Grants are funds that do not need to be repaid, but must be applied for to receive. In some cases, the awarding body is a private company, or a national, state, or local government or association. At the time of this writing, there are hundreds of grants available to entrepreneurs, many of which focus on women-owned, BIPOC-owned, LGBTQIA-owned, and/or neurodivergent-owned businesses.
Below are a few examples of popular grants disbursed on up to a monthly basis. For more local sources, search for your local small business association, which may have grants available only to local entrepreneurs, and therefore receives a smaller pool of applications.
Examples of Private Grants for Entrepreneurs
Amber Grants for Women: The Amber Grant is a grant awarded monthly, in the amount of 10,000 USD. Additional smaller grants may be awarded monthly as well. Additionally, one of the 12 monthly recipients will be awarded an additional year-end grant of 25,000 USD each December. Women can apply at the Amber Grants for Women website.
Tory Burch Foundation: The Fellows Program from the Tory Burch Foundation is a year-long program that offers a fellowship of virtual education, networking opportunities, and intensives along with a 5,000 USD grant. Winners are also invited to the Tory Burch offices for workshops and networking opportunities.
Example of a Private Grant for BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA Entrepreneurs
SoGal Foundation has partnered with brands like Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, Twilio, and other sponsors to provide several 10,000 USD and 5,000 USD cash grants to black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs. Grant recipients also receive mentorship and help navigating the world of entrepreneurship, and access to the SoGal Foundation and SoGal Ventures teams.
Government Grants for Neurodivergent and/or Disabled Entrepreneurs
The United States government offers grants for disabled persons for starting a business. Additionally, the Small Business Administration (SBA) grants list and Department of Health and Human Services for private foundations and organizations offer funding specifically for neurodivergent and/or disabled entrepreneurs.
The Canadian government offers similar grant opportunities, as do the governments of the United Kingdom, The Australian Government, and the Dutch government, to name a few.