Small Business Grants in North America & the Caribbean — July 2026

MONEY
Written By Nicole Grimes

Your monthly roundup of verified, open funding opportunities

Grants, unlike loans, don't need to be paid back — a distinction that matters enormously for small businesses operating on tight margins. But grants are competitive, and most owners miss out simply because they never find out the opportunities exist. Deadlines pass. Application windows close quietly. This monthly listing exists to fix that.

July is a big month on the calendar, with funding spanning documentary storytelling, arts and culture, women-led CPG brands, music studio upgrades, Black wealth-building, LGBTQ+ small business support, food and beverage founders, and more.

A few things to note before you dive in: read every eligibility requirement carefully before applying, and set calendar reminders, several of these close with no extensions. Now let's get into it!

United States

Climate Story Fund (Doc Society) — $40,000–$125,000 | July 6 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Independent creators worldwide working on non-fiction films (all lengths), series, podcasts, or radio documentaries focused on just transition and climate action. Emerging and established creators both welcome.

  • Description: Doc Society's Climate Story Fund supports independent storytellers helping audiences envision and act toward a just transition, with ongoing support throughout production and impact. Especially keen on short films this cycle — one of the more accessible climate-focused funds for non-fiction creators at any career stage.

  • Link: Apply here

NEA Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) — $10,000–$100,000 | July 9 (Part 1) + July 21 (Part 2) Deadline

  • Eligibility: U.S. nonprofits, government entities, and federally recognized tribal communities with at least 5 years of arts programming history and a minimum prior-year operating budget of $30,000. Not open to individuals or for-profits.

  • Description: The NEA's principal grants program funds arts projects across every discipline, from Arts Education to Visual & Media Arts. Two-part application: Part 1 via Grants.gov by July 9, Part 2 via the NEA Applicant Portal (opens July 14) by July 21. Funding notifications go out in November 2026, with earliest project start January 1, 2027.

  • Link: Apply here

Makers Mindset Grant — $10,000 x3 Winners | July 10 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Women-led consumer packaged goods brands in beauty, food, beverage, pet, tech goods, or home goods. U.S.-based, at least 1 year in business, $50,000–$1M in annual revenue.

  • Description: Equity-free funding for CPG founders at meaningful moments in their journey, no ownership required. Three founders each receive $10,000, plus mentorship, visibility opportunities, and access to an experienced entrepreneur network.

  • Link: Apply here

Elevate Vernon Grant Program — Up to $10,000 per Business | July 10 Deadline

  • Eligibility: For-profit businesses of all types (including cooperatives) with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, located in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Businesses that received the grant in 2025 are ineligible.

  • Description: Vernon County's small business grant helps local entrepreneurs start, grow, strengthen, or plan succession for their businesses. Awards up to $10,000 per business, requiring either a cash match or up to 20 hours of technical assistance. Funded by contributions from the Ho-Chunk Nation for this cycle.

  • Link: Apply here

We Are Moving The Needle Studio Grants by Garnier — $5,000 x8 | July 12 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Audio engineers, producers, songwriters, or similar music creators with 5+ years of professional experience. Must be the studio owner or sole proprietor of an existing professional-level space — not for brand-new builds. Must include a meaningful wellness-focused component (ergonomics, meditation space, lighting, greenery, accessibility, etc.).

  • Description: Eight $5,000 grants for studio enhancement projects that combine professional upgrades with wellness-focused improvements — acoustic treatment, furniture, lighting, renovations, equipment, and more.

  • Link: Apply here

African Business Leadership & Entrepreneurship (ABLE) Program — Up to $25,000 | July 12 Deadline

  • Eligibility: High-potential, early-stage revenue-generating entrepreneurs of the African Diaspora, headquartered in the United States, in operation 6+ months.

  • Description: Combines a fully funded six-week virtual accelerator, mentorship, investor-readiness training, and a live pitch day in Silicon Valley to help founders accelerate growth. Participants who complete the program are eligible for a financial award.

  • Link: Apply here

WBENC Pitch Accelerator & Competition — $25,000 Grand Prize + More | Dates Vary by Region (Throughout July)

  • Eligibility: WBENC-certified women's business enterprises in good standing. Regional competitions run through each of WBENC's 14 Regional Partner Organizations.

  • Description: Helps women-owned businesses strengthen their pitches through training, mentorship, and regional competitions, culminating in a national final. Winners receive cash prizes, national exposure, and opportunities to connect with corporate partners and investors. Check your Regional Partner Organization for its specific date — this one doesn't have a single national deadline.

  • Link: Apply here

Walmart Spark Good Local Grants — $250–$5,000 | July 15 Deadline (Cycle 2)

  • Eligibility: 501(c)(3) public charities, U.S. government entities, K-12 schools and colleges, and faith-based organizations. Must have a Spark Good account verified by Deed, and serve the same geographic area as the Walmart or Sam's Club facility applied to.

  • Description: Local cash grants awarded by Walmart U.S. stores, Sam's Clubs, and Distribution Centers to eligible community organizations. Register and verify at walmart.com/nonprofits before applying. Max 25 pending/approved applications per organization.

  • Link: Apply here

Open Road Fund (Nexus Community Partners) — $50,000 | July 19 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Black descendants of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (including the Caribbean, North, Central, and South America), at least 14 years old, residing in Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota.

  • Description: Through 2031, Nexus Community Partners is disbursing $50,000 unrestricted gifts to 100 people each year for housing, education, financial well-being, healing, and economic justice projects — one of the largest individual grants available to Black community members in the upper Midwest.

  • Link: Apply here

PFund Small Business Grants (Equity Fund) — $5,000/year x2 Years | July 20 Deadline

  • Eligibility: BIPOC LGBTQ+ small business owners in the Twin Cities Metro area. At least 1 year in operation, annual gross revenue under $250,000.

  • Description: $10,000 total over two years, plus a Quorum (LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce) membership and enrollment in the PFund Small Business Cohort — six monthly learning sessions, mentorship, and networking, running January–June 2027. Awards distributed September 2026.

  • Link: Apply here

Santander X Cultivate Small Business — Up to $20,000 | July 21 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Food entrepreneurs in the U.S., at least 1 year in operation, $25,000–$1M in revenue in the last calendar year, fewer than 10 full-time employees. Priority for underserved founders in low-to-moderate income communities.

  • Description: A free 12-week MBA-style virtual program taught by Babson College professors, with mentorship, peer networks, and capital grants for qualifying graduates. All graduates get $2,500; select participants are eligible for up to $20,000. For the Fall 2026 cohort.

  • Link: Apply here

Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions — $20,000–$1,000,000 | July 24 Deadline

  • Eligibility: U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits with a community development focus serving LMI communities, headquartered or operating majority-in: NYC's five boroughs, Hudson County NJ, Essex County NJ, Salt Lake County UT, Summit County UT, or Tooele County UT.

  • Description: Two tracks — Change Makers (1-year general operating support, $20,000–$200,000) and Equity Builders (3-year support, $20,000–$1,000,000). Funds affordable housing, small business support, neighborhood revitalization, and community services. Organizations may apply to one or both tracks.

  • Link: Apply here

Alibaba.com CoCreate Pitch Competition — $10,000 (Guaranteed for Finalists) + Up to $200,000 | July 25 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Product-based startups ready to manufacture and scale, U.S.-based. Apply via Hello Alice (application runs through Alibaba's Accio Work AI agent).

  • Description: One of the world's largest product-based startup competitions. U.S. finalists are guaranteed $10,000 just for making the cut, and compete for up to $200,000 at the CoCreate Summit in Los Angeles, September 9–10, 2026. Free to apply.

  • Link: Apply here

CitizensNYC Neighborhood Business Grant — Up to $5,000 | July 27 Deadline

  • Eligibility: For-profit businesses in any of NYC's five boroughs. At least 2 years in operation, 10 or fewer employees, profit-generating. Must propose a community-facing initiative.

  • Description: Funds small businesses that actively improve their neighborhoods — barbershops, bookstores, wellness studios, cafés, childcare providers, and more. Not for overhead or general operating expenses. Projects run June 2026–May 2027; decisions announced September 2026.

  • Link: Apply here

Capital & Catalyst Grant (Enthuse Foundation x Spearhead Global) — $40,000 | July 28 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Women-owned food or beverage businesses preparing for their next stage of growth. Skincare, beauty, clothing, and personal hygiene products are not eligible. Minimum $500,000 in lifetime sales; pre-revenue startups not eligible.

  • Description: $40,000 for one standout woman founder in food and beverage, plus direct mentorship from packaging innovator Spearhead Global's award-winning team to help scale the business.

  • Link: Apply here

AT&T She's Connected Contest — $50,000 Grand Prize + Four $5,000 Runner-Up Prizes | July 31 Deadline

  • Eligibility: U.S.-based small businesses (50 U.S. states + D.C.), 99 or fewer full/part-time employees. Free to enter.

  • Description: One grand prize of $50,000 plus a year of AT&T service, mentorship resources, and a feature in an episode of She's Connected by AT&T. Four runners-up receive $5,000 each — $70,000 total across five winners.

  • Link: Apply here

Changing the Game Grant (Stanley 1913 x TOGETHXR, via Honeycomb Credit) — $20,000 x5 Winners | July 31 Deadline

  • Eligibility: U.S.-based for-profit food and beverage businesses (bars, restaurants, cafés, event venues, community spaces) that center women's sports as the main event, not a secondary broadcast.

  • Description: Five $20,000 grants to founders creating community-centered food and beverage "third spaces" where women's sports, wellness, and elevated experiences are the focus. Winners are also invited to a celebration in New York City with Stanley 1913, TOGETHXR, athletes, and media.

  • Link: Apply here

Melissa Washington Small Business Award (Women Veterans Giving) — Up to $5,000 | July 31 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Women veterans who are founders of a for-profit business or nonprofit, at any stage from early idea to established venture ready to scale.

  • Description: An annual award supporting women veteran founders with funding, national visibility, and connection to a network of veteran entrepreneurs. Three finalists are announced the week of September 1 and invited to the Veterans in Business Network National Conference in Palm Springs, where the recipient of up to $5,000 is announced.

  • Link: Apply here

Fueling Emerging Entrepreneurs (LISC LA x BMO) — $5,000 | Deadline TBD (Check Current Cycle)

  • Eligibility: Small businesses in Los Angeles County with annual revenue of $250,000 or less, including startups and micro-businesses. Priority for founders who've historically faced barriers to capital, especially in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Inglewood, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Carson, Venice Beach, and El Monte.

  • Description: A grant initiative and virtual pitch competition combining flexible-use grants with coaching and visibility. Requires registering, completing nine challenge assessments (brand visibility, data usage, financial health, etc.), and uploading a 60-second video pitch via the Fud app. Note: our sources show conflicting July deadlines for this cycle (July 3 vs. July 31) — confirm the exact date directly with LISC LA before promoting.

  • Link: Apply here

Breva Thrive Grant — $5,000 | July 31 Deadline (Q3 Cycle, Opens July 1)

  • Eligibility: U.S.-based for-profit businesses with revenue history and a clear, trackable community benefit (job creation, access to essential goods or services). 12 months in operation preferred.

  • Description: One $5,000 grant per quarter for businesses generating measurable community impact. No application fee. Evaluated on impact, viability, fund-use clarity, and alignment with inclusive economic growth. Funds disbursed via ACH within 30 days of award.

  • Link: Apply here

Galaxy Grants (Hidden Star) — $4,250 | July 31 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Women and minority business owners in the U.S. Any stage welcome. Free to enter, takes about 30 seconds.

  • Description: Administered by Hidden Star, a 501(c)(3) that has awarded over $420,000 to women and minority entrepreneurs since 2016. Winners announced the following week — no lengthy application required.

  • Link: Apply here

Shophand Small Business Boost Grant — $2,500 Cash + $2,500 in Shophand Services | August 1 Deadline

  • Eligibility: U.S.-based for-profit small businesses facing a significant tech or operational challenge. Fewer than 50 employees, under $5M in annual revenue. Awarded three times a year. Free to apply.

  • Description: $2,500 in no-strings-attached cash plus $2,500 in personalized Shophand support — AI tools and automation, creative and media support, marketing and tech help, operations overhaul, software setup, and more. Built for non-techie small business owners who need hands-on help.

  • Link: Apply here

Zoo Labs FUND — $5,000–$50,000 | August 7 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Teams of two or more (at least one culturally rooted artist member) building a music-centered business. All team members must reside full-time in one of nine Bay Area counties. Free to apply.

  • Description: Center for Cultural Innovation's Zoo Labs distributes $225,000 across four self-selected tiers: $5,000 Seed (6 awards), $15,000 Startup (5 awards), $25,000 Self-Sustaining (3 awards), $50,000 Next Level (1 award). All recipients get mentorship pairing and access to Zoo Labs courses. Applications open June 9.

  • Link: Apply here

Kickstarter x Google Next Wave Fund — $10,000 Pledge + Google Training | Rolling (Up to 1 Year)

  • Eligibility: Entrepreneurs or small businesses with fewer than 20 full-time employees, working on technology or digital gaming projects. At least one team member must be a U.S. citizen, resident, or O-1 visa holder.

  • Description: Selected founders get a $10,000 pledge toward their Kickstarter campaign, guidance from Kickstarter's Design & Technology team, free Google AI training and Grow with Google workshops, and promotion on Kickstarter's channels. Must launch within six months of selection.

  • Link: Apply here

Verizon Digital Ready $10K Grant — $10,000 | Rolling (Through December 2026)

  • Eligibility: U.S.-based for-profit small business owners 18+, including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Must complete two eligible Verizon Digital Ready courses or events in 2026 to unlock the application.

  • Description: Apply once and stay eligible for monthly $10K awards through December 2026 — ten businesses selected each month, in partnership with LISC. Final decisions by January 12, 2027.

  • Link: Apply here

Wish Local Black Business Empowerment Fund — $500–$2,000 | Rolling (No Deadline)

  • Eligibility: Black-owned Wish Local partner stores in the U.S.

  • Description: A $2,000,000 fund providing individual awards of $500–$2,000 to promote equality and diversity in American business.

  • Link: Apply here

Canada & The Caribbean — Rolling Programs Worth Bookmarking

No fixed-deadline Canadian or Caribbean grants close in July from our sources this month, but these rolling programs are open right now and worth prioritizing if you haven't applied yet — several are first-come, first-funded in practice.

A Few Final Tips Before You Apply

Grant funding is not a lottery, it rewards preparation. Before you hit submit on any of the above, make sure your business documentation is in order: a current business plan, up-to-date financial statements, proof of registration, and a clear narrative explaining how you'll use the funds and what impact they'll have. Most applications are evaluated on that last point above all others. Lastly, mark the rolling grants in your calendar now, not later. Waiting until the "right moment" usually means waiting until the budget is gone. We update this listing every month. Check back in July for new openings, and share this post with any business owner who could use the boost.

All listings verified as of June 30, 2026. Always confirm deadlines and eligibility directly with the funder before applying.

Remember: These deadlines are approaching fast. Review the opportunities that align with your business, gather your materials, and get those applications submitted. Your next growth phase could be just one grant away.

For additional information on rolling grants and more opportunities, visit www.caribbiznetwork.com/grants

Note: This post was created with the assistance of genAI with human editing and additions.

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Nicole Grimes
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Small Business Grants in North America & the Caribbean — June 2026