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Forbes
05-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 Small Business Grants You Can Apply For Right Now
With inflation hovering around 2.4% as of March 2025 and consumer confidence falling for a fifth consecutive month, small business owners are navigating a climate marked by caution and constraint. Stephanie Guichard, a senior economist for the Global Indicators at The Conference Board, mentions in the organization's latest report release that 'consumer confidence declined for a fifth consecutive month in April, falling to levels not seen since the onset of the Covid pandemic … The decline was largely driven by consumers' expectations. The three expectation components—business conditions, employment prospects, and future income—all deteriorated sharply, reflecting pervasive pessimism about the future.' At the same time, access to traditional funding sources continues to shrink. According to the 2024 Bank of America Business Owner Report, 71% of small business owners plan to seek funding this year, down from 82% last spring. Personal savings remain the most commonly used funding source, followed by business credit cards and bank loans, each carrying its own limitations. In 2023, nearly 70% of small business owners relied on their savings, a marked increase from 60% in 2022 to just 43% in 2020. In today's uncertain economic environment, grants present a great path to business growth, particularly for women of color who frequently face systemic barriers to traditional funding. Whether you are launching a new venture, working to stabilize operations, or scaling an existing business, having access to grant funding can offer a much-needed financial cushion. Below are five current opportunities designed to support small business owners through these challenging times. The Dream Makers Founder Grant is a $1 million multi-year initiative created to support underrepresented business owners and expand equitable access to capital. The program distributes five $25,000 grants annually to help historically excluded entrepreneurs scale their ventures. In 2025, a total of $125,000 will be awarded, with applications open through May 30 and winners announced in early August. Eligible businesses must be U.S.-based, generate annual revenue between $100,000 and $1 million, and have between one and ten employees. Companies must also be at least 51% women-owned and sell a consumer packaged good (CPG) that does not fall within the beauty category. While only members of the Fifteen Percent Pledge's Business Equity Community can apply, registration is free and takes less than 15 minutes. The program's goal is to reduce funding barriers and foster an ecosystem where diverse founders can thrive; grant funds must be used for marketing, manufacturing, or R&D. The Cartier Women's Initiative is a longstanding global entrepreneurship program that champions women-led businesses making a measurable social or environmental impact. Founded in 2006, the program is open to women-run and women-owned ventures in any country and industry, provided they demonstrate a mission-driven model aimed at positive change. Award amounts range from $30,000 to $100,000, offering substantial financial support in addition to mentorship, visibility, and access to an entrepreneurs' global community. The next application deadline is June 24, 2025, and those interested are encouraged to begin preparing early, as the program is highly competitive. This grant opportunity is especially relevant for women founders who want to expand their impact, attract global attention, and scale with purpose. Santander's Cultivate Small Business program is designed to help early-stage food entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses. The program focuses on founders operating in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods, offering a comprehensive 12-week curriculum that blends food-focused business education, one-on-one mentorship, and access to capital grants. The fall cohort runs from September through November, with applications accepted from March through June, making now a prime window to apply. To qualify, businesses must be at least one year old, have revenues between $25,000 and $1 million in the previous calendar year, and employ between one and ten full-time team members. While the program is free to eligible entrepreneurs, it is geographically limited to select regions, including Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, the Greater Philadelphia area, New York City, and Miami. This grant program provides financial support and the foundational infrastructure to scale resilient and sustainably. Amazon Business is investing more than $250,000 in the growth of small businesses with its annual grant program. Open to existing Amazon Business customers in the U.S. with annual revenues of $1 million or less, the grant includes monetary awards and business-enhancing perks. The grand prize winner will receive a $25,000 grant, four finalists will each receive $20,000 and ten semi-finalists will receive $15,000. Additional prizes include a one-year Business Prime membership, Amazon devices such as Kindle Scribe and Echo Show 8, and up to $3,000 in reward points. To be eligible, businesses must be U.S.-based, self-owned by a U.S. resident over 18, and must have made a purchase on Amazon Business within the 12 months before May 1, 2025. Only one entry per business account is accepted, and applications must be submitted by May 23, 2025. This grant is an attractive option for companies already operating on Amazon's platform or considering expanding their e-commerce operations. has launched its inaugural Small Business Flexibility Grant to celebrate Small Business Month. The grant offers $25,000 to one service-based business in the U.S. to enhance operational resilience. Applications are open from May 1 through May 31, 2025. The program is designed to empower businesses facing everyday operational challenges, particularly those that can be alleviated through automation or digital tools. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based, service-oriented businesses with at least three employees and a minimum of two years in operation. Applicants are asked to share how their business would use the funding to improve flexibility, such as streamlining manual processes like mailing or shipping. To maximize these opportunities, prepare compelling applications that connect your mission with measurable outcomes and include detailed plans for how the funds will be deployed. Whether you are expanding operations, integrating new technology, or launching a high-impact venture, these funding opportunities offer tangible support at a time when external financing is increasingly limited.
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Consumer Confidence Slides As American Spending Power Signals Decline
Funny customer having regrets for buying so much after leaving the supermarket Money talks, and right now Americans aren't feeling confident about their financial future. Consumer confidence numbers crashed to 92.9 for March 2024, hitting lows not seen since early 2021. The numbers paint a stark picture. While unemployment sits at a seemingly healthy 4.2%, over half of consumers view the economy through a negative lens. CultureBanx noted that the mood shift matters, because consumer dollars fuel nearly two-thirds of all U.S. economic activity. This 7.2-point tumble caught market watchers off guard, falling short of their 94.5 prediction. Even more telling is Americans' outlook on jobs, income and business dropped to 65.2, the weakest showing in 12 years. "Consumers' expectations were especially gloomy, with pessimism about future business conditions deepening and confidence about future employment prospects falling to a 12-year low," said Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators at The Conference Board in a press release. Older Americans showed the steepest decline in confidence. The Consumer Confidence Board report indicates that consumers aged 55 and older led the downturn, followed by those between 35 and 54 years old. Yet consumers under 35 years old showed increased confidence. The decline touched households of all income levels, with all but one group, those earning more than $125,000 annually, showing decreased confidence. Even with the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index dropping 15% causing recession fears to mount, it's not the only thing they are worried about. Other concerning findings from the report include: The treasury yield curve suggests a high probability of recession ahead, according to JPMorgan. Wall Street veterans watch this commonly known "Fed's favorite recession gage" closely, as its track record speaks volumes. History shows tight monetary policy typically precedes economic downturns. Not to mention that Wall Street has missed the mark on GDP forecasts two years running. Big banks can't agree on recession odds. Reuters reported that JPMorgan pegs chances at 40%, while PIMCO sees 35% risk in 2025, up from 15% in December. Moody's matches that 35% forecast, with Chief Economist Mark Zandi calling it "uncomfortably high and rising". However, corporate America looks more worried as 60% of CFOs in CNBC's latest survey expect recession by late 2025, with 15% betting on 2026. American shoppers are rushing to beat price hikes. Families are stocking up on TVs, fridges, washers and microwaves. This is what the Consumer Conference Board calls "likely pre-emptive buying before tariffs lead to price increases". Now U.S. consumers expect a 5.1% price jump over the next year, which is the highest since May 2023 and up from 4.7% last month. The math hurts since prices have risen approximately 20% since the beginning of 2021, while paychecks grew just 17%, according to Marketplace.
