Yes, there are real grants for Black-owned businesses in 2026, and the money is not hypothetical. The Amber Grant alone awards three $10,000 grants every month plus a $50,000 year-end prize, and the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant pays $25,000 on a rolling basis right now. Below are seven programs you can apply to today, with the exact amounts, who qualifies, and the deadlines, each one verified against the program's own site in June 2026.
Table of contents
- The 7 grants at a glance
- What counts as a "grant" (and what doesn't)
- The programs, in detail
- When grants run out: CDFIs and SBA-backed loans
- How to apply without wasting time
- People also ask
<h2 id="the-7-grants-at-a-glance">The 7 grants at a glance</h2>
| Program | Amount | Who qualifies | Deadline | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Grant (WomensNet) | 3 × $10,000/month + $50,000 year-end | Women (18+) owning 50%+ of a US/Canada business; encourages women of color | Last day of each month, 11:59 pm ET | ambergrantsforwomen.com |
| NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant | $25,000 | Rising and established Black entrepreneurs | Rolling | naacp.org/grants |
| NAACP Inclusive Beauty Fund | $25,000 (6 grants) | Black-owned beauty businesses | April 23, 2026 | naacp.org/grants |
| NAACP Power Forward Grant | $25,000 | Black-owned small businesses in New England | Rolling | naacp.org/grants |
| NAACP Keep It Local Fund | $5,000 microgrants | US small business owners of color | Rolling | naacp.org/grants |
| Comcast RISE | $5,000 cash (earlier rounds up to $10,000) + marketing/tech | Small/diverse businesses; eligibility set per round and region | Per-cycle, by region | comcastrise.com |
| NAACP & Leslie's Certification Boost | $5,000 | Businesses led by people of color, women, people with disabilities, or in HUBZones (AZ, CA, FL, GA, TX) | Open, accepting applications | naacp.org/grants |
Source: each program's official site, accessed June 2026. Amounts and eligibility change by cycle, so confirm on the linked page before applying.
<h2 id="what-counts-as-a-grant">What counts as a "grant" (and what doesn't)</h2>
A business grant is money you do not repay. That is the line that matters. A few things people search for as "grants" are not:
- SBA loans are not grants. The U.S. Small Business Administration is clear that it does not give grants to start or grow a business. It guarantees loans made by lenders.
- "Free government grants for Black businesses" advertised by random sites are usually scams or lead-gen. Real programs are run by named foundations, corporations, or nonprofits, and they never ask for a payment to "release" funds.
- A $15 application fee (like the Amber Grant's) is legitimate and disclosed up front; a fee to receive awarded money is not.
If a program asks for your bank login or a wire transfer to unlock a grant, close the tab.
<h2 id="the-programs-in-detail">The programs, in detail</h2>
Amber Grant — the best monthly odds
NAACP grant suite — $5,000 to $25,000
Because the NAACP opens and closes these by season, check the grants page before you write anything.
Comcast RISE — cash plus marketing and tech
<h2 id="when-grants-run-out">When grants run out: CDFIs and SBA-backed loans</h2>
Grants are competitive and small. Most Black-owned businesses that need real capital end up using a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) or an SBA-guaranteed loan, and that is not a downgrade. CDFIs are Treasury-certified lenders mandated to serve underserved communities, and many exist specifically to expand capital access for minority entrepreneurs.
- SBA Community Advantage loans go up to $350,000 through mission-driven lenders for underserved markets.
- CDFIs often approve borrowers banks reject, with patient terms and built-in technical assistance.
We track diversity-focused lenders and CDFIs by certification and program type. Compare diversity lenders and CDFIs in our directory → to find ones that lend to businesses like yours.
<h2 id="how-to-apply">How to apply without wasting time</h2>
- Confirm eligibility on the official page first. Amount and rules change by cycle. The table above is a starting point, not a substitute for the program site.
- Write one strong story you can reuse. Most of these ask the same things: what your business does, the impact of the money, and your community connection. Draft it once.
- Apply to rolling grants immediately (Powershift, Power Forward, Keep It Local) and calendar the dated ones (Amber monthly, Inclusive Beauty by April 23, 2026).
- Line up a CDFI in parallel. Grants are a long shot. A CDFI loan is a plan. Start here.
<h2 id="people-also-ask">People also ask</h2>
Are there grants specifically for Black-owned businesses in 2026? Yes. The NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant ($25,000, rolling), the NAACP Power Forward Grant ($25,000, New England), and historically Comcast RISE all target Black-owned businesses. The Amber Grant is for women-owned businesses and actively encourages women of color to apply.
Do you have to pay back a business grant? No. A grant is money you do not repay. That is what separates it from an SBA loan or a CDFI loan, neither of which is a grant.
Does the SBA give grants to Black-owned businesses? No. The SBA states it does not give grants to start or grow a business. It guarantees loans made by lenders, including CDFIs and Community Advantage lenders that serve minority-owned businesses.
Is the Amber Grant legit, and why is there a $15 fee? It is legitimate. WomensNet has run the Amber Grant since 1998. The one-time $15 fee covers all of that year's monthly and category grants, and a fee waiver is available on request.
What's the easiest grant to actually win? The Amber Grant has the most frequent payouts: three $10,000 grants every month, so 36 winners a year before the year-end prizes. Frequency improves your odds compared with annual one-shot grants.
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Last updated: June 7, 2026. Grant amounts, eligibility, and deadlines change by cycle. Always confirm on the program's official site before applying. SupplierDiversity.com does not administer these grants.
