21-05-2025
3 Small Business Grants To Apply For Before Spring Ends
Despite record-high entrepreneurial interest, small business women-owners (especially women of color) continue to face systemic barriers to financing opportunities. According to the 2024 State of Women's Small Business Report by Block Advisors, nearly half of women entrepreneurs who applied for a bank loan have never been approved; 39% cited a lack of collateral, 37% were denied due to poor credit, and 15% received no explanation at all.
The funding gap is even wider for women of color. Based on responses from over 6,000 small business owners, the report found that nearly three-quarters of BIPOC women face challenges securing loans, leaving many shut out of traditional capital pathways. As a result, 89% rely on personal savings and credit cards to fund their businesses, a strategy that can strain long-term financial stability.
While some women of color are turning to platform ownership, such as podcasting, to grow their businesses, gain financial control and visibility, the data underscores a broader reality: grants have become essential tools for growth. Unlike loans, they provide non-repayable capital and often include access to professional services, mentorship, and community support.
With deadlines approaching, the following three grant opportunities I've researched present a timely chance for small business owners to stabilize and scale their ventures this year.
Backed by Block Advisors by H&R Block, the Fund Her Future Grant is offering $100,000 in total funding to help close the gender and racial wealth gap in small business ownership. The program will award one $50,000 grant, five $10,000 grants to women-led businesses, and a year of free expert services designed to help founders build sustainable growth engines. Recipients will receive support in tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll management and business structure analysis, which are critical tools for women navigating entrepreneurship without access to traditional infrastructure.
The grant is open to U.S.-based small business owners, regardless of whether they are sole proprietors or operate with a small team. To qualify, businesses must have earned at least $20,000 in revenue in 2024, and applicants must be at least 18 years old (or 19 in Alabama and Nebraska). Nonprofits are not eligible.
According to Latasha Randle, Strategy and Small Business Program Manager at Block Advisors, the grant was created in response to deep disparities identified in small business funding. 'As we began to talk to small business owners, we identified the funding gap between men and women. For women of color, the gap was even greater,' Randle said in our conversation in the Brown Way To Money podcast. She adds that while bank loans often require credit history and financial documents, which many new founders do not yet have, this grant is centered more on the founder's story, asking questions like why the business exists and how it impacts the community.
From Randle's perspective, the most successful applicants clearly articulate their "why" and show how funding would fuel measurable growth. 'This grant doesn't just give money,' she says. 'It provides services, too. So applicants should communicate how they'd benefit from having someone guide them through tax compliance, payroll, and financial planning.'
Applications for the Fund Her Future Grant are open through May 30, 2025. Finalists will be selected for live interviews to share their stories in greater detail. Find more information for their application here.
Now in its fifth year, the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program, presented by American Express in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is awarding $50,000 to 50 historic, independently owned restaurants across the United States. The initiative recognizes these establishments' cultural and community value and seeks to help them remain anchored in their neighborhoods amid economic uncertainty.
To be eligible, restaurants must be located in historic or older buildings or neighborhoods, contribute to the cultural identity of their community, and tell a compelling story of culinary tradition or local impact. The program is geared toward small establishments with fewer than 100 employees that have been disproportionately affected by economic challenges, disasters, or other disruptions.
At least $40,000 of each grant must be used toward public-facing exterior improvements such as signage, lighting, murals, or outdoor seating areas. Up to $10,000 may be used for operations or unrestricted business needs, including digital upgrades. Technical assistance is available to help with project planning and preservation-sensitive improvements. If they obtain landlord approval for renovations, restaurants leasing their buildings can still apply.
Applications and public nominations will be accepted through May 30, 2025, but only restaurant owner-submitted applications will be considered for funding. Strong community support, a straightforward historical narrative, and alignment with preservation goals will weigh heavily in the selection process. Find more information about this small business grant here.
As part of its ongoing commitment to small business resilience, Verizon is awarding 50 small businesses $10,000 grants this year through its Digital Ready platform, in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Since 2021, Verizon has invested $13.5 million in small business grants awarded to skincare businesses, beauty e-commerce, and others. This round aims to further equip founders with both capital and access to education.
To unlock the application, business owners must complete any two eligible courses or virtual events on the Digital Ready platform between January 1 and June 30, 2025 which can take about 30 minutes to one hour to complete. The platform offers hundreds of free tools tailored to small business growth, including marketing, financial management, and operations workshops. Once that requirement is fulfilled, applicants may submit their grant proposals through June 30, 2025.
The grant is open to for-profit, U.S.-based businesses owned by individuals 18 or older. Nonprofits are not eligible, and applicants must be able to verify business and financial information if selected. While previous Digital Ready grant recipients may reapply, priority is given to first-time applicants.
By blending educational access with real financial support, this grant program creates a meaningful pipeline for entrepreneurs looking to enhance their operations, expand their knowledge, and increase sustainability in a changing market. Find more information about this small business grant here.
The bottom line is that programs like Fund Her Future, Verizon Digital Ready, and Backing Historic Small Restaurants go beyond writing checks; they deliver targeted support, visibility, and long-term growth potential. For small business owners ready to take the next step, these opportunities offer more than funding; they represent recognition, validation, and a tangible path forward. With application deadlines rapidly approaching, now is the time to act.
