Grants

Depending on the kind of business you are starting, some private foundations, companies, and crowdfunding websites provide grants, ranging from micro-grants of under $100 up to thousands of dollars. All grants have eligibility requirements, so make sure to read the requirements carefully before applying. For example, some grants are only for jewelry businesses or businesses owned by veterans; many grants are exclusively for non-profit businesses. Additionally, make sure you research who is providing the money and watch out for scams: you should not have to pay money to find out if you are eligible for a grant. Finding and writing grant proposals can be a full-time job, but the resources on this page are a good starting point.

Online Resources

The following external websites provide links to resources on grants for small businesses.

Assistance Listings. SAM.gov
Formally the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, SAM provides detailed, public descriptions of federal assistance listings available to State and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally recognized Indian tribal governments, Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi- public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups, and individuals.
European Commission Funding and Tender Opportunities External
A portal for finding EU-level grants, which can be searched by keywords or by browsing specific EU Programmes.
Grants.gov
Learn about federal grants, including eligibility, criteria, and how to apply. There are hundreds of grants to choose from that you may be eligible for at the individual or organizational level. Narrow down under the eligibility box by checking the box that says “small businesses."
Nonprofit Startup Resources. Grantspace. External
Find helpful resources for starting a nonprofit, such as checklists, nonprofit associations, legal support, and government agencies. This website content is published by Candid, a new organization created by Guidestar and the Foundation Center.
BusinessGrants.org External
Produced by The National Institute of Small Business Grants, this website is a global network of contributors that research "small business grant opportunities that are given away by major corporations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and foundations."

Subscription Databases

The subscription resources below marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

GrantSelect External This link opens in a new window
GrantSelect is an online database of funding opportunities such as grants (for programs, projects, planning, start-up, endowments, technical assistance, facilities and equipment, etc.), awards, and fellowships. Funding opportunities range from pure research grants to arts programs, biomedical and health care research, community services programs, children and youth programs, K-12 education funding, international programs, and operating grants for nonprofit organizations. Each record may include: Contact information, subject terms for related searches, type of sponsor (Federal agency, foundation, research institute, etc.), deadline date(s), restrictions on who may apply (including geographic restrictions), lists of previous awards, amount(s) of grant or award, and populations encouraged to apply (e.g., women)
Foundation Directory Online Professional External This link opens in a new window
Foundation Directory Online Professional provides access to a wealth of timely, comprehensive information on grantmakers and their grants. Includes:
- The entire universe of over 108,000 foundations, corporate giving programs, and grantmaking public charities in the U.S.
- A database of over 4,000 sponsoring companies, offering a quick pathway to corporate funders
- A database of over 3 million recently awarded grants
- A keyword-searchable database of over 1 million recently filed IRS Forms 990 and 990-PF
Unique funder portfolios organize additional funder-specific content in one convenient location and include: grantmaker-related news, job opportunities, and Request For Proposals (RFPs) grantmaker-sponsored publications and officer and trustee affiliations. Funder-specific functionalities include the ability to:
- search across a funder's grants with customized search indexes
- map a funder's grants for any given year by recipient type or primary subject and drill down to disbursements by county, city, ZIP code, or congressional district
- chart a funder's grants for any given year by recipient type or primary subject and drill down to disbursements by secondary and tertiary category

Selected Print Resources

The following materials link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are provided when available.

Grant Writing for Dummies by Beverly A. Browning
Call Number: HG177.5.U6 B76 2016
ISBN: 9781119280125
Published/Created: 2016-10-03
Your go-to guide for getting that coveted grant Though hundreds of thousands of grant opportunities exist, finding the right one can be a challenge. Grant Writing For Dummies, 6th Edition offers expert guidance for locating available grants, carefully applying, and ultimately winning a grant. From writing compelling applications to properly adhering to strict guidelines and parameters, it takes the intimidation out of the process and shows you how to increase your ability to get a piece of the billion-dollar pie for your non-profit or for-profit organization. You'll even have access to sample applications, letters, and budgets online to help you stand out from the competition. —From publisher’s description.
The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need by Ellen Karsh and Arlene Sue Fox
Call Number: HG177.5.U6 K37 2014
ISBN: 9780465058938
Published/Created: 2014
This step-by-step guide to writing grants includes real world examples, exercises in each section, and insights from grant-makers. Appendices include tips, a checklist, glossary and sample forms.

Small Business Financing: A Resource Guide

Grants

Online Resources

Subscription Databases

Selected Print Resources