Small business grant directory
Federal, state and private grant programs for small businesses, with real eligibility rules, typical amounts and how to apply. Free to apply. Never pay a fee for a government grant.
Grants are money you never repay. They are also competitive, slow, and full of eligibility fine print. This directory exists to save you the two most common mistakes: applying to programs you cannot win, and paying someone for a list you can get free.
How to use it. Start with how to apply and actually win. Then pick the category that matches your business. Every program we list links to the official source; when a deadline or amount changes, the official page wins.
Reality check. Most small businesses that need money in the next 90 days will not get it from a grant. Run the 60-second match in parallel so you have a funding option while grant applications are pending.
Federal small business grants
What the federal government actually funds for small businesses: research and innovation (SBIR/STTR), exporting, rural development and contracting support. Not general working capital.
Amount: $50k – $2M+ (SBIR/STTR)
Read more →State and local business grants
Where the real small-business grant money is: state economic development agencies, cities, counties and utilities. Storefront improvement, job creation, energy efficiency, disaster recovery.
Amount: $1k – $100k
Read more →Private and corporate small business grants
Recurring grant programs from corporations, foundations and membership organizations. Smaller checks, simpler applications, and open to ordinary Main Street businesses.
Amount: $1k – $50k
Read more →Grants for women-owned businesses
Recurring grant programs, certifications and lender programs for women business owners, plus the eligibility fine print that most lists skip.
Amount: $500 – $25k typical
Read more →Grants for minority-owned businesses
Grant programs, MBDA centers, certification and CDFI lending for Black, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American and other minority business owners.
Amount: $1k – $50k typical
Read more →Grants and funding for veteran-owned businesses
Veteran-specific grant programs, SBA veteran resources, contracting set-asides and lender programs with fee waivers.
Amount: $1k – $50k typical
Read more →How to apply for small business grants and actually win
A repeatable system: one master application, a monthly batch, the six things every committee scores, and the mistakes that get you screened out.
Read more →How to spot business grant and loan scams
Government grants are free to apply for. Anyone charging a fee, guaranteeing approval or asking for your bank login is running a scam. The seven red flags and what to do instead.
Read more →See what your business qualifies for
60 seconds. No hard credit pull. Options from 40+ funding partners, or a grant path if you are not ready to borrow.