Small Business Grants in North America & the Caribbean — September 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.

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

DelTech Pitch Competition 2026 — $5,000 | August 31 Deadline (Extended)

  • Eligibility: Pre-Series B startups with an active presence in the Delta Region (Memphis and surrounding areas).

  • Description: A pitch competition held during the two-day DelTech conference, spotlighting entrepreneurship and innovation across Memphis and the wider Delta region. Winner receives $5,000 in grant funding. Deadline was recently extended from its original late-August close.

  • Link: Apply here

Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge — Up to $15,000 | August 31 @ 5pm CST Deadline

  • Eligibility: Founders aged 18–30 running a startup or project already delivering measurable social or environmental impact. Open globally, U.S. founders included.

  • Description: A global challenge for young social entrepreneurs already generating real-world impact, with funding to help scale proven solutions.

  • Link: Apply here

BackBlack Impact Grant — $5,000 | August 31 @ 7pm CST Deadline

  • Eligibility: U.S.-based, Black-led nonprofits (or fiscally sponsored community organizations).

  • Description: Part of BackBlack's Black Philanthropy Month campaign, this is a no-strings-attached, unrestricted grant — no separate application or report required beyond registering a fundraising campaign through BackBlack's platform partners.

  • Link: Apply here

The Next Fairway Find Pitch Competition — $2,000 + Store Placement | September 1 Deadline

  • Eligibility: CPG founders (food and beverage brands).

  • Description: A pitch day competition presented by Naturally New York in partnership with Fairway Market, giving emerging CPG brands the chance to pitch live for product placement across Fairway Market's NYC locations, plus cash and marketing support.

  • Link: Apply here — note: this links to Naturally New York's general events page; confirm the live application link before publishing, as this cycle's dedicated apply page wasn't independently locatable.

262 Founder Pitch — Up to $3,000 | September 1 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Early-stage founders who live or work in Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Walworth, Washington, or Waukesha County, WI. Must be 18+.

  • Description: A regional pitch competition hosted by the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, spotlighting Southeast Wisconsin's tech founders, builders, and problem-solvers, with a live pitch event on November 10 in Kenosha.

  • Link: Apply here

Brooklyn Pitch Competition — Up to $150,000 | September 4 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Businesses based or operating primarily in Brooklyn, NY, with $1M–$5M in annual revenue and a demonstrable growth strategy.

  • Description: Launched by the Social Justice Fund (founded by Clara Wu Tsai), this competition awards $450,000 total in unrestricted grant funding — a $150,000 grand prize plus additional finalist awards from $25,000–$75,000. Finalists pitch live in November at Barclays Center.

  • Link: Apply here

Epic MegaGrants — Up to $150,000 | September 4 Deadline (11:59pm ET)

  • Eligibility: Small teams, solo developers, or innovators building projects in or around Unreal Engine, including Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) experiences and open-source real-time 3D tools.

  • Description: Epic Games' ongoing funding program for creative, innovative real-time 3D projects — this is Cycle 2 of the 2026 submission window. Grants are non-recourse, and recipients keep full IP ownership.

  • Link: Apply here

NIH Small Business Transition Grant — Up to $2,000,000 | September 5 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Early-career scientists and professionals with research, technology development, or healthcare delivery experience, but limited entrepreneurial or independent research leadership experience.

  • Description: A dual-phase NIH/CDC award (R41/R42 → R43/R44) supporting scientists transitioning from academia into entrepreneurship, combining Phase I feasibility funding with Phase II development funding, plus entrepreneurial training and mentoring.

  • Link: Apply here

Ignite: A WBDC Grant — $2,500–$10,000 | September 13 Deadline (11:59pm)

  • Eligibility: Women-owned small businesses in Connecticut, in business 2+ years, with $25,000–$2,000,000 in annual revenue.

  • Description: The Women's Business Development Council's flagship grant program, funding clearly defined projects with a measurable impact on a business's growth and profitability — equipment, technology upgrades, marketing, and more.

  • Link: Apply here

Grow Grants — $1,000–$4,000 | September 15 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Established, grassroots community groups (3+ active organizers) doing local work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. No formal tax status or fiscal sponsor required.

  • Description: From the Grassroots Fund, this grant supports community groups sustaining current work or building on past success — prioritizing volunteer-driven groups with budgets under $100,000.

  • Link: Apply here

Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact — $200,000–$300,000 | September 18 Deadline

  • Eligibility: U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits (or fiscally sponsored/international equivalent) with data readiness, technical infrastructure, and capacity to commit to a 6-month program.

  • Description: A 6-month accelerator equipping nonprofits with flexible funding, donated Salesforce technology, and pro bono expert consulting to build custom AI agent solutions on Agentforce.

  • Link: Apply here — note: this is Salesforce's general program hub; confirm the live cohort application form before publishing, as the exact submission link can shift between cycles.

Camelback Fellowship — $50,000 | September 18 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Early-stage founders (Founder, Co-founder, CEO, or Executive Director) tackling systemic inequities, particularly in education and conscious technology. Must be 18+, U.S.-based, and able to commit ~10 hrs/week for 16 weeks.

  • Description: A 16-week hybrid fellowship from Camelback Ventures providing non-dilutive capital, 1:1 coaching, and a peer community for founders closely connected to the inequities their ventures address.

  • Link: Apply here — note: Camelback's site shows funding at $40K in some cycles vs. $50K in others — worth confirming the current cycle's exact amount before publishing.

The Breakthrough Grant: Vol III — $5,000 | September 18 Deadline (11:59pm EST)

  • Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs with a currently operating business, actively subscribed to the Her Agenda newsletter.

  • Description: A fully community-funded grant from Her Agenda, powered by reader and INSIDER-member donations, supporting one woman entrepreneur working toward a specific "breakthrough" moment for her business. Note: there's a non-refundable application fee (discounted for INSIDER members) — worth flagging for your audience.

  • Link: Apply here

The TRANSFORM Business Grant — $1,000 | September 18 Deadline

  • Eligibility: U.S.-based individuals or teams (regardless of immigration status) who identify with at least one systemically marginalized group, running a social-impact-oriented business aligned with anticapitalist/antiracist values, and demonstrating financial need.

  • Description: A wealth-redistribution microgrant paired with a customized, year-long business strategy and mentorship program, including pro bono branding, coaching, and marketing support.

  • Link: Apply here

Character Labs — $200,000 for 5% Equity | September 23 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Idea-stage to pre-seed software startups (frontier applications of software).

  • Description: A 5-week, product-market-fit-focused accelerator from Character, investing $200K in up to 15 companies per cohort and running founders through hands-on design sprints. Note: this is an equity investment, not a grant — worth flagging clearly if your audience expects non-dilutive funding only.

  • Link: Apply here

StartHER Grant — $5,000 | September 23 Deadline (5pm CT)

  • Eligibility: For-profit, Texas-based businesses at least 51% woman-owned, formed on or after Sept. 25, 2020, with 5 or fewer employees.

  • Description: From the Center for Women Entrepreneurs at Texas Woman's University, this grant funds early-stage growth initiatives — equipment, technology, inventory, and property improvements — disbursed in two installments, with a required 10% owner match.

  • Link: Apply here

Outta Excuses Small Business Empowerment Grant — $3,000 | September 30 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Small business owners and 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

  • Description: A quarterly grant pairing $3,000 in funding with strategic coaching, designed to help entrepreneurs scale without burning out. Note: there's a $15 non-refundable application fee.

  • Link: Apply here

Secretsos™ Small Business Grant — $2,500 | September 30 Deadline

  • Eligibility: U.S.-based small business owners 21+, with some state exclusions (AK, FL, HI, NY, RI not eligible). Priority for businesses often overlooked by traditional capital — woman-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, or in economic development zones.

  • Description: A quarterly grant for business owners committed to evolving and leading with integrity — funds can go toward hiring, overcoming financial hurdles, or new strategies. Note: there's a $15 non-refundable application fee.

  • Link: Apply here

Giving Joy Microgrant — $250–$500 | September 30 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Women 18+ from any country, proposing a project with social benefit to their community. No existing business required.

  • Description: A global microgrant program funding women-led ideas — business, community, or nonprofit projects — that create impact for women, girls, and families. Highly competitive; typically 5–10 grants awarded per cycle.

  • Link: Apply here

HIGH FIVE Grant for Moms — $1,000–$10,000 (+ Five $1,000 Honorable Mentions) | September 30 Deadline

  • Eligibility: Women caregivers of children of any age (including expecting, step-, and foster moms) who own 50%+ of a for-profit, product- or service-based business earning $10,000–$500,000 in annual revenue. Business headquartered in the U.S. or Canada.

  • Description: An international grant competition co-hosted by The Mama Ladder®, awarding a top prize of $10,000 plus tiered awards down to five $1,000 honorable mentions. Applicants share their "why" on social media as part of the process. Note: there's a $50 application fee.

  • Link: Apply here

DoorDash Local Business Disaster Relief Fund — $5,000 | October 1 Deadline

  • Eligibility: For-profit small businesses (max 3 locations, under 50 employees per location) directly impacted by the Spokane Fires in Washington state. Nonprofits not eligible.

  • Description: Presented by DoorDash in partnership with Hello Alice, this fund helps underinsured small businesses cover urgent recovery expenses — repairs, inventory, payroll, and other out-of-pocket disaster costs.

  • Link: Apply here

Canada & The Caribbean — Rolling Programs Worth Bookmarking

No fixed-deadline Canadian or Caribbean grants close in September 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 rewards preparation, not luck. Before you hit submit on any of the above, make sure your documentation is in order: a current business plan, up-to-date financials, proof of registration, and a clear narrative on how you'll use the funds and what impact they'll have. Most applications live or die on that last point.

Always confirm deadlines and eligibility directly with the funder before applying, programs, dates, and award counts can shift without notice.

All listings verified as of August 31, 2026.

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 — August 2026