If you’re currently stressed about your business’s finances, you’re not alone. According to research from Goldman Sachs, 77% of small businesses are currently concerned about their ability to access capital – but it’s not a lost cause.
Whatever your business size or specialism, chances are there’s a grant initiative out there that you’re eligible for. What’s more, in 2024 lots of grant programs are focused on improving equity throughout the business landscape, resulting in even more opportunities being open to minitory owned enterprises that have been faced with disproportionate barriers to funding.
To save you the time of scouring the web, we’ve created a list of the best small business grants to apply for in September. So, whether you’re just sowing your entrepreneurial seeds, or looking to take your small business global, here are some funding opportunities to be aware of this month.
Small Business Grants to Apply For in September 2024
Summer may be nearly over, but the funding landscape is as fertile as ever. Here are six exciting grant initiatives that are accepting applications this September.
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1. Fast Break For Small Business
- For: Small businesses
- Grantor: Legal Zoom, NBA, WNBA, and NBA B League
- Amount: $10,000
Online legal services company has partnered up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to create what they claim to be the largest grant program for small business owners. The program is designed to assist business owners with the tools and resources they need to excel in growing their businesses, and it is open to established and budding entrepreneurs.
With a total of $3 million in grant funding up for grabs, in the form of $10,000 cash injections, businesses have a higher chance of being successful than with smaller grant programs. In addition to funding, select businesses will also be eligible to receive up to $500 in LegalZoom products and services. To be able to apply, you need to have been in business for at least three months, and be US-based.
- Deadline: September 13, 2024
2. IMG Leave Your Mark
- For: Social good companies and solo-entrepreneurs
- Grantor: IMG
- Amount: $1,000 to $3,500
The International Medical Group (IMG), a global insurance benefits and assistance services company, is currently accepting applications for its eighth annual ‘Leave Your Mark’ grant competition. Bursary packages range from $1,000 to $3,500, and the scheme is open to mission or social good organizations and for the first time, individual applicants too.
After seeing how all of last year’s winners were able to use their winnings for a wide range of social good causes around the world, we are incredibly excited to be extending the grant opportunity to organizations and individuals again this year.” – Amanda Winkle, IMG Chief Operating Officer
If you’re interested in applying, you’ll have to submit a 500-word essay or three minute video essay that describes why your mission or service trip is important, how you’re working to overcome current obticles facing the world, and how this grant will help support your global outreach efforts.
- Deadline: September 13, 2024
3. $100k Imagination Fund
- For: Designers, artists, photographers, and creatives
- Grantor: Playbook
- Amount: $1,000 to $10,000
Are you a creative business with a unique and exciting idea? If so, you may be eligible for the $100k Imagination Fund grant scheme by Playbook – a modern creative file manager company. The program, which claims to be ‘for creatives, by creatives’ was designed to help the Playbook community be creative, without financial barriers getting in the way.
The prize money can be used to aid a number of creative pursuits, from screen-printing zines to rebranding coffee shops. To be in with a chance of winning up to $10,000, you are required to outline your 30-day project proposal using Playbook templates. If you make it through to round two, you’ll be able to share your creation vision in more detail. Applications will be evaluated through community voting and a judging panel, and you have until September 20 to apply.
- Deadline: September 20, 2024
4. Black Kitchen Initiative
- For: Black-owned restaurants
- Grantor: Heinz, The Lee Initiative, and the SRRJ Coalition
- Amount: Unspecified
With its inaugural grant program taking place in 2020 Heinz’s Black Kitchen Initiative is back for the fourth year running with an exciting funding opportunity that aims to support and empower US-based Black-owned restaurants.
The partnership between Heinz, The Lee Initiative, and the Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice (SRRJ) doesn’t specify the size of the grant packages. However, with $1 million in grants available each year to around 60 successful applications, the payout is likely to be quite significant.
If you’re a food and service-based business, like a restaurant, cafe, or pop-up, and you’re majority Black-owned, you’re able to apply by filling out an application on the grantor’s homepage.
- Deadline: September 15, 2024
5. Enthuse Foundation Pitch Competition
- For: Female-owned food and beverage businesses
- Grantor: Enthuse Foundation
- Amount: $2,500 to $15,000
The Enthuse Foundation is back with its biggest Pitch Competition yet. The grant initiative, which was designed to support and celebrate women who are making their mark on the food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries, is once again inviting female entrepreneurs to pitch their businesses in front of a panel of experts in New York City.
The successful business will win $15,000 of cash – no strings attached – alongside access to services worth $34,000+ including 20 hours of in-kind business services from Enthuse Marketing, access to Hummingbirds’ user-generated content platform, and a social media package from SeeFood Media. Runner-ups are also entitled to cash injections ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
To be eligible for the jackpot, your business needs to be women-owned, food, beverage, or CGP-focused, take in minimum annual sales of $10,000, and have been created on or after January 1, 2020.
- Deadline: September 23, 2024
6. ZenBusiness $5k Grant Program
- For: Small Businesses using ZenBusiness
- Grantor: ZenBusiness
- Amount: $5,000
If your business is currently using the all-in-one business platform ZenBusiness, is registered in the US, and produces products or services that benefit the wider community, the provider’s grant program should be on your radar. The nationwide grant initiative is awarding over 40 small business customers with cash injections of $5,000, alongside access to eligible ZenBusiness products aimed at helping them achieve their potential.
The scheme was designed as part of ZenBusiness’s overarching mission to create an equitable world and has handed out over $400,000 in small business grants since its origin in 2020. While the $5 grant program’s application window technically is open until October 1, we recommend finalizing and submitting your proposal in September to avoid waiting until the day of the deadline.
- Deadline: October 1, 2024
How To Nail Your Grant Pitch Video
Pitch videos can be a great way to show a grantor your personality, as well as the passion you have for your project. However, if you’re camera shy, or are creating a pitch video for the first time, picking up a camera could be a little daunting.
If you’re serious about piquing the interest of investors, here are some useful tips for creating a compelling business pitch video:
- Begin with a hook – First impressions matter. To keep your viewer engaged, you should capture their attention within the first 10 seconds by outlining your business in a clear and engaging manner. Don’t be afraid to show off your personality at the start of your video.
- Stick to the time limit – Most grant schemes will specify how long they want your pitch video to be. It’s important to keep to this time limit, and as a general rule of thumb, a shorter snappy video is likely to be more impactful than a longer video that drills into unnecessary details.
- Follow the guidelines – Instructions are there for a reason. To prevent the video from veering off track, you should make sure you adhere to the guidelines and give the investor the information they need. More times than not, this will include key details about your business and some words on how the grant would benefit you.
- Ensure lighting and audio are crisp – There’s nothing worse than a great business pitch being mired by unprofessional audio quality and bad lighting. Before you hit record, we recommend finding a quiet place with natural light, or a ring light if you’re filming indoors.
- Come with the data – There’s no point selling investors a dream if you can’t back up your claims. Therefore, when formulating your video’s script, it’s important to include data that clearly indicates why your business would be a good suitor for the grant funding.
Interested in experimenting with your digital audio content? Here’s our guide to the best free AI video generators in 2024.
