Small Business Grants and Funding Options

• Small business grants are offered by many organizations, with different missions and values.

• Grant-issuers want to feel confident that your business idea contributes to their organization’s mission.

• Small business grants are not loans, so lenders aren’t expecting to be paid back.

• Grant issuers still expect a return on their investment, just not a monetary one.

• Organizations that provide small business grants want to feel confident that your business model helps contribute to achieving their mission.

• Make sure your business aligns with the organization’s mission, and know what you’ll be spending.

• Small business grants are typically given to businesses that the organization sees as innovative, forward thinking, and on a path to growth.

• The US Small Business Administration (SBA) is a federal government agency that provides support for small businesses with the goal of strengthening the nation’s economy.

• Apart from the SBA, there are a number of other federal agencies offering grant programs for small businesses in the US.

• Crowdfunding for small businesses involves collecting small sums of money from ordinary people that believe in the potential of your own business.

• Equity crowdfunding for small businesses is similar, but a little different from ordinary crowdfunding. With equity crowdfunding, everyday people commit smaller sums of money to your business in exchange for equity.

• Capital investors for small businesses are people or organizations that can provide you with a financial infusion to help you grow your business.

• Capital investors can provide you with large sums of money in a relatively short amount of time.

• They can also provide valuable mentorship as you work to grow your own business.

• Small business grant programs can make a world of difference for a new small business owner.

• If your business has the potential to innovate your industry and build new technologies to serve the public good, chances are you’re a great candidate for a small business grant.

Explore the world of small business grants, federal agency support, crowdfunding, and capital investment options for entrepreneurs. Understand how to align your business model with the mission of grant-issuing organizations and learn about different funding avenues available for small businesses.