Grant
North America
OPEN
GRANT · HOW TO WIN THIS
$500 grant monthly; winners also eligible for a $2,500 year-end grant.
Rolling monthly cycle; applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
FUNDING TYPE
Grant
CAN YOU GET THIS?
Open to any small business owner in the US, regardless of industry or identity.
You must be a US-based small business owner with an existing business. There are no industry, demographic, or revenue restrictions stated.
YOUR REAL ODDS
One winner is selected per month from all applicants.
Only one business is chosen as a Freed Fellow each month, making this competitive. That said, every applicant receives a scored review and business feedback regardless of whether they win.
WHAT IT TAKES
Complete the online application with basic business details — 15–20 minutes
Application is reviewed and scored against the 5C Framework — Within the monthly cycle
Selected Fellow notified; must share news on social media and appear on the podcast — Ongoing if selected
WORTH KNOWING
Every applicant gets a 'Freed Score' and growth recommendations even if not selected—so the application has real value beyond the grant. Winners are also automatically entered for a separate $2,500 year-end grant.
MORE LIKE THIS
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.
B.W. Bastian Foundation
$100–$15,000 per grant; one grant per organization per calendar year
Nonprofits with 501(c)3 status in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, or Montana (or national projects with Intermountain West impact) that explicitly support equality for all Americans including LGBTQ+ people.