specifically, there is a focus on projects in the following cities: Los Angeles and San Diego, CA; Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; Tampa, FL; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; New York, NY; Houston, TX; and Seattle, WA. Funding up to $500,000. Apply by July 3, 2025 – https://corporate.homedepot.com/page/veteran-housing-grants

Idea Cafe Small Business Grant – Idea Cafe, an online resource center for women-owned businesses, has been awarding Idea Cafe Small Business Grants of $1,000 to women entrepreneurs who either own a business currently or want to start their own business. Applications are now being taken for women who would like to apply for the grant money. (no fee but must sign up to be part of Idea Cafe) – https://www.businessownersideacafe.com/business_grants/index.php

Jobber Grants For Home Service Businesses – Any home service business owner or aspiring business owner 18 years old or older, residing in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Québec is eligible to apply. Funding of $10,000. Apply by 6/11/2025 – https://www.getjobber.com/grants

Josephine Collective – The Josephine Collective looks at deals on a rolling basis, and founders can apply to be considered at any time. Goal is to have the entire process take no more than 3 weeks from presentation to wire. They invest anywhere from $10K to $100K depending on the Collective’s interest. JC prefers early-stage tech-enabled businesses. Companies must be for-profit, US-domiciled, and have an expectation of becoming large-scale businesses. “Lifestyle” businesses, single location businesses with no current plans to scale, and non-profits will not be considered. – https://joinjosephine.com/

Military Entrepreneur Challenge – The Military Entrepreneur Challenge is a nationwide grant program that gives veteran, military spouse, and Gold Star Family entrepreneurs the opportunity to network, learn, and compete for capital to grow their small business. – https://secondservicefoundation.org/mec/

Minority Business Circle – Supportive network for diverse entrepreneurs in various industries, offering opportunities like grants, loans, significant discounts on essential business products, and a comprehensive step-by-step guide with customized tools to track progress and foster growth. See link for info – https://minoritybusinesscircle.com/

Mona Access To Capital Initiative – Mona is a social venture whose mission is to connect underserved small business entrepreneurs to affordable loans and grants. It has so far connected 100+ entrepreneurs across the U.S. to $1 million in low-interest loans. All U.S. based small businesses are eligible. When completing the application, enter “BofA Institute” as your referral, and a Mona team member will reach out to help you find a funding match. https://www.mona-ventures.com/mona-capital

Next 1B program (by McKinsey) – The Next 1B program from McKinsey is designed to support Black-owned brands in the United States. Eligible businesses are typically more than one year in maturity with anywhere from $250k-$5M in annual revenue, and sells consumer products – https://www.mckinsey.com/bem/overview/next-1b

Novae Grants Database – Novae Grants database are intended for small businesses with 6-100 employees, though some are also intended for larger businesses and sole proprietor startups – https://grants.novaegrants.com/

NSF Seed Fund – NSF helps startups navigate the earliest stages of technology translation, investing roughly $200 million annually in approximately 400 startups. Each startup can receive up to $2 million to support translational research and development. From advanced manufacturing to artificial intelligence to biological technologies to environmental technologies, they fund nearly all areas of technology. – https://seedfund.nsf.gov/

Pathway to Opportunity – Pathway to Opportunities is a competition designed to link US-based small businesses with corporations actively seeking to expand their supply chain with innovative products and services. Funding of $5,000 – Apply by 6/9/2025 – https://pathwaytoopportunity.com/

RestorHER Micro-Grant – A quarterly funding opportunity designed to provide financial support to women business owners who are committed to building sustainable, purpose-driven businesses while prioritizing their well-being. Funding of $500. – https://cheyathousand.com/micro-grant

Service2CEO program – Service2CEO Is an entrepreneurship program for military-connected entrepreneurs. The program provides resources, networks of people committed to your success, and an actionable curriculum that accelerates your business to the next stage of development. – https://www.therosienetwork.org/service2ceo-program

Small Business Readiness for Resiliency grant – Developed in partnership with founding sponsor FedEx, the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R) is a multi-year initiative to empower small business owners to proactively mitigate the risks posed by disasters. Funding of $5,000 –https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/solutions/disaster-response-and-resiliency/small-business-readiness-for-resiliency

Small Certified Supplier Innovative Finance Program – Targeted to small certified suppliers in California, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, the Small Certified Supplier Innovative Finance Program is designed to engage diverse suppliers in educational funding readiness training and funder matching to support capacity building. Funding for $5,000 – https://foundersfirstcapitalpartners.com/small-certified-supplier-innovative-finance-program/

Spark Lab – The Spark Lab Incubator is a high-impact virtual program designed to equip early-stage LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs with expert mentoring, strategic workshops, and unparalleled community networking to accelerate business growth. This 6-week program is crafted through an LGBTQ+ lens, providing tailored support to founders who have already launched their businesses but need structured guidance to scale sustainably. Apply by 5/9/2025 – https://startout.org/spark-lab/

SPUR (Shared Purpose, Unlimited Reach) Pathways – Through an integrated and collaborative approach, Macy’s, Inc. and Momentus will provide access to a range of capital options from microloans to growth capital to equity investments. This represents a commitment to underrepresented businesses and aims to galvanize the retail industry to invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs – https://www.macysinc.com/purpose/spurpathways

Start Small Think Big is a nonprofit that helps small businesses with high potential and limited access to the resources needed to create thriving businesses. They partner with small business owners, providing personalized business support and building connections with local communities. Applicants should have at least $500 in recurring sales over the past 3 months and total household income must fall below 750% Federal Poverty Guidelines. If you are interested in being considered as a “client” for free services, you can fill out this form https://partner.startsmallthinkbig.org/bofainstitute (check toggle on side for English/Spanish). They also offer free webinars (in Eng and Span) with upcoming events listed here – https://www.startsmallthinkbig.org/events-for-small-businesses

Substack Creator Accelerator Fund – The Substack Creator Accelerator Fund is for creators who are ready to expand their reach and subscription business by taking advantage of Substack’s growth network and full suite of publishing, community, and discovery tools. Any U.S.-based individual creator, or small group of creators, who have a monthly recurring revenue (MRR) of at least $2,000 can apply. –https://read.substack.com/p/substack-creator-accelerator-fund

TD Charitable Foundation Grants – The TD Charitable Foundation’s Capacity Building Fund provides grants to nonprofit organizations in TD Bank’s U.S. market areas for training, talent, tools, and tactics to further help their programs succeed. The Fund includes two opportunities: Capacity Building Grants provide funding to help strengthen and increase the impact of organizations on the communities they serve. These grants support work around three key issues: tactics, talent, and tools. The Nonprofit Training Resource Fund supports specific trainings that increase the capacities and skill sets of organizations’ employees. For both opportunities, support is primarily provided for programs aligned to one of TD’s corporate citizenship priorities: better health, connected communities, financial security, and a vibrant planet. Applicants must have annual operating budgets of $2 million or less and serve low- to moderate-income communities and diverse or historically underserved communities. Eligible areas are CT, DE, DC, FL, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, and VT. Funding up to $150,000. Apply by May 30, 2025 – https://www.td.com/us/en/about-us/communities/ready-commitment/funding-opportunities/non-profit

This Woman Knows Grant ($15 app fee) – The This Woman Knows Grant opens May 1 and is available to U.S.-based women who are entrepreneurs, artists, or creatives bringing their ideas to life. The grant is designed for women who are bootstrapping their dreams, navigating reinvention, or simply trying to make ends meet while bringing something meaningful into the world. Funding of $500. Next deadline is 5/31/25 (offered monthly) – https://thiswomanknows.com/grant/

Truist NonProfit Grant – The Truist Foundation supports nonprofits with grants that target leadership development, economic mobility, thriving communities and educational equity. Quarterly deadlines – https://www.truist.com/purpose/truist-foundation/grant-application

UpTide Accelerator – UpTide is a transformative accelerator launched by 92nd Street Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact. It is designed for nonprofit leaders addressing the Crisis of Community — the rising tide of disconnection, disaffiliation, and civic disengagement in American life. If you’re building community in the face of disconnection, UpTide is your opportunity to scale your work nationally with the support, tools, and network you need. Funding of $5,000. Apply by 6/2/2025 – https://www.92ny.org/belfer-center-for-innovation-social-impact/uptide-accelerator

U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation Grant – The Program Grants will be awarded from the U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation (USV/SFF) to help the disadvantaged, improve the quality of people’s lives, and strengthen our communities. The Foundation will consider a broad range of requests including specific program needs, capital or general operating support. A charitable organization will typically receive no more than one program grant per calendar year. Apply quarterly (7/25/25, 10/24/25) – https://www.usventure.com/giving-back/us-venture-schmidt-family-foundation/program-grants/

Veterans Business Outreach Center – The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program offers resources to veterans who are interested in starting or growing a small business. There are 22 locations (soon expanding to 35) and they offer workshops, training, counseling, and mentorship opportunities. – https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/veterans-business-outreach-center-vboc-program

Warrior Rising Grant – Warrior Rising strives to accept and assist veterans at any point in the process of starting their own business, whether it is only a concept or if they have actual operations. Funding of $20,000 – https://www.warriorrising.org/apply/

Wish Local Empowerment Program – You must be a Black-owned business with a brick-and-mortar shop within the United States and less than 20 employees. If selected for the program, you must join Wish Local (which is free). Grants for up to $2000 – https://www.wish.com/local/empowerment

Women Founders Network Pitch Competition – There are two tracks to the competition: Tech/Tech-enabled and Consumer/CPG/Other Non-tech. Founder must be a woman or business must be majority-owned by a woman. Must attend in person and participate in the annual Fast Pitch Event on October 28 at UCLA. Funding up to $25000. Apply by 5/31/25 – https://www.womenfoundersnetwork.org/about-fast-pitch

YippityDoo Big Idea Grant ($15 application fee) – Each month, one $1000 grant is awarded to a woman, age 18 or over, in the US to invest in their Business or Idea. It can be used as a start up grant, marketing grant, operational grant or whatever you need to help you to the next level with your idea or business. – https://programs.yippitydoo.com/thebigideagrantforwomen

ZenBusiness Free LLC Formation for Moms – To help mothers take the first step toward entrepreneurship, ZenBusiness is covering business formation costs and will help entrepreneurs form an LCC, track expenses, secure a business name, and more. –https://www.zenbusiness.com/moms/

Zendesk Tech for Good – The Zendesk Tech for Good program partners with over 110 nonprofits across the globe to give them free Zendesk software, grants, and pro bono support, empowering more organizations to leverage technology and serve more people. Apply by 8/15/2025 – https://techforgood.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

Wrap Up

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, the landscape is rich with resources designed to elevate your business. These opportunities not only provide financial support but also connect you with networks that can be pivotal in scaling your operations. By leveraging these grants and accelerators, you can turn your business aspirations into sustainable achievements, contributing to a robust economic future. Always ensure to check the specific details and eligibility criteria for each opportunity and prepare your applications accordingly to maximize your chances of success. Happy applying!