Grants for Small businesses - Diversity Equity and Inclusion

This initiative provides cash awards and support to Black-led startups in Brazil, helping them overcome barriers to entrepreneurship and grow their businesses without giving up equity.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Door County businesses, non-profits, and local governments to improve accessibility for the public through various enhancements and services.

This funding opportunity supports innovative projects that apply psychological science to address urgent community issues related to prejudice, violence, and health, particularly benefiting marginalized groups.

This funding initiative provides financial support to high-growth, technology-driven companies in Pennsylvania to foster innovation, create jobs, and strengthen regional economies.

This funding opportunity supports research on how social isolation and loneliness affect suicide risk in older adults, aiming to identify protective factors and inform interventions for vulnerable populations.

This program provides six months of consulting and training support valued at $15,000 to empower marginalized restaurant owners in developing sustainable and efficient business practices.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small community organizations and Tribal entities in New England to tackle environmental and public health issues in disadvantaged communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for pilot studies that develop and test innovative interventions aimed at preventing HIV in populations significantly affected by alcohol use, such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, and individuals recently released from incarceration.

This grant provides funding for collaborative projects in the planning phase that seek to create systemic change in community health by addressing complex issues through equity-focused solutions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community organizations in Washington, D.C., to deliver medically tailored home meals to residents with chronic health conditions, particularly in underserved areas, to improve food access and nutritional health.

This grant provides funding to Colorado-based nonprofits focused on innovative solutions that improve the economic well-being of marginalized older adults by addressing systemic challenges and promoting equity in aging.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to for-profit and nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C., to improve access to healthy food options in underserved neighborhoods by transforming corner stores into healthier retail environments.

This grant provides funding for individuals or teams worldwide to support feminist projects that promote gender equality and challenge discrimination across various fields such as science, art, and culture.

This program provides financial support to underrepresented businesses in Massachusetts, particularly Minority- and Women-owned enterprises, to help them overcome barriers and thrive in the clean energy sector.

This initiative provides funding to state and territory organizations to develop AI readiness and deployment strategies, fostering collaboration among education, workforce, and industry stakeholders to enhance local economies.

Beyond Open is a competitive small business grant program focused on enhancing economic mobility within Charlotte's Corridors of Opportunity. It aims to support diverse-owned small businesses, including those owned by minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ individuals, and persons with disabilities. The grant can be used for capital assets such as equipment, technology, inventory, and real estate, and does not require repayment. Administered by FFTC Partners For Empowering Communities, a supporting organization of the Foundation For The Carolinas, and funded by the Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund, Beyond Open has awarded over $10 million in grants to nearly 300 small businesses during its first two rounds. The third round will distribute approximately $5 million in grants. The program aims to retain jobs, encourage job growth, and inspire new entrepreneurial endeavors in areas with low economic mobility and among historically underrepresented groups. It also seeks to create opportunities for small businesses to provide goods or services in affluent areas where minority business owners have been under-represented.

The Outdoor Equity Fund aims to enhance safe, equitable access to outdoor spaces and nature-based learning for Wabanaki, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in Maine, unceded land of the Wabanaki. The fund addresses systemic barriers that BIPOC communities face in accessing outdoor spaces by supporting organizations working on land-based cultural preservation, land-back projects, leadership development, farming and gardening programs, outdoor accessibility, expeditions, learning, and therapeutic programs. It operates with a Community Advisory Committee guiding its efforts and employs a participatory grantmaking process. Selected organizations for the 2023 cohort will receive $30,000 over three years for general operating support, alongside opportunities for peer learning and capacity-building activities.

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky's Shaping a Healthy and Inclusive Future Together (SHIFT) Grant Program aims to transform fragmented communities in Kentucky into inclusive environments for individuals engaging in substance use or experiencing chemical dependence. This program directly aligns with the foundation's mission to build a healthy, inclusive, and connected Kentucky by addressing the critical need for harm reduction and racial equity. The foundation seeks to foster a culture of acceptance and support, moving away from punitive approaches and integrating more compassionate, effective strategies into mainstream services. The SHIFT program targets community-based organizations that primarily serve under-resourced communities of color. These organizations must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through BIPOC leadership within their staff and board. A crucial eligibility criterion is that applicants must not mandate sobriety for individuals to receive services, emphasizing an inclusive approach. The primary impact goal is to shift communities towards greater inclusion and better support for individuals with substance use challenges, particularly those who have experienced systemic oppression due to the War on Drugs. The grant program prioritizes the integration of harm reduction programming into communities. This includes a variety of project examples such as distributing naloxone, safe use kits, syringe exchanges, and testing strips, as well as community organizing and advocacy that empower individuals with lived experiences. Stigma reduction trainings are also a focus, aimed at helping the public understand and articulate the importance of harm reduction models. Other priorities include developing coalitions of local businesses to provide harm reduction supplies, building partnerships with medication-assisted treatment providers, and integrating peer support professionals into staff positions. Expected outcomes of the grant program include the introduction of new harm reduction service modalities into mainstream services and the increased inclusion of people who use substances into these services. The program offers 10-15 grants, ranging from $10,000 for piloting new programming to $50,000 for supporting ongoing harm reduction and racial equity work. This funding structure supports both innovative new initiatives and the sustained growth of existing effective programs, demonstrating the foundation's strategic commitment to long-term impact and systemic change within Kentucky's communities.

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has launched the Façade Grant Program to revitalize its downtown area. This program aligns with the DDA's mission to serve as a resource to the City Council for downtown revitalization through strategic land use planning, land banking, business recruitment and retention, and the execution of the community's vision for a vibrant and inclusive urban center. The grant specifically targets businesses within the Downtown Entertainment District, aiming to encourage and support exterior renovations that enhance the aesthetic appeal and overall vitality of the area. The primary beneficiaries of this program are businesses located within the Downtown Entertainment District. The impact goals are centered on improving the physical appearance of downtown buildings, stimulating economic activity, and fostering a more attractive and inclusive urban environment. By offering reimbursement for façade renovations, the DDA seeks to reduce the financial burden on businesses, thereby encouraging investment in property improvements and contributing to a more appealing downtown. The program prioritizes projects that enhance or update the exterior of buildings, including activities such as painting, restoration, stabilization, awning additions, and improved signage. Eligibility criteria dictate that projects must be within the Downtown Entertainment District, and reimbursement is solely for expenses incurred during exterior façade renovations. Furthermore, all projects must comply with applicable building, development, and zoning regulations, and properties on the National Historic Register require a preservation review. Expected outcomes include a visibly improved and more attractive downtown area, increased business investment in property aesthetics, and a boost in overall community pride and engagement. Measurable results for the program include the number of businesses participating, the total amount of grant funds disbursed, the types of renovations undertaken, and the completion of approved work within the stipulated twelve-month timeframe. The reimbursement structure, covering half of the total project cost up to $2,500 per grant, provides a tangible incentive for businesses to participate.

This funding initiative provides technical assistance and support to organizations that help high-barrier populations, such as youth, veterans, and justice-involved individuals, improve their workforce readiness and economic mobility in California.