Minority Business Grants Available Eligibility and Application Advice

Minority-owned businesses continue to grow, but access to funding hasn’t kept pace. The Federal Reserve Banks’ Small Business Credit Survey indicates that fewer than 35% of Black, Asian, and Hispanic business owners secured the full amount of funding they applied for, compared with more than half of white business owners. This highlights the importance of grants and other funding resources for minority entrepreneurs.

This guide outlines essentials for minority business owners seeking grants—where to find opportunities, how to strengthen applications, and which programs offer the best combination of funding and support.

What are minority business grants?

Minority business grants are funding or resources awarded to help underrepresented entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses. These grants, which do not need to be repaid, are typically offered by private companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies as part of broader funding programs. They can provide direct financial assistance, as well as in-kind support such as mentoring, professional development, exposure, and networking opportunities. Many grants include restrictions on how funds can be used, and some require participation in specific programs or commerce platforms.

The term “minority business” has different meanings across different programs.

For federal programs, such as those run by the Small Business Administration (SBA), a minority-owned business is at least 51% owned and controlled by individuals who are Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latinx, or Native American. This definition often determines eligibility for federal contracting and participation in SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program, which provides mentorship, business training, and access to set-aside contracts.

Many private organizations, nonprofits, and advocacy groups use the term more broadly to include additional underrepresented groups, such as women entrepreneurs, LGBTQ+ business owners, and immigrant founders. This guide uses the broader definition to reflect the full range of grant opportunities available.

Most business grants involve competition—applicants submit detailed applications alongside other entrepreneurs seeking the same funding. Some opportunities take the form of fellowship and mentorship programs, which emphasize networking and professional development, while others are pitch competitions, giving participants the chance to present their business live for both funding and visibility.

Tips for finding and applying to minority business grants

Aspiring and existing small business owners can find and apply for grants by following these tips:

Search online for small business grant lists and use major grant databases like the Candid Foundation Directory and Grants.gov, which publishes opportunities from multiple federal agencies. Minority business owners can also find grants through local chambers of commerce, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) centers, which can connect them with funding opportunities, technical assistance, and business training.

Examine the fine print of each grant, verifying eligibility based on location, revenue thresholds, or industry focus. Keep an eye on closing dates, as grant listings aren’t always updated. Subscribing to funder newsletters can help stay ahead of new deadlines.

Write applications with purpose, reflecting passion for the business and an understanding of the funder’s goals. Reference the mission of the grantor where appropriate, and keep answers specific and personal. Funders are looking for authentic stories, not generic text.

Leverage supporting materials to back up applications with evidence of work. A clear business plan, solid financial documents, or visuals such as photos and short videos can add weight. Use strengths to highlight the plan or branding.

4 grants for minority-owned businesses

Here are four notable programs that provide funding and support for minority entrepreneurs.

1. Freed Fellowship Grant

Grant amount: $500 to $2,500
Eligibility: Micro- and small business owners in the US, with minority and women business owners encouraged
Deadline: Monthly

The Freed Fellowship Grant awards monthly grants of $500 to small business owners, particularly encouraging applications from minority, female, and other marginalized groups. Awardees also receive one year of access to Freed Studio, which helps them build and leverage their email lists, along with coaching support, business resources, and the chance to win an annual $2,500 grant.

2. Pathway to Opportunity Competition

Grant amount: $1,250 to $5,000
Eligibility: Minority-owned businesses in the US with a business-to-business product or service
Deadline: Annual

The Pathway to Opportunity Competition began as a pitch competition specifically for Black entrepreneurs, but now welcomes all minority business owners to compete. Each annual competition brings together participants to compete in two live pitch contests, with the chance to win cash awards and receive free networking and exposure. This opportunity is for business solutions, not consumer products.

3. Galaxy Grant

Grant amount: $2,950 to $25,000
Eligibility: Minority and women entrepreneurs in the US
Deadline: Varies

The Galaxy Grant is offered by the nonprofit Galaxy of Stars, a resource network for women and minority businesses. It supports small business owners at any stage of their journey and includes restrictions on how funds can be used. Applications are accepted only from individuals who have created a free or paid Galaxy of Stars membership account.

4. TRANSFORM Business Grant

Grant amount: $1,000
Eligibility: US-based entrepreneurs from systematically oppressed groups, regardless of immigration status
Deadline: Annual

TRANSFORM offers business grants with the explicit goal of wealth redistribution, awarding small grants to minority-owned businesses that make a meaningful social impact. In addition to a small grant award, the TRANSFORM Business Grant offers one year of mentorship and development coaching. Preference is given to small businesses in financial need that share TRANSFORM’s social values and commitment to antiracism.

4 grants for women-owned businesses

These programs provide funding and support tailored to women-owned small businesses.

1. Amber Grants for Women

Grant amount: $10,000 to $25,000
Eligibility: Women-owned small businesses in the US and Canada
Deadline: Monthly

WomensNet, a female entrepreneurship foundation, awards three Amber Grants each month: one open to all women-owned businesses, one for startups, and one in a rotating category. At the end of the year, three grant recipients are selected for additional $25,000 grants.

2. EmpowHer Grants

Grant amount: Up to $25,000
Eligibility: US female founders age 22 and up with socially conscious, revenue-earning businesses not more than three years old
Deadline: Quarterly

The EmpowHer Grants program, an initiative of The Boundless Futures Foundation, offers support to women-owned eligible small businesses. The businesses must demonstrate social impact in poverty and hunger, sustainability and the environment, or strong communities. Recipients also participate in professional training programs. Funding is distributed as reimbursement for business-related expenses.

3. BGV Pitch Program

Grant amount: More than $30,000 in total cash prizes
Eligibility: Under-resourced female founders in the US with revenue-generating businesses
Deadline: Varies (based on event schedule)

The BGV Pitch Program, sponsored by the Black Girl Ventures Foundation, is a multicity pitch competition for women business founders, where competitors receive pitch coaching and support as they develop a two-minute pitch before a live audience. BGV Pitch events are held throughout the year in major US cities, where audiences are invited to contribute to crowdfunding campaigns for the founders whose pitch they favor.

4. HerRise MicroGrants

Grant amount: $1,000
Eligibility: Women-owned businesses in the US with annual revenue under $1 million
Deadline: Monthly

The female entrepreneurship community HerSuiteSpot offers monthly HerRise MicroGrants, supporting women-owned small businesses. All women business owners are eligible, but under-resourced women and women of color are particularly encouraged to apply. Nonprofits, franchises, and direct sellers are ineligible for the grants.

3 grants for LGBTQ+-owned businesses

These programs provide funding and support for LGBTQ+ business owners, with some also emphasizing mentorship and visibility.

1. Queer Business Alliance (QBA) Microgrants

Grant amount: $2,500 to $5,000
Eligibility: LGBTQ+ businesses in the US that are less than a year old
Deadline: Varies

The Queer Business Alliance awards QBA Microgrants to small businesses owned by LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. Awardees also receive access to volunteer expert advisers for a wide range of development support, and the Queer Business Alliance may help publicize their business.

2. National Pride Grant

Grant amount: $1,000
Eligibility: LGBTQIA+ business owners with a US-based company (operating one year or more, with two to 100 employees and less than $5 million in annual revenue)
Deadline: Annual

The National Pride Grant for LGBTQIA+ Small Businesses awards 25 eligible small businesses with $1,000 microgrants. Offered by Founders First CDC, the grant program focuses on economic empowerment and increasing the number of LGBTQIA+ businesses with revenues exceeding $1 million.

3. ROMBA Startup Pitch Competition

Grant amount: Up to $2,500
Eligibility: LGBTQ+ MBA students or alumni with an established startup
Deadline: Annual

The ROMBA Startup Pitch Competition is a national pitch event organized by Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) in partnership with StartOut. The competition features teams of LGBTQ+ and ally entrepreneurs, with prizes of up to $2,500. Participants must be current or graduated MBA students, with at least one member of the pitch team registered and attending the ROMBA Conference.

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