By late October 2026, most of the year's best-known grant rounds have closed. Jobber's 2026 grants are awarded and closed. The NAACP says all of its grant applications are closed for the season. FedEx's small business grant contest, which many lists still show with "2026 dates to be announced," ended after 2024.
What is open now is a shorter list: one monthly grant for women-owned businesses, partner programs that open and close on a platform, and the federal research grants that run all year. Every item below was checked on the program's own site on October 23, 2026.
Open now
| Program | Amount | Who qualifies | Timing | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Grant (WomensNet) | Three $15,000 grants a month; three $75,000 year-end grants | Women-owned businesses | Next cutoff October 31, 2026, then monthly | ambergrantsforwomen.com |
| Hello Alice partner grants | Varies; one $1,000 pitch event open on October 23 | Mostly U.S. small business owners; some target specific owners | Programs launch through the year | helloalice.com |
| Verizon Small Business Program | Grants of $10,000 in past rounds; $15 million awarded since 2021 | Businesses that join Verizon's free training program | No published cycle; check the program site | verizon.com |
| SBIR and STTR (federal) | Phase I up to $335,937; Phase II up to $2,239,578 | U.S. small businesses doing R&D | Each agency's solicitation | sbir.gov |
The Amber Grant
WomensNet gives "at least $45,000 every month" in Amber Grants: three grants of $15,000, with the monthly winners eligible for three $75,000 year-end grants. One application covers every grant you qualify for, winners are announced by the 21st of the following month, and there is a $15 application fee. The fee to apply is disclosed and normal for this program. A fee to receive money you have won is the mark of a scam.
Hello Alice and Verizon
Hello Alice runs grant programs for corporate and nonprofit partners, says it charges no fees to apply, and reports $67.5 million distributed. Its programs rotate, so build a profile now and you are matched when the next one opens. Verizon's Small Business Program ties grant eligibility to its free training; it reports $15 million in grants since 2021, and its recipient stories describe $10,000 awards.
SBIR and STTR: the largest grants that run all year
The Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs are true federal grants for research and development, and they are much larger than any corporate grant. As of October 16, 2026, agencies can award up to $335,937 in Phase I and $2,239,578 in Phase II without asking SBA for a waiver.
Each agency runs its own program:
- National Science Foundation (America's Seed Fund): up to $2 million per company. Its Fast-Track pilot, for companies with prior NSF research support, can fund up to $400,000 in Phase I and $1,155,000 in Phase II from one proposal.
- USDA: Phase I grants of up to $175,000 ($125,000 in two topic areas) for agriculture and rural innovation, and Phase II up to $600,000 for prior Phase I winners.
Closed, or gone
| Program | Status on October 23, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Jobber Grants | 2026 round closed; $250,000 awarded across 9 grants, top prize $100,000. Jobber has committed another $1 million, so watch for 2027. |
| NAACP grants (Powershift, Power Forward, Keep It Local, Leslie's Certification Boost) | Closed for the season. Details in our grants for Black-owned businesses guide. |
| FedEx Small Business Grant Contest | Ended. FedEx says the program ran from 2012 through 2024. |
Does the SBA give grants in 2026?
No, not to start or grow a business. In SBA's own words, it "does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business." It funds nonprofits, resource partners and educational organizations that counsel and train business owners, and it guarantees loans that banks and other lenders make. The exception is SBIR and STTR, which SBA coordinates across the federal agencies that award them.
So a search for "SBA grants 2026" usually ends at one of two places: SBIR for research-heavy firms, or an SBA-guaranteed loan for everyone else.
When the grant rounds are closed
Grant money is small, competitive and seasonal. The money available every week of the year is lending built for small firms:
- CDFIs, Treasury-certified lenders for underserved markets. See CDFI loans for minority-owned businesses.
- SBA 7(a) loans for working capital, equipment and real estate. See business loans for minority-owned businesses.
- SBA 504 loans for buildings and equipment, with as little as 10% down. See what a CDC lender is.
Women business owners should also see our grants for women-owned businesses guide.
How to be ready for the 2027 rounds
- Write one application story you can reuse. What you do, what the money changes, who benefits.
- Keep financials current. Most programs and every lender ask for them.
- Follow the funders, not the lists. Sign up for updates on the Amber Grant, Jobber and NAACP pages and keep a Hello Alice profile. Openings show up there first.
Checked against each program's site on October 23, 2026. Programs change every cycle; confirm on the funder's page before you apply. SupplierDiversity.com does not run any of these grants.
