15 Funding Opportunities You Should Apply for Today

With 2022 coming to an end, and recession talk on the rise now is the time to focus on building your business like never before. As you might have heard, recessions make the most millionaires. That being said, here are 15 grants you should apply for today, many of which specifically focus on Black or women-owned businesses.

1. Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund (Goodie Nation, The Plug, Google) – Deadline: Nov 30, 2022

Just recently, the Tech Equity Collective, a Google initiative announced its partnership
with Goodie Nation and The Plug to launch the Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund. This
$1 million fund seeks to improve the tech career prospects for Black professionals by
providing access to programming, tech industry resources, and opportunities. Apply by November 30, 2022.

2. Fearless Strivers Grant Contest (Fearless Fund, Mastercard) – Deadline: Monthly, November 30, 2022; December 31, 2022

The Fearless Fund and Mastercard have partnered to offer eleven Black women-owned businesses a $10,000 grant to help them build and sustain their business online, as well as one-on-one business mentoring. Apply by November 30th to be considered for this month’s recipient or December 31, 2022.

3. Aurora Tech Award– Deadline: Dec 2, 2022

The Aurora Tech Award is an annual prize for women founders of IT startups whose projects have had the most profound impact on world development. Our goal is to support women in the field of advanced technologies, especially women entrepreneurs. Apply by Dec 2nd, 2022.

4. The David Prize (The David Prize) – Deadline: Dec 12, 2022

The David Prize is a celebration of individuals who are creating a better, brighter New York City. Open to any individual working in the five boroughs, the Prize welcomes those with the grit and larger-than-life ideas to improve New York City for generations to come. Apply by Dec 12th, 2022.

5. Keep it Local Business Fund (NAACP, Nextdoor Kind Foundation) – Deadline: Dec 16, 2022

The NAACP and Nextdoor Kind Foundation are offering $5,000 microgrants to
entrepreneurs of color. Their goal is to enable minority business owners to strengthen
and support their local communities. In addition to the financial prize, recipients will
participate in events to share their entrepreneurship journey, receive ad credits to
promote their business on the Nextdoor Platform, and access to business training
including Nextdoor’s Recession Playbook. Apply by December 16th, 2022.

6. eMerge Americas Startup Showcase (Gust, eMerge Americas) – Deadline: Dec 20, 20226. eMerge Americas Startup Showcase (Gust, eMerge Americas) – Deadline: Dec 20, 2022

eMerge Americas 2023 Startup Showcase and Panoramic Ventures Startup Showdown
have partnered to host a mega pitch competition where 100 global startups will compete
for a $420,000 investment in a multi-week virtual program and live pitch competition with prizes starting at $50,000. Apply by December 20th, 2022.

7. Johnnie Walker First Strides Grant Program (IFundWomen, Johnnie Walker) – Deadline: Dec 31, 2022

Johnnie Walker and IFundWomen are supporting trailblazing women-owned businesses that are pushing boundaries to move the culture forward and create more opportunities for women to achieve their goals. Apply for Dec 31st, 2022.

8. Small Growth Business Fund (Hello Alice, GEN, Mastercard) – Deadline January 6, 2023

In partnership with GEN, the Small Business Growth Fund provides the capital high-growth small business owners need to make their next big move. Each recipient will receive a $25,000 grant, provided by Mastercard, to accelerate their growth and achieve their goals in 2023. Eligible businesses must be for-profit with less than $1M in 2021 gross annual revenue. Apply by January 6th, 2023.

9. Inclusive Innovation Impact Equity Fund (1863 Ventures) – Deadline: January 21, 2023

The Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund supports District-based equity-impact enterprises or businesses eligible to be equity-impact enterprises with training and investment in revenue or equity-based financing. Funds provided are not grants but investments that will be recycled into future investment rounds or additional education and training for businesses in the city. Apply by January 21, 2023

10. Amber Grants for Women (WomensNet) – Deadline: Monthly, December 31, 2022

In 1998, WomensNet created the Amber Grant to honor a young woman who was never
able to realize her entrepreneurial dreams. Since then, they have granted $30,000 monthly. Apply now for their monthly Amber Grant, Business Category Grant, or Marketing Grant. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

11. Power Forward Small Business Grant (NAACP, Vistaprint, Hello Alice, Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation) – Deadline: Rolling

Hello Alice, Vistaprint and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation have teamed up to
create the Power Forward Small Business Grant Foundation. This $1 million grant aims
to assist Black and brown founders. Selected participants will receive $25,000 grants along with design and marketing assistance. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

12. The Catalyst Fund (Roddenberry Foundation) – Deadline: Rolling

The Catalyst Fund offers grants ranging from $2,500–$15,000 to anyone, anywhere in the world with an early-stage idea or project that addresses pressing global challenges. Catalyst supports projects from anywhere in the world by individuals, teams, non-profits, or social enterprises. Applications are accepted year-round.

13. San Francisco Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund (MEDA) – Deadline: Rolling basis

The San Francisco Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund is a joint project of MEDA in collaboration with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) of the Mayor’s office. The Fund provides mini-grants of up to $5,000 to San Francisco women-owned small businesses for projects and upgrades that will have a transformative impact on the business’s ability to grow. The Fund is established to improve the small business environment for women entrepreneurs in San Francisco and encourage collaboration between women entrepreneurs and local technical assistance providers. Eligible applicants will be invited on a rolling basis.

14. NASE Growth Grants Program (National Association of Self-Employed) – Deadline: January/Rolling

The National Association of Self-Employed (NASE) is awarding $4,000 to small businesses through their NASE Growth Grants program. Grants can be used for marketing, advertising, hiring employees, expanding facilities, and other specific business needs. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

15. Square Black Equity Grant Program (Square) – Deadline: Rolling

Grant awardees will be eligible to receive up to $15,000 in total funding. The Black Equity Grant Program was created to support the growth of Black developers after recognizing that many technologies founded by historically underrepresented communities were also under-resourced, lacking the necessary funding and resources to build on Square. This program will provide Black-led platform partners with both financial support as well as increased exposure and visibility. Applications are on a rolling basis.

For more grants to benefit you or your business, check out grantwatch.com.