28 Grants for Black Owned Businesses to Apply for in December

It’s the final month of the year! While grant season winds down and everyone’s gearing up for the holidays, don’t throw in the towel just yet—there are still opportunities available to hit your Q4 goals. We’ve curated 23 essential grants this month to accelerate your vision and position you for a powerful start in the year ahead. Let’s make December your most unstoppable month yet. Go claim what’s yours!

28 Grants for Black-Owned Businesses to Apply For

1. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant

Provides funding to support small businesses that engage in digital-development training. Eligible businesses must complete two Verizon Digital Ready courses or events within the grant cycle. Funds may be used for technology, marketing, operations, or growth initiatives.

Deadline: December 10, 2025

Amount: $10,000

Audience: U.S. for-profit small businesses that complete the required Digital Ready activities.

2. Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant Program

Supports veteran‑owned or military‑spouse‑owned small businesses (for‑profit, 51%+ ownership by a veteran or spouse), with 3–20 employees (including any 1099 contractors), under $5 million annual revenue, and located in economically vulnerable communities or demonstrating financial need. Funds are intended to help grow or support business operations.

Deadline: December 15, 2025 (11:59 PM EDT)

Amount: $10,000 (four winners) or $25,000 (one grand‑prize winner)

Audience: Veteran‑ or military‑spouse‑owned for‑profit small businesses based in the U.S. (any state, including Alaska/Hawaii), meeting the size, revenue, ownership, and community‑need criteria

3. Illinois Grocery Initiative ‑ Equipment Upgrade Program (Round 2)

This program provides grants for energy‑efficient equipment upgrades for existing independently‑owned for‑profit grocery stores, cooperatives and not‑for‑profit grocery stores in Illinois.

Deadline: December 15, 2025 (or until funds are exhausted).

Amount: $25,000 – $250,000.

Audience: Grocery stores/food retailers in Illinois with fewer than 500 employees and no more than 4 locations (for equipment upgrades).

This program provides grants for energy‑efficient equipment upgrades for existing independently‑owned for‑profit grocery stores, cooperatives and not‑for‑profit grocery stores in Illinois.

Deadline: December 15, 2025 (or until funds are exhausted).

Amount: $25,000 – $250,000.

Audience: Grocery stores/food retailers in Illinois with fewer than 500 employees and no more than 4 locations (for equipment upgrades).

4. Sonsie × Shopify Mindful Beauty Award

Ponies × Shopify Mindful Beauty Award

Supports early‑stage, female‑founded beauty and wellness brands in the U.S. — including those just starting (in planning or product‑development stages) or launched within the last 12 months. The grant offers cash, credits, and business‑support resources including mentorship and exposure. 

Deadline: December 14, 2025 (11:59 p.m. ET)

Amount: $25,000 (first prize) — plus secondary prizes ($12,500 for runners‑up, credits, and business‑support packages)

Audience: U.S.-based small businesses in the beauty or wellness sector, founded by women (female‑founded), including those still in development or newly launched; must sell or plan to sell products in beauty/wellness.

5. Independent Lens Creator Lab

Supports independent storytellers and video‑makers (particularly those creating vertical video/social‑media content) who have a distinct voice and wish to produce content for public media. The program offers production funding, mentorship, and a platform through ITVS / Independent Lens to distribute content.

Deadline: December 19, 2025.

Amount: Up to US $36,000 in production funding (plus mentorship, support, and publication/distribution via Independent Lens/PBS social channels.)

Audience: U.S.-based independent creators (video‑makers / storytellers) capable of producing vertical/social‑media content; ideally with a previous body of work or following (e.g. creators on social media platforms).

6. SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant

A grant from the SoGal Foundation, in partnership with Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, Twilio, and other sponsors, providing cash awards and tactical support to help Black women and Black nonbinary entrepreneurs scale their businesses. Awardees also receive guidance navigating the fundraising environment to increase their chances of building the next billion-dollar business.

Deadline: Rolling

Amount: $10,000 (some grants may also be $5,000)

Audience: Black women and Black nonbinary entrepreneurs with legally registered businesses and scalable, high-impact ideas seeking investor-backed growth

7. Amber Grant

Supports women (and women-owned) small businesses across the U.S. and Canada, offering monthly cash grants, plus a larger annual award for select recipients.

Deadline: Rolling — applications due by last day of each month.

Amount: US$10,000 monthly; plus one or more larger annual grants (~US$25,000) awarded each year.

Audience: Women-owned (≥ 50% ownership) small businesses in the U.S. or Canada.

8. Visible Hands NYC Founder Fellowship (VHNYC)

Supports early‑stage, underrepresented founders building tech or tech‑enabled businesses based in New York City. Provides non‑dilutive funding, mentorship, workshops, community support, and access to networks to help founders scale.

Deadline: December 31, 2025 

Amount: US $10,000 non‑dilutive business grant per accepted startup team 

Audience: NYC‑based tech or tech‑enabled startup teams; at least one co‑founder must reside in one of the five NYC boroughs. Program especially targets founders from underrepresented backgrounds (BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, etc.).

9. Spectrum Reach Pay It Forward Program

Supports U.S.-based small businesses (for‑profit) — especially those that have been operating at least a year and are located in “eligible market areas” — by offering advertising support, creative services, marketing mentorship, and business‑growth resources rather than a cash grant. The program aims to help small businesses increase visibility, customer reach, and community impact.

Deadline / Program Period: December 31, 2025 (program period for 2025 – submissions accepted during this time) 

Grant Value / What’s Provided: Up to US $15,000 in advertising value — including a custom 30‑second commercial + a TV/streaming ad schedule + marketing consultation & support services + educational resources & mentoring + access to peer‑network events. 

Audience / Eligibility: U.S.-based for‑profit small businesses located in one of Spectrum Reach’s eligible designated market areas (DMAs). Business must have been operating at least one year, must not have had Spectrum Reach advertising in the past 13 months, must not be bankrupt or a competitor to Spectrum, and must be legally registered.

10. Hey Helen Grant

A private grant supporting women (and female-aligned / nonbinary) entrepreneurs running for‑profit businesses under $1 M in annual revenue. The grant provides flexible, unrestricted funding — useful for operations, inventory, marketing, or growth initiatives.

Deadline: December 30, 2025 (5:00 p.m. EST)

Amount: US$10,000 unrestricted cash award for one founder per cycle.

Audience: U.S.-based, women‑owned (or eligible nonbinary) for‑profit businesses with less than $1 M in annual revenue.

12. Makers Future Fund

Supports U.S.-based maker‑entrepreneurs (craft, handmade goods, small‑batch products, artisans) with capital and business‑readiness training. The grant is meant to boost operations, improve craft-based businesses, and help founders scale with intention.

Deadline: December 3, 2025

Amount: US$5,000 (business‑boost grant) 

Audience: U.S.-based small businesses making handcrafted goods (textiles, jewelry, ceramics, small-batch products, etc.), with valid business–bank setup.

13. Faire Small Business Grant

Offers inventory credit to help new or early-stage retailers build product offerings, stock shelves, and increase sales capacity. Ideal for boutique owners, specialty stores, and product-based entrepreneurs.

Deadline: December 31, 2025

Amount: $5,000 in inventory credit

Audience: U.S.-based early-stage retail stores.

14. Secretsos Small Business Grant

A micro-grant designed to support entrepreneurs who may be overlooked by traditional funding pathways. Funds can be applied toward operational needs, marketing, or early-stage growth.

Deadline: December 31, 2025

Amount: $2,500

Audience: Small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking accessible funding with minimal barriers.

15. Hustler’s MicroGrant

A micro-grant aimed at small business owners and entrepreneurs across the U.S., offering flexible funding for early-stage growth or stability.

Deadline: Rolling / monthly application cycles.

Amount: US$1,000

Audience: U.S.-based small business owners and startup founders, regardless of industry.

16. Freed Fellowship Grant

Provides a monthly micro-grant to small business owners, along with coaching/mentorship and a chance at a year-end bonus grant — designed to support underrepresented entrepreneurs and small-business founders.

Deadline: Rolling — apply by the last day of each month to be considered.

Amount: US$500 monthly; plus eligibility for a US$2,500 end-of-year grant if selected.

Audience: U.S.-based small business owners — with special encouragement for underrepresented or minority entrepreneurs.

17. HerRise MicroGrant

Grants targeted at women of color entrepreneurs and small-business owners — especially those whose revenue is modest but are seeking capital for growth or stabilization.

Deadline: Monthly / rolling (varies by cycle) while the grant remains active.

Amount: US$1,000/month

Audience: Women-of-color owned businesses (51%+ ownership), U.S.-registered, typically under $1M annual revenue.

18. Workbar’s Small Business Grant Contest

Supports small businesses in Massachusetts — offering cash and coworking‑space support to help businesses grow, stabilize, or expand their capacity. This contest is particularly supportive of small, local businesses that may benefit from both funding and access to coworking community/infrastructure.

Deadline: December 8, 2025 

Amount: US $5,000 (grand prize) + 1‑year unlimited coworking membership; additional runner‑up and finalist coworking‑membership prizes. 

Audience: U.S. small businesses physically located in (or serving) Massachusetts; must have ≤ $1 M annual revenue, ≤ 15 employees, and have been operating for at least 6 months.

19. Women’s Founders Grant

Supports women‑owned (51% or greater) small businesses across the U.S. that are early‑stage or existing who need funding for operations, marketing, growth, or development.

Deadline: Last day of each month (rolling) —next cycle closes December 30, 2025

Amount: US $5,000

Audience: U.S.-based for-profit businesses that are at least 51% women-owned and operated.

20. Threadneedle Alley Foundation Grant

Supports U.S.-based midlife entrepreneurs (typically age 40 +) who come from underserved communities or are facing financial hardship, offering both financial grant support and mentorship to help them launch or grow a small business. 

Deadline: December 31, 2025 

Amount: US $5,000 (grant per awardee) — the foundation gives at least three such grants each year.

Audience: midlife entrepreneurs (age 40+)

21. Start.Pivot.Grow. Micro‑Grant

Supports U.S.-based, for‑profit small businesses with modest staff size and revenue — offering non‑dilutive capital to cover operational costs, inventory, marketing, or other growth‑oriented expenses. The grant is intended for small, early/micro‑businesses that may not have access to traditional funding.

Deadline: Rolling / quarterly (applications accepted year‑round)

Amount: US $2,500l

Audience: U.S.-based, for‑profit small businesses that have been operating for at least two years; with annual revenue of at least $50,000; and have 1–2 employees (including owner)

Illinois Grocery Initiative ‑ Equipment Upgrade Program (Round 2)

This program provides grants for energy‑efficient equipment upgrades for existing independently‑owned for‑profit grocery stores, cooperatives and not‑for‑profit grocery stores in Illinois.

Deadline: December 15, 2025 (or until funds are exhausted).

Amount: $25,000 – $250,000.

Audience: Grocery stores/food retailers in Illinois with fewer than 500 employees and no more than 4 locations (for equipment upgrades).

23. Men Deserve Flowers Prize

Recognizes a visionary male business owner whose work advances community wellness — whether through physical health, mental‑wellbeing, or financial empowerment. The prize honors a business whose impact meaningfully supports or influences community wellness (especially in or around New York City, per the listing).

Deadline: December 5, 2025

Amount: US $1,000

Audience: Male entrepreneurs / business owners whose business or product supports community wellness (the original call mentions NYC focus, though eligibility may vary)

24. Walmart Spark Good Local Grants

This program supports local community-focused nonprofits, schools, and government entities in the U.S., with funding allocated by individual Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities. Awards range from$250 to $5,000and are intended to support projects that create measurable community impact. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public/private schools, and churches or faith-based groups whose projects benefit the broader community.

Deadline: Rolling / by quarter (next window: November 3 – December 31, 2025)

Amount:$250–$5,000

Audience:U.S.-based nonprofits, schools, and community

25. Wish Local Empowerment Program

Supports Black‑owned, brick‑and‑mortar small businesses in the U.S., offering modest capital support to help with operations, inventory, marketing, or stabilization — plus an invitation to join the broader Wish Local partner network, which can help businesses expand their reach online and off.

Deadline: Rolling (applications accepted at any time)

Amount: US $500 – US $2,000 for selected stores.

Audience: U.S.-based, Black‑owned small businesses with ≤ 20 employees, annual revenue under $1 million, and operating a physical storefront; business owners must be 18 years or older. Selected businesses must join Wish Local to receive the grant

26. YippidiDoo Big Idea Grant

This monthly grant supports women entrepreneurs in the U.S. by providing $1,000 to invest in their business or idea. Each month, two grants are awarded: one for a for-profit woman-owned business and one for a non-profit woman-owned business. Recipients also gain access to a success mindset coaching group to further support their growth.

• Deadline: Rolling monthly

• Amount: $1,000 grant

• Audience: Women entrepreneurs aged 18+ in the U.S.

27. Awesome Foundation Grants

The Awesome Foundation is a global community advancing the interest of awesomeness in the universe, $1,000 at a time. Each fully autonomous chapter supports awesome projects through micro-grants, usually given out monthly. These micro-grants, $1,000 or the local equivalent, come out of the pockets of the chapter's "trustees" and are given on a no-strings-attached basis to people and groups working on awesome projects. The Foundation provides these grants with no strings attached and claims no ownership over the projects it supports. 

• Deadline: Rolling monthly deadlines; specific dates vary by chapter

• Amount: $1,000 grant

• Audience: Individuals, groups, and organizations worldwide

28. Small Certified Supplier Innovative Finance Program (SIFP)

This program, in partnership with Empire State Development, supports small, certified suppliers in New York by providing access to capital, educational resources, and funding readiness assessments. Selected businesses can receive a $5,000 unrestricted grant to help grow and scale their operations.

• Deadline: Rolling applications; specific dates vary

• Amount: $5,000 unrestricted grant

• Audience: New York-based certified suppliers (MBE, WBE, DBE, DVBE, VOSB, LGBTBE, 8a, SDB, SBA, etc.)