Small business grant opportunities to apply for in February
February brings a new wave of funding and growth opportunities for small businesses and nonprofits. Explore this month's grants, competitions, accelerators, and support programs – all currently open for applications with February deadlines.
City of Raleigh Facade Rehabilitation Grant
Amount: up to $10,000
Deadline: 2/1/26 (quarterly)
Overview: This program offers matching reimbursement grants of up to $10,000 to help small business owners and property owners refurbish the exterior of their commercial buildings. Designed to revitalize Downtown and older commercial districts, the grant enhances curb appeal, stimulates local economic activity, and supports long-term growth.
City of Raleigh Building Up-fit Grant
Amount: up to $25,000
Deadline: 2/1/26 (quarterly)
Overview: The City of Raleigh’s Building Up-fit Grant supports local economic growth by helping property owners activate vacant or underutilized commercial space within city limits. The matching reimbursement program covers up to 50% of qualified interior construction costs to create new business uses or jobs. Residential properties, franchises, and exterior projects are not eligible.
Santander Cultivate Small Business Grant
Amount: up to $20,000
Deadline: 2/2/26
Overview: Santander’s Cultivate Small Business is a free, 12-week virtual, food-focused (MBA-style) training program for early-stage U.S. food entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on historically underserved founders in low-to-moderate income communities. The program features a curriculum led by Babson College professors, plus mentorship and peer networking, and provides capital support – all graduates receive a $2,500 grant, with select participants eligible for additional awards up to $20,000. Eligible businesses must be U.S.-based, operating at least one year, led by an entrepreneur working full time with fewer than 10 FTEs, and have $25,000–$1,000,000 in annual revenue; Spring applications are due February 2, 2026. Partners include Babson College and ICIC.
Citizens NYC Neighborhood Business Grant
Amount: up to $5,000
Deadline: 2/2/26
Overview: Neighborhood Business Grants from CitizensNYC provide New York City small businesses microgrants of up to $5,000 for projects that positively impact their local communities. Eligible applicants are profit-generating NYC businesses in the five boroughs with 10 or fewer employees and at least two years of operation, and grants are awarded in two annual cycles.
DFW Airport Request for Proposals
Deadline: 2/2/26
Overview: DFW Airport is soliciting proposals from concessionaires to operate a range of food, beverage, and specialty retail concepts across multiple terminal locations, including several 100% Small Business Enterprise Concessions (SBEC) packages and others with SBEC participation goals. Proposals are due February 2, 2026 and will be scored on concept quality, operations/design, customer experience, community impact, employee engagement, and proposed rent, with awards anticipated to go to the highest-scoring submissions for each package.
Green Business Engagement National Network Grant
Deadline: 2/2/26
Overview: GBENN and Intuit are offering a limited-time rebate program of up to $1,500 to help about 130 small businesses in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, and Oregon complete energy-efficiency or electrification upgrades (e.g., LED lighting, EV charging, HVAC work) to cut costs and emissions. Eligible businesses must be under 100 employees and ≤ $3.5M in annual revenue, meet their state program’s requirements, and finish projects by May 31, 2026
Chicken & Egg Films Research & Development Grant (2026)
Amount: $10,000 (Research) or $20,000 (Development)
Deadline: 2/4/26
Overview: Chicken & Egg Films supports women and gender-expansive documentary filmmakers developing new feature-length projects. The program funds research and development stages to help filmmakers build strong projects and secure additional financing.
AT&T Untold Stories x Tribeca Festival
Amount: $1,200,000
Deadline: 2/6/26
Overview: AT&T Untold Stories—run in partnership with the Tribeca Festival—awards up to $1.2M to help a winning filmmaking team produce a scripted feature film, plus yearlong mentorship, production support, and guidance on distribution and festival strategy. Five finalist teams will pitch at the 2026 Tribeca Festival, with the winner guaranteed a premiere at the 2027 Tribeca Festival and the other four finalists receiving $15,000 development grants.
Naturally Network Naturally Rising Pitch Slam
Amount: up to $100,000 (depends on location)
Deadline: 2/6/26
Overview: Naturally Rising is a pitch competition for purpose-driven, retail-ready natural product (CPG) brands that are Naturally Network members, U.S.-based, and generally under $2M in revenue. Brands apply once to be considered for their regional chapter competition, where finalists receive mentorship and retail-readiness resources, and regional winners advance to the national finals at Newtopia Now in Denver (Aug 18–20, 2026) with perks like a complimentary booth. Application deadlines vary by chapter, running from Feb 6 to March 20, 2026.
Application Deadlines:
February 6, 2026 - Colorado, NorCal
February 13, 2026 - San Diego
March 20, 2026 - Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New England, New York, Seattle, Wisconsin
Northern Trust Foundation Grant
Amount: $10,000 - $50,000
Deadline: 2/6/26
Overview: The Northern Trust Foundation focuses its Chicago giving on South and West Side communities, providing operating and program grants that support low-income youth ages 16–24. Its priorities include meeting essential needs like food security, affordable housing, and accessible healthcare, plus “to-and-through college” educational programs that remove barriers to post-secondary enrollment and completion. Organizations can apply by submitting a Letter of Inquiry during the foundation’s grant cycles.
Downtown Alliance RE:Store Program
Amount: up to $15,000
Deadline: 2/6/26
Overview: RE:Store is a Downtown Alliance program that helps small businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, and nonprofits run a temporary pop-up retail activation in a vacant Lower Manhattan storefront. Selected participants get free space for ~3 months, plus up to $15,000 and support with fit-out/design, permitting, and insurance—timed to help revitalize the area ahead of an expected tourism bump next summer tied to the FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations. Applications are open through February 6, 2026, and priority goes to revenue-generating, retail-focused concepts, with a commitment to regular operating hours and preference for NYC retail experience.
HP Future of Work Accelerator
Amount: $100,000
Deadline: 2/6/26
Overview: HP and the HP Foundation’s Future of Work Accelerator (Digital Equity Accelerator) is a six-month virtual program (May–Oct 2026) that helps organizations scale digital-equity solutions for the “future worker,” with a 2026 focus on youth, on-demand workers, and small businesses in the U.S. Selected organizations (five total) receive $100,000 in funding plus HP technology/solutions valued at ~$100,000, along with training and support from partners like MIT Solve and Global Impact Advisors. Applications are open Jan 12–Feb 6, 2026, and applicants must be U.S.-based, operating beyond idea stage, and typically reach ~25,000 people annually.
Belonging Innovation Lab (BIL) Narrative Fellowship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 2/8/26
Overview: The Belonging Innovation Lab (BIL) Narrative Fellowship is a 12-week virtual, cohort-based program from the American Immigration Council’s Center for Inclusion and Belonging that supports U.S.-based community leaders using narrative strategies to counter “us vs. them” dynamics and strengthen trust and belonging. Fellows participate in biweekly sessions and workshops (about 3–4 hours/week) and receive a $10,000 award for their time and community impact (funded through a 501(c)(3) or fiscal sponsor), with the fellowship running April 13–July 1, 2026 and applications due Feb. 8, 2026.
Allies for Community Business Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Lab (NEL)
Amount: $20,000
Deadline: 2/8/26
Overview: A4CB’s Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Lab (NEL) is a three-month, cohort-based program that provides entrepreneurs with capital, coaching, and connections by pairing them with investors, advisors, and strategists. Each participating business receives a $20,000 grant to support growth. To be eligible, businesses must have started operations before January 1, 2024, earned at least $75,000 in 2025 revenue, and be seeking to develop a growth strategy, with Cohort 13 applications due February 8.
2026 Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit - Bank of America Pitch Competition
Amount: up to $20,000
Deadline: 2/9/26
Overview: The Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit Pitch Competition invites established for-profit small businesses (2+ years in business, under 50 employees, under $2.5M revenue) from any location to apply for a chance to pitch live at the April 14–15, 2026 summit in West Des Moines, Iowa and win thousands of dollars, with multiple winners sharing a prize pot. To apply, businesses must submit a written application plus a 1-minute promo video and a $20 application fee, and finalists must attend the full day on April 14 to be eligible to pitch.
Motor City Match Grant
Amount: up to $100,000
Deadline: 2/9/26 (quarterly)
Overview: Supports Detroit-based entrepreneurs at every stage - from idea to expansion. Offers grants and expert support to help launch or grow businesses in Detroit’s commercial corridors. Winners must commit to staying in Detroit for 3+ years and show job creation or community benefit.
Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 2/10/26
Overview: Citizens Bank is holding its ninth annual Small Business Community Champion Award Contest, offering 20 small businesses across its footprint $10,000 each plus a year of professional support through Luminary (valued at $2,500). To be eligible, businesses must be Citizens Business Banking customers as of 2/10/26, have up to $5 million in annual revenue, have operated for at least two years, and maintain a minimum of three employees. Over its nine-year history, the program has awarded nearly $2 million to 192 small businesses to support their growth and community impact.
Crossroads Fund Seed Fund
Amount: up to $15,000
Deadline: 2/10/26
Overview: Crossroads Fund’s Seed Fund offers grants of up to $15,000 to Chicago-area community organizations doing social change and justice work, supporting general operating, start-up, or project costs (including emerging and small grassroots groups). It primarily funds organizations with budgets under $500,000.
Denver Business Impact Opportunity Fund Grant
Amount: up to $15,000
Deadline: 2/10/26
Overview: Denver Economic Development & Opportunity’s Business Impact Opportunity (BIO) Fund offers construction stabilization grants (up to $15,000) plus technical assistance to small businesses economically harmed by specified city-funded construction projects, with the current round focused on the East Colfax BRT construction corridor. Eligible businesses within 350 feet of the project can apply for a one-time grant—$7,500 for businesses with ≤$100,000 annual gross revenue and $15,000 for those above that threshold – if they meet requirements like eligible NAICS codes, $30K–$5M in 2025 revenue, and demonstrating at least a 20% revenue decline over a 90+ day period due to construction.
Charlotte Arts & Science Council Venue Access Grant
Amount: up to $10,000
Deadline: 2/11/26
Overview: The Venue Access Grant, funded by Mecklenburg County and administered by the Arts & Science Council, helps individual creatives in Mecklenburg County cover venue costs for public cultural programming in arts, science, history, or heritage. Grants of up to $10,000 are awarded based on the venue selected and expected audience size, supporting events that increase public engagement in accessible spaces.
Verizon Community Disaster Resilience Innovation Accelerator
Amount: $50,000
Deadline: 2/11/26
Overview: The Verizon Community Disaster Resilience Innovation Accelerator (powered by MassChallenge) supports U.S.-owned and operated startups building 5G-enabled technologies that strengthen community resilience before, during, and after natural disasters, including areas like AI analytics, resilient communications, drones, power, satellites, sensors, and weather prediction. The program backs up to 8 startups with $50,000 non-dilutive funding each, plus potential $50,000 prototyping grants for up to two teams, alongside expert support and a final pitch showcase. Applications are open January 21–February 11, 2026.
Milken–Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition
Amount: $5,000 - $40,000
Deadline: 2/11/26
Description: The Milken–Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition (EBPC) is a global EdTech competition that helps education entrepreneurs scale their ventures through cash prizes, expert mentorship, and access to a worldwide network. For 2026, applications opened Jan 14 and are due Feb 11, 2026, with semifinalists announced in May, finalists in August, and the live pitch competition in Fall 2026. Recent prizes include awards like $40,000 (grand prize), plus additional runner-up and audience choice prizes.
2026 Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Fellowship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: 2/12/26
Overview: The 2026 Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Fellowship selects 10 emerging filmmakers ages 18–25 (fiction or documentary, worldwide) who submit a 1–15 minute short showcasing their unique artistic voice by February 12, 2026. Fellows receive a $5,000 artist grant, a year of mentorship and cohort programming, a weeklong in-person lab at MassMoca, and a 12-month Adobe Creative Cloud membership, while developing a new project during the fellowship.
Grid110 Community Business Accelerator
Amount: $100k in resources
Deadline: 2/12/26
Overview: The Community Business Accelerator (FOUND/LA x Grid110) is a 16-week program for Los Angeles–based businesses that combine community impact with sustainable revenue, offering weekly live sessions, 1:1 mentorship, and applied assignments to strengthen fundraising strategy, product-market fit, teams, and operational roadmaps. Eligible companies must be headquartered in the City of LA, operating 12+ months, have early traction, and have raised under $250K; applications close February 12.
National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects
Amount: $10,000 - $100,000
Deadline: 2/12/26
Overview: The NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) program funds arts projects that help communities experience the arts, celebrate cultural heritage, expand arts education, and support arts-and-health efforts across many disciplines (from music and museums to design, theater, and visual/media arts). Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, units of state/local government, and federally recognized tribes with at least 5 years of arts programming and a prior-year operating budget of $20,000+; awards typically range from $10,000–$100,000 (with some discipline-specific limits) and require a 1:1 cost share. Applications run in two cycles, with the February 2026 deadlines spanning Feb 12 (Grants.gov Part 1) and **Feb 25 (NEA Portal Part 2).
Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator
Amount: $200,000
Deadline: 2/13/26
Overview: A 6-month program for startups worldwide, with priority for UC-affiliated and international founders. Cohort teams (20–25 selected) receive a $200K investment, dedicated workspace, a Lead Advisor, and the opportunity to pitch at Demo Day. All teams access 600+ advisors, $750K+ in in-kind resources, weekly events, and Berkeley’s extensive industry and alumni networks.
Chicago Community Development Grants (CDG)
Amount: $250k-$5M
Deadline: 2/13/26
Overview: A tiered grant program by the City of Chicago to support business- and community-development projects via new construction or rehabilitation of commercial, mixed-use, institutional, cultural or industrial uses. Grants are available at small, medium and large levels depending on project scope.
Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF)
Amount: up to $250,000
Deadline: 2/13/26
Overview: A capital development grant program provided by City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development that supports small business and cultural projects located on eligible commercial corridors on the West, Southwest, and South Sides of Chicago. Grants reimburse up to 75% of eligible project expenses for new construction, storefront build-outs, facade repair, etc.
GM on Main Street Grant Program
Amount: $60,000
Deadline: 2/13/26
Overview: The GM on Main Street Grant Program awards $60,000 grants to five nonprofits or local governments in eligible counties near GM facilities to implement innovative downtown road safety and traffic-calming projects. Applications are open Nov. 19, 2025–Feb. 13, 2026, with awards announced by late April 2026 and projects required to be completed and publicly usable by Nov. 30, 2026 (implementation runs May 1–Nov. 30, 2026). Funds can cover construction, equipment, labor, public-space activation, and limited design/engineering costs (up to 20%).
Zoom Solopreneur 50 Award & Grant
Amount: $150,000 prize pool
Deadline: 2/13/26
Overview: The Zoom Solopreneur 50 (ZSP50) is a national recognition program highlighting 50 standout solopreneurs, selected by a jury based on originality, performance, impact, authenticity, and influence. The award seeks individuals who embody the spirit of independence, innovation, and impact, do not have full-time employees, and are focused across sectors including: technology & SaaS, creative & design, wellness & lifestyle, social impact & community, professional services, education, media, and more. Honorees receive visibility, community access, and Zoom resources, with $150,000 total in grants awarded to the Top 5.
AI for Nonprofits NYC
Deadline: 2/13/26
Overview: The AI for Nonprofits Sprint: NYC Cohort is a 4–6 month, funded program designed to help NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits build the mindset, guardrails, and shared skills to use AI safely and thoughtfully in service of their missions, so teams can do more for their communities with limited time and resources. It aims to bring 50%+ of staff to practical AI literacy, pairing a baseline survey, ready-to-use staff guidelines, a 90-minute kickoff training, and facilitated peer-learning groups that apply low-cost, off-the-shelf tools to real operational needs. Participating organizations pay a $500 registration fee, designate an internal “AI Leadership Fellow,” and may be eligible to apply for complimentary ChatGPT Plus licenses; applications are due February 13, 2026 at 5pm ET.
LA County Small Business Mobility Fund
Amount: up to $10,000
Deadline: 2/13/26
Overview: LA County DEO’s Small Business Mobility Fund offers small businesses countywide a chance to access grants and technical assistance through three tracks: Launch Grants ($5,000 for non-retail commercial spaces or $10,000 for retail storefronts in unincorporated LA County), Entrepreneurship Academy Grants ($2,000 for EMI Academy graduates), and Formalization Grants for sidewalk vendors in unincorporated areas. It’s aimed at reducing barriers to business success by providing capital plus support (e.g., permitting, improvements, branding, equipment), and applications close February 13, 2026 at 11:00 PM.
Sunshine Enterprises Community Business Academy
Deadline: 2/13/26
Description: Community Business Academy (CBA) is a 12-week, hybrid course that provides hands-on training in core business skills like budgeting, marketing, bookkeeping, cash flow, pricing, and credit building. A key feature is three business simulation classes where teams run a simulated company, compete in a marketplace, track sales/expenses, and practice real-world marketing and finance decision-making. Classes meet once a week in Chicagoland (weeknights or Saturdays), are offered twice a year (starting in February and September), and the application deadline is February 13.
Quickbooks Small Business Hero Grant
Amount: $20,000
Deadline: 2/14/26
Overview: $20,000 grant by QuickBooks to support high-impact small businesses nominated by their communities.
Arc’teryx x Ori Women’s Creative Grant
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: 2/14/26
Overview: The Arc’teryx x Ori Women’s Creative Grant awards $5,000 and a feature in Ori Magazine’s upcoming print edition to one woman creative (or creative team) producing an original, locally rooted story, with a runner-up receiving entry to an Arc’teryx Academy photography workshop. Open to women storytellers worldwide (photographers, journalists, artists), applicants must submit a sub-500-word story pitch with a clear production plan by February 14, with winners announced February 17.
GLO Legacy Grant
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: 2/14/26
Overview: The GLO Legacy Grant is open for Black History Month and will award $1,000 to three U.S.-based Black-owned small businesses, with applications closing February 14 at 2:00 PM and winners announced February 15. To apply or nominate, comment and tag a business, have the founder reply with a short story, and reshare the post on IG Stories tagging @glomelanin_. Winners will be chosen based on story/mission, community impact, and engagement, and will also be featured in a collaborative Instagram spotlight post.
Chicago Fifth Star Funds
Amount: $25,000
Deadline: 2/15/26
Overview: Fifth Star Funds is accepting Q1 2026 applications to invest $25,000 in Friends & Family–stage, tech-enabled startups headquartered in Chicago, led by at least one founder who has faced racial discrimination in accessing capital. Eligible companies must have raised less than $25,000 in prior equity and will receive funding via a SAFE with a $4M post-money valuation cap and 20% discount. Applications are due February 15, 2026, with a streamlined, rubric-based review and interview process.
Chicago AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits Grant
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 2/16/26
Overview: The 2026 AMPT Grant is open to support Chicago nonprofits – especially those impacted by recent national political shifts – facing funding losses, higher service demand, and staff strain while serving Black and/or Latine communities. AMPT prioritizes Black and Latine-led organizations with budgets under $2M that serve Black/Latine neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and/or West Sides, with applications due February 16 at 11:59 PM CDT.
Nehemiah Davis’ Greatness Grant
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: 2/16/26
Overview: Nehemiah Davis’ Greatness Grant is a quarterly $1,000 grant for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners who need funding to launch or grow a business idea, with added benefits like mentorship and a community of founders. Applications for this round are due Feb 16 at 11:59 PM ET, and winners are announced Feb 17 via livestream (you must attend to claim the grant). Selection is based on the clarity of your idea, your passion, and the potential community impact.
HumanitiesDC Visions - Projects & Events Grant
Amount: up to $25,000
Deadline: 2/18/26
Overview: HumanitiesDC funds grassroots public humanities projects that capture and share DC communities' culture and narratives. The Visions grant funds DC-based non-profits to create and present innovative interpretations of the humanities for public audiences.
HumanitiesDC Community Culture & Heritage Grant
Amount: up to $10,000
Deadline: 2/18/26
Overview: HumanitiesDC funds grassroots public humanities projects that capture and share DC communities' culture and narratives. Community Culture and Heritage Grants fund grassroots projects that capture the culture and narratives of DC’s communities for public audiences. Projects may include panel discussion events, walking tours, short videos, podcasts, or other public humanities projects.
HumanitiesDC Oral History Collaborative - Oral History Interviewing Grant
Amount: up to $8,000
Deadline: 2/18/26
Overview: HumanitiesDC funds grassroots public humanities projects that capture and share DC communities' culture and narratives. The DC Oral History Collaborative supports collection, transcription, and archiving of new oral histories; additional funds available for translation. Eligibility: Individuals, community groups, schools/institutions, organizations & local businesses
Ben & Jerry's Foundation Grant
Amount: up to $30,000
Deadline: 2/18/26
Overview: The Ben & Jerry's Foundation Jerry Greenfield National Grassroots Organizing Grant Program funds community-based, constituent-led organizations working to confront social and environmental injustice, grounded in the belief that people most impacted are best positioned to lead solutions. It provides unrestricted general operating support (up to $30,000) to small grassroots groups running collective-action organizing campaigns that build power, mobilize communities, and drive systemic change across the U.S. and its territories.
McKinsey Fast Grants 2026
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 2/18/26
Overview: McKinsey Fast Grants 2026 is a Chicago-based program from McKinsey and Allies for Community Business (A4CB) that supports Chicago small businesses led by underrepresented founders (including first-generation business owners and founders from economically disadvantaged communities) to drive inclusive growth. The program will award four $10,000 grants and provide six months of McKinsey support (May–November 2026), such as regular check-ins to help founders tackle key business challenges. Applications are due February 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT, with decisions expected in April 2026.
Citi Foundation Community Finance Initiative RFP
Amount: $500,000
Deadline: 2/18/26
Overview: Citi Foundation’s 2026 Community Finance Initiative RFP will award 70 restricted grants of $500,000 each (totaling $35M) to support community organizations that help low-income households build financial stability and resilience in the U.S. Funded projects must align with at least one of three focus areas – Stabilize (day-to-day financial management), Strengthen (credit and asset building), or Safeguard (fraud prevention and recovery from shocks) – and run for 24 months, starting no sooner than August 1, 2026.
Unity for Humanity Grant
Amount: up to $100,000
Deadline: 2/20/26
Overview: Unity for Humanity is Unity’s annual open-call grant program that supports impact-driven creators using real-time 3D (games, XR, film, or solutions) aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Selected projects receive funding plus technical support, mentorship, and marketing amplification, and must be beyond the concept stage with a prototype or demo. Applications for this cycle are open January 7, 2026 through February 20, 2026.
MassChallenge Healthcare & Life Sciences Traction Program
Deadline: 2/20/26
Overview: MassChallenge’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Traction Program is a 10-week, high-intensity program for validated healthcare startups (from Pre-Seed through Series A+) to turn working tech into scalable business momentum. It focuses on making companies go-to-market ready (enterprise connections and partnerships), building a defensible strategy, and becoming investor ready through pitch refinement and feedback across areas like digital health/AI, devices & diagnostics, biotech/therapeutics, and systems innovation.
M&F Bank Small Business Grant
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 2/22/26
Overview: M&F Bank’s Empowering Growth Small Business Grant awards two $10,000 grants – one to a Raleigh business and one to a Durham business – to help small businesses in the Raleigh-Durham area grow. Applications run January 1–February 22, 2026, and eligible businesses must be M&F Bank customers in good standing located in Wake or Durham County, with ≤$750K in revenue, ≤25 employees, and ≤10 years in operation (prior winners and certain entities like nonprofits are ineligible).
UPS Store Small Biz Challenge
Amount: $35,000 prize pool
Deadline: 2/22/26
Overview: The 2026 The UPS Store® Small Biz Challenge invites eligible U.S. small businesses (independent, non-franchised small businesses, 9 or fewer employees, full-time owner) to enter for a chance to win a share of up to $35,000, a trip to Nashville, and a feature in Inc. magazine. After submissions are judged to select nine semi-finalists who complete mentor-led challenges and a public voting phase, the top three finalists compete at a live Nashville event where one grand prize winner is chosen. First place will win $25,000, and runner-ups will receive $5,000.
CTIA Wireless Foundation Catalyst Grant
Amount: up to $100k
Deadline: 2/24/26
Overview: Catalyst (run by the CTIA Wireless Foundation) is a competitive grant program for social entrepreneurs with mobile-first solutions that use wireless tech to tackle major challenges in U.S. communities. The program will award $200,000+ in unrestricted funding to at least six applicants, including $100K (1st), $50K (2nd), $25K (3rd) and up to three $10K honorable mentions, plus pitch coaching, communications support, and visibility opportunities. The Phase 1 application deadline is February 24, 2026, with finalists advancing to a Phase 2 round in April.
HerGenius Pitch Competition
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 2/27/26
Overview: Impact Ventures’ HerGenius Pitch Competition is for women-founded businesses in North Texas with traction. Eligible companies must be 51% woman-owned/operated, have at least $100K in annual revenue, and be based in North Texas (all industries welcome). Applications close Feb 27, invitations go out March 5, and the top 3 finalists will pitch live in Dallas on March 19, 2026 for a $10,000 grand prize.
NYC SBS Customized Training Grant Program
Amount: $10,000 - $400,000
Deadline: 2/27/26
Overview: NYC’s Customized Training Grant Program (run by the Department of Small Business Services) reimburses NYC-based for-profit businesses for up to 60% of employee training costs to help solve business challenges, adopt new tools, expand services, or upskill staff. Grants range from $10,000 to $400,000, require training at least five employees (or applying as a consortium), and businesses pay upfront then receive quarterly reimbursements with a commitment to raise wages after training.
New Mexico Economic Development Department Creative Industries Division Grant
Amount: up to $25,000
Deadline: 2/27/26
Overview: New Mexico’s Creative Industries Division Business Development & Expansion Grant supports existing for-profit creative businesses with at least three years of operations, offering awards up to $25,000 to fund needs like inventory, equipment, marketing/digital presence, technology/software, and small infrastructure improvements (but not hiring full-time staff). The program prioritizes rural and underserved businesses and those with fewer than 10 employees, consistent with a requirement that 50% of funding go to rural/underserved communities.
Local Development Corporation of East New York Opportunity Fund Grant
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 2/28/26
Overview: The LDCENY Opportunity Fund (in partnership with HSBC, the Brooklyn Women’s Business Center, and EBBID) offers up to $10,000 in grant funding for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses (5 years old or less) based in East New York, Brownsville, Canarsie, Starrett City, or Cypress Hills. Applicants compete to become one of 10 finalists who receive accelerated business training and pitch coaching, culminating in a live showcase where judges award funding to help launch or grow their ventures.
NY Pre-Seed and Seed Matching Fund Program
Amount: $50,000 to $250,000
Deadline: 2/28/26
Overview: New York State program that matches venture investments into pre-seed and seed-stage startups to catalyze growth.
Women Founders Grant
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: 2/28/26 (rolling)
Overview: $5,000 rolling grants for majority women-founded businesses at any stage, from side hustles to established ventures. Simple application with two questions; $25 non-refundable fee. Winners are chosen based on passion, authenticity, and merit.
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