Dream Makers Founder Grants

$25,000 equity-free grant; awarded quarterly in 2026

Runs quarterly in 2026; the database listed May 30, 2026 as a deadline, which has passed. Check nancytwine.com/thegrant for the next open cycle.

AMOUNT

$25,000 equity-free grant; awarded quarterly in 2026

AMOUNT

$25,000 equity-free grant; awarded quarterly in 2026

DEADLINE

Runs quarterly in 2026; the database listed May 30, 2026 as a deadline, which has passed. Check nancytwine.com/thegrant for the next open cycle.

DEADLINE

Runs quarterly in 2026; the database listed May 30, 2026 as a deadline, which has passed. Check nancytwine.com/thegrant for the next open cycle.

FUNDING TYPE

Grant

CAN YOU GET THIS?

You need to be an underrepresented (including Black) founder building a consumer packaged goods brand at the early stage.

The grant is explicitly for underrepresented CPG founders. For 2026, it runs through two tracks: a standalone quarterly grant via Makers Mindset, and a track embedded in the Black Ambition Prize Competition.

YOUR REAL ODDS

Competitive but targeted — this is a niche grant aimed specifically at underrepresented CPG founders, not a broad open call.

The program is in its third year and distributes grants quarterly in 2026, meaning multiple funding cycles per year. Specific acceptance rates are not published.

WHAT IT TAKES

Confirm which track fits you (Makers Mindset quarterly or Black Ambition Prize) — 1–2 hours
Prepare your CPG founder story and business overview — 3–5 hours
Submit application through the relevant partner portal — 1–2 hours

WORTH KNOWING

In 2026, the grant runs two distinct tracks with different partners — the Black Ambition track opened in Q1 and is part of a larger prize competition with funding up to $1,000,000, so applying through that route may unlock additional resources beyond the $25,000 grant.

Apply on the funder’s site →

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.

This is 1 of 1,600+ open opportunities.

$50B+ in available capital across grants, VC funds, CDFIs, and accelerators. Filter by your industry, stage, and region, and see everything you qualify for.

Explore the funding database →

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