GRANT · HOW TO WIN THIS
Up to $500,000; most awards $125,000–$250,000; unrestricted 1-year grants with possible follow-on funding
2026 cycle is closed; recipients already selected. Watch for a future cycle announcement.
FUNDING TYPE
Grant
CAN YOU GET THIS?
YOUR REAL ODDS
15 organizations were selected from what is described as a competitive multi-million-dollar challenge, with most awards landing between $125,000 and $250,000.
The application period for 2026 is already closed and recipients have been selected. This is a structured challenge, not a rolling grant, so the next cycle would be the next opportunity to apply.
WHAT IT TAKES
Confirm eligibility: 501(c)(3) status, $500K+ non-governmental revenue, active program in NC or SC serving grades 7-14 — 1-2 hours
Prepare detailed project narrative covering leadership, track record, evidence base, and employer co-design elements — 1-2 weeks
Build a line-item budget with cost-per-student metric tied to specific activities and outcomes — 3-5 days
Submit application during the open period (watch for next cycle) — 1 day
WORTH KNOWING
The foundation explicitly wants to scale programs already serving students, not fund ideas from scratch. Applicants who can cite peer-reviewed evidence linking their core activities to postsecondary success or livable wages will score higher on the evidence-base criterion.
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Freed Fellowship
$500 grant monthly; winners also eligible for a $2,500 year-end grant.
Any US small business owner can apply for a $500 monthly grant with no equity or repayment required.
Texas Job Creators Quest Grant
$100,000 total pool distributed across ~30 recipients; individual awards have ranged from $1,500 to $10,000.
Texas-based small businesses led by underrepresented founders with $100K–$3M in annual revenue can apply for this grant.
BELLE Capital USA Grant
Grant amount varies; no specific figures disclosed.
Early-stage startups in tech, health, or cleantech with at least one female founder or female C-suite executive.
$50B+ in available capital across grants, VC funds, CDFIs, and accelerators. Filter by your industry, stage, and region, and see everything you qualify for.
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