10 Small Business Grants You Can
Apply For Right Now — August 2026
 

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Finding funding for your small business shouldn't mean spending hours searching the internet only to discover that an opportunity expired months ago.

We've done some of the research for you.

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Below are 10 small business grants and funding opportunities entrepreneurs can explore right now, including grants for startups, established businesses, women entrepreneurs, self-employed business owners, technology companies, and businesses looking for growth capital.

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Some deadlines are only days away, while others accept applications monthly, quarterly, or year-round.

Important: Grant programs can change deadlines, eligibility requirements, and award amounts. Always verify the current information directly with the funding organization before submitting an application.

 

1. Amber Grant for Women

The Amber Grant is one of the longest-running grant programs created specifically for women entrepreneurs. Applicants complete one application and may be considered for several WomensNet grant opportunities.

Award Amount

$10,000 monthly grants, with selected monthly recipients eligible for larger year-end awards.

Who Qualifies

Women entrepreneurs in the United States and Canada, including founders of startups, established businesses, and businesses in the early stages of development.

Application Deadline

Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed monthly.

Application Fee

$15

Apply

Visit the official Amber Grant website:

ambergrantsforwomen.com

 

2. Skip $10,000 Summer Grant

If you're looking for one of the larger general small business grants available this month, the Skip Summer Grant deserves attention.

The opportunity is open to entrepreneurs across the United States and is not limited to one specific industry or demographic.

Award Amount

$10,000

Who Qualifies

U.S.-based entrepreneurs and small business owners who are at least 18 years old.

Applicants must also meet Skip's membership requirements for the grant. Skip Plus or Pro membership is required, and a free trial may be available for new members.

Application Deadline

August 14, 2026

Application Fee

No separate grant application fee; membership requirements apply.

Apply

Visit:

helloskip.com/grants/skip-10k-grants

Deadline Alert: This opportunity closes soon, so eligible entrepreneurs should review the requirements as quickly as possible.

 

3. Freed Fellowship Grant

The Freed Fellowship is particularly interesting because applicants have an opportunity to receive funding while also receiving feedback designed to help strengthen their businesses.

Each month, one entrepreneur is selected as a Freed Fellow.

Award Amount

$500 monthly grant

Monthly Fellows are also eligible for an additional $2,500 end-of-year grant.

Who Qualifies

U.S.-based entrepreneurs who own and actively operate an existing small business.

The program accommodates a variety of industries and business models.

Application Deadline

Rolling

Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed monthly.

Application Fee

Free

Apply

Visit:

freedfellowship.com

Bonus: Applicants receive business feedback through Freed's 5C Framework, making this an opportunity where the application process itself may provide value.

 

4. Galaxy Grant

The Galaxy Grant is designed to make business funding more accessible, particularly for women, minority entrepreneurs, and underserved business owners.

The application is relatively simple, making this a good opportunity for entrepreneurs who are new to applying for grants.

Award Amount

$4,250

Who Qualifies

Eligible applicants may include:

• Small business owners

• Entrepreneurs

• Startups

• Women-owned businesses

• Minority-owned businesses

• Other eligible U.S.-based applicants

Application Deadline

Applications are accepted on an ongoing monthly basis.

Application Fee

Free

Apply

Visit:

galaxyofstars.org/galaxy-grants

 

5. Greatness Grant

The Greatness Grant is aimed at people who are just beginning their entrepreneurial journey.

Unlike many business grants that require years of operations or significant revenue, this opportunity is designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs.

Award Amount

Grant amount is not publicly disclosed.

Who Qualifies

Eligible applicants may include aspiring and new entrepreneurs who:

• Are at least 18 years old

• Have a business idea or early-stage business

• Are committed to launching or growing their business

• Meet the program's current eligibility requirements

Application Deadline

August 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Application Fee

Free

Apply

Visit:

greatnessgrant.com

Best For: First-time entrepreneurs, startup founders, side-hustle entrepreneurs, and people preparing to turn a business idea into an operating company.

 

6. Operation SecretSOS™ Small Business Grant

The Operation SecretSOS Small Business Grant provides quarterly funding to entrepreneurs looking to overcome financial challenges or invest in business growth.

Unlike some grants with very narrow restrictions, the program may support a variety of business needs.

Award Amount

$2,500

Who Qualifies

Eligible applicants include qualifying small business owners and entrepreneurs who can explain how the funding would help their businesses grow.

Applicants should also demonstrate a commitment to business development, leadership, and positive impact.

Application Deadline

September 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT

Applications are offered quarterly.

Application Fee

$15

Apply

Visit:

secretsos.com/grants

Good to Know: Because applications are offered quarterly, entrepreneurs may have several opportunities throughout the year to pursue this funding.

 

7. Spectrum Reach Pay It Forward Program

Not every valuable small business award comes in the form of a check.

Spectrum Reach's Pay It Forward Program helps qualifying businesses gain something that can be extremely expensive for a small company to purchase independently: professional advertising.

Selected businesses receive a complimentary advertising package designed to increase visibility and reach new customers.

Award

A complimentary advertising package that includes:

• A professionally produced 30-second television commercial

• A complimentary advertising schedule

• Business educational resources

• Networking opportunities

• Support from local media professionals

Who Qualifies

Eligible small businesses must be located within participating Spectrum Reach markets and meet the requirements contained in the official program rules.

Application Deadline

December 31, 2026

Application Fee

Free

Apply

Visit:

spectrumreach.com/pay-it-forward

Important: This program provides advertising services rather than unrestricted cash. For a business that needs visibility and customer acquisition, however, the marketing value could be significant.

 

8. Hey Helen Grant

The Hey Helen Grant provides one of the larger recurring awards on this month's list.

Created by Visionaries, the program supports women founders building mission-driven, for-profit businesses in the United States.

Award Amount

$10,000 monthly grant

The award provides unrestricted funding that can help support business needs such as operations, marketing, hiring, inventory, technology, or expansion.

Who Qualifies

Eligible businesses must generally:

• Be legally registered in the United States

• Be at least 50% women-owned

• Generate less than $1 million in annual revenue

Pre-revenue businesses are also welcome to apply.

Application Deadline

August 30, 2026

Application Fee

Free

Apply

Visit:

visionaries.co/helen-grant

Best For: Women founders building purpose-driven companies who need flexible capital to launch or grow their businesses.

 

9. NASE Growth Grant

The National Association for the Self-Employed Growth Grant is a long-running funding opportunity created specifically for small business owners and self-employed professionals.

Grant funds can support practical business expenses such as marketing, technology, equipment, training, and expansion.

Award Amount

Up to $4,000

Who Qualifies

Eligible applicants must be members in good standing of the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) and meet the membership requirements associated with the program.

Application Deadline

Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly.

Membership Requirement

NASE membership is required.

Apply

Visit:

nase.org

Best For: Sole proprietors, self-employed professionals, micro-business owners, and existing small businesses planning to invest in growth.

 

10. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Funding Opportunities

If your company is developing innovative technology, conducting research, or creating solutions that could address federal research priorities, the Small Business Innovation Research program is worth exploring.

SBIR isn't one single grant with one universal deadline. Participating federal agencies release individual funding opportunities throughout the year.

That means entrepreneurs should search the currently available solicitations to determine whether their technology or research aligns with an active funding topic.

Award Amount

Varies significantly by federal agency, funding phase, and individual solicitation.

Awards can range from substantial early-stage research funding to much larger amounts for later-stage development.

Who Qualifies

Generally, eligible applicants are U.S.-based for-profit small businesses involved in qualifying research, technology, or innovation.

Each federal agency establishes additional requirements for its individual opportunities.

Application Deadline

Varies by active solicitation.

Businesses should review currently open opportunities and their individual deadlines.

Apply

Visit:

sbir.gov

Best For: Technology companies, research-driven businesses, scientific startups, engineering companies, and businesses developing innovative commercial solutions.

Important: SBIR applications are significantly more involved than most private small business grant applications. Businesses should carefully review the solicitation requirements before beginning an application.

 

Bonus: Two Funding Resources Worth Bookmarking

These next two resources aren't individual grants, which is why we didn't include them in our list of 10. However, they can help you discover additional funding opportunities.

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IFW by Honeycomb Universal Funding & Grant Application

Instead of applying for one specific grant, entrepreneurs can complete a universal application that may connect them with grants and other funding opportunities based on their business profile.

Funding amounts and eligibility requirements vary by opportunity.

Visit: ifundwomen.com/grants

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Grants.gov

Grants.gov is the official federal database for U.S. government grant opportunities.

This is especially useful for businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, government entities, and other organizations looking for federal funding programs.

Because each federal opportunity has its own eligibility requirements, businesses should carefully review whether a particular grant accepts for-profit small businesses before investing time in an application.

Visit: grants.gov

 

Before You Apply: 6 Ways to Strengthen Your Grant Applications

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Grant funding is competitive. A strong strategy isn't simply finding one grant and hoping to win — it's identifying the right opportunities and consistently submitting well-prepared applications.

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1. Check Eligibility First

Read every eligibility requirement before beginning an application. Don't spend hours applying for funding your business cannot receive.

2. Prepare Your Core Business Information

Keep your business description, founder biography, revenue information, business goals, and funding-use statement readily available. You'll encounter similar questions across multiple applications.

3. Explain Exactly How You'll Use the Money

Avoid vague answers such as "marketing and growth."

Instead, explain what you would purchase, implement, hire, develop, or expand and how that investment would help your business.

4. Tell a Memorable Business Story

Numbers matter, but so does your story.

Explain why you started the business, what problem you're solving, whom you serve, and what additional funding could help you accomplish.

5. Track Every Application and Deadline

Create a simple grant tracker containing:

• Grant name

• Award amount

• Deadline

• Eligibility requirements

• Application date

• Application status

• Winner announcement date

This becomes increasingly valuable as you apply for more opportunities.

6. Keep Applying

Don't build your funding strategy around winning one grant.

Treat grant applications as an ongoing business-development activity. Each application helps you clarify your story, improve your funding request, and become better prepared for the next opportunity.

 

Find More Small Business Grants

These 10 opportunities are only a starting point.

New grants and funding programs open throughout the year for entrepreneurs, startups, women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, established companies, nonprofits, agricultural businesses, and specialized industries.

Bookmark Juggernaut Trendy Bag and check back regularly.

We continually add new funding opportunities, application deadlines, eligibility information, and resources designed to help entrepreneurs spend less time searching for grants — and more time building their businesses.

Explore the Juggernaut Trendy Bag Grant Directory for even more funding opportunities.

Last updated: August 10, 2026