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Whether you’re a startup founder, creative artist, or small business owner, securing funding can be one of the biggest hurdles to growth. Black-owned businesses make up nearly 2.7 million enterprises in the U.S., yet research shows they receive less than 1% of venture capital funding annually. That’s why we put together this curated list of 50+ grants, accelerators, and funding opportunities—specifically for Black founders, creators, and entrepreneurs—to help you scale, thrive, and access resources that are often out of reach.
All opportunities below have deadlines on Feb 19, 2026 or later, or are rolling/open, so you can plan and apply strategically.
1. Grants for Artists & Creatives
- USArtists International Grant
- Deadline: TBD after Feb 19
- Funding Amount: Up to $11,000 (1:1 cost match)
- Eligibility: U.S. performing artists
- Bader + Simon Empowerment Grant
- Deadline: TBD after Feb 19
- Funding Amount: Up to $7,500
- Eligibility: Emerging visual artists
- Spector Craft Prize
- Deadline: TBD after Feb 19
- Funding Amount: Up to $10,000
- Eligibility: American craft artists
- Inspiration Grants
- Deadline: TBD after Feb 19
- Funding Amount: Up to $3,500
- Eligibility: Individual artists or small creative groups
- Pollock‑Krasner Foundation Grants
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Up to $50,000
- Eligibility: Visual artists
- Gottlieb Emergency Grant
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Up to $25,000
- Eligibility: Painters, sculptors, printmakers
- Black Hippie Art Residency & Accelerator (BTS)
- Deadline: Rolling / Early 2026
- Funding Amount: $10,000 exhibition budget + stipends
- Eligibility: Emerging visual artists + makers
2. Startup, Tech & Innovation Funding
- NSF Seed Fund
- Deadline: Rolling / 2026 cycle
- Funding Amount: Up to $50,000–$100,000
- Eligibility: Deep tech & science startups
- Next 1B Program (McKinsey)
- Deadline: Rolling / cohort-based
- Funding Amount: Non-equity funding + support
- Eligibility: Early-stage Black tech startups
- Founders Factory Africa – Gen F Incubator
- Deadline: Rolling / cohort-based
- Funding Amount: Strategic funding + support
- Eligibility: African & diaspora founders
- Unity for Humanity Grant
- Deadline: February 20, 2026
- Funding Amount: Up to $100,000
- Eligibility: Tech & creative companies (XR, gaming, 3D)
- Project DIAMOnD 3D Innovation Grant (BTS)
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: 3D printer + training
- Eligibility: Makers, product designers
- Michigan Industry 4.0 Technology Grant (BTS)
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Up to $25,000
- Eligibility: Small businesses implementing advanced tech
- Emergent Ventures Grant/Fellowship
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Early-stage innovation, research projects
- Techstars Accelerators
- Deadline: Rolling / cohort-based
- Funding Amount: Varies (funding + mentorship)
- Eligibility: Startups worldwide
3. Small Business & Entrepreneur Grants
- Women Who Scale Grant
- Deadline: February 20, 2026
- Funding Amount: $2,500
- Eligibility: Women-led businesses
- The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge
- Deadline: February 22, 2026
- Funding Amount: $25,000 grand prize + finalist awards
- Eligibility: U.S. small business owners <9 employees
- M&F Bank Small Business Grant
- Deadline: February 22, 2026
- Funding Amount: $10,000 (two grants)
- Eligibility: Raleigh & Durham, NC businesses
- NC IDEA Micro & Seed Grants
- Deadline: February 23, 2026
- Funding Amount: $10,000–$50,000
- Eligibility: Innovative NC startups
- CTIA Wireless Foundation Catalyst Grant
- Deadline: February 24, 2026
- Funding Amount: Up to $100,000
- Eligibility: Social entrepreneurs using wireless/mobile tech
- Weekly Skip Grants
- Deadline: February 24, 2026
- Funding Amount: Up to $1,000
- Eligibility: U.S.-based entrepreneurs
- HerGenius Pitch Competition
- Deadline: February 27, 2026
- Funding Amount: $10,000
- Eligibility: Women-owned businesses
- Founder’s Pool Boost Grant
- Deadline: February 28, 2026
- Funding Amount: $1,000
- Eligibility: Startup founders
- Queens Tech & Innovation Challenge
- Deadline: March 2, 2026
- Funding Amount: Up to $20,000
- Eligibility: Queens-based startups
- AARP Community Challenge Grants
- Deadline: March 4, 2026
- Funding Amount: $2,500–$25,000
- Eligibility: Nonprofits & community orgs
- eBay Circular Fashion Fund
- Deadline: March 8, 2026
- Funding Amount: $50,000 (8 finalists)
- Eligibility: Fashion startups
- Meta AI Glasses Impact Grant
- Deadline: March 9, 2026
- Funding Amount: $25,000–$50,000
- Eligibility: AI/Tech startups using smart glasses
- Substack Creator Accelerator Fund
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Up to $50,000
- Eligibility: Content creators
- Josephine Collective
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Black-owned creative businesses
- Rémy Martin “This is My City” Microgrant
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Local entrepreneurs & creatives
- Detroit Startup Fund
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Detroit-based startups
- Black & Brown Fund Empower Growth Grant
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Black & Brown founders
- HerRise MicroGrant
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: ~$1,000
- Eligibility: Women of color founders
- Wish Local Empowerment Program
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: $500–$2,000
- Eligibility: Black-owned brick-and-mortar
- Minority Business Circle
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Minority-owned small businesses
- ZenBusiness Free LLC Formation for Moms
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Free LLC formation
- Eligibility: Moms starting businesses
- Black Economic Alliance Entrepreneurs Fund
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Black entrepreneurs
- Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures Accelerator
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Accelerator funding + mentorship
- Eligibility: Early-stage diverse founders
- Military Entrepreneur Challenge
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Cash awards + mentorship
- Eligibility: Military-connected founders
- First Interstate BancSystem Foundation Grants
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Community & small business support
- Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Grant
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Small businesses
- Small Certified Supplier Innovative Finance Program
- Deadline: Rolling
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Certified small suppliers
4. Ecosystem Support & Capacity Building
- Amazon Black Business Accelerator – Education + capital access
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses – Education + access to capital
- Comcast RISE – Marketing, tech support + grants (~$5,000)
- Novae Grants Database (BTS link) – Curated grants + pitch opportunities
- F6S List of Accelerators and Pitch Competitions – Global startup accelerator & pitch competitions
- Techstars Accelerators – Funding + mentorship for startups
- Coalition to Back Black Businesses Grants – $5,000+ grants + mentorship
- SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant – $5,000–$10,000, Black women & non-binary founders
- EnrichHER Small Business Grant – $5,000, women & people of color small business owners
Tips for Black Founders Applying to Grants
- Start early: Grant cycles can fill quickly; plan ahead.
- Tell your story: Clearly communicate your impact and opportunity.
- Check eligibility: Align your business stage and structure with grant requirements.
- Use your network: Leverage mentorship and community resources through organizations like NAACP and Google for Startups.
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