OCTOBER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND GRANTS PROVIDED BY THE BANK OF AMERICA INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Below, you will find links to funding, accelerators, and general resources.   PLEASE NOTE: Cornell has no affiliation with these organizations, so any specific questions should be directed to them. 

Amazon App Store Small Business Accelerator - The Small Business Accelerator Program allows developers that earn less than 1 million USD in total annual revenue in the previous calendar year to access additional benefits up to or equivalent to 20% of Appstore revenue. If eligible, you’ll receive a 10% increased royalty payment and AWS credits equivalent to 10% of your app revenue. - https://developer.amazon.com/apps-and-games/small-business-program

Amazon Small Business Success Studio - The free service offers lessons in finance, marketing, procurement and operations, along with tips from founders -https://business.amazon.com/en/small-business/success-studio/welcome

American Express Leadership Academy - The Academy is for people in the non-profit sector who are intentionally striving to be better equipped to respond adaptively to challenges, and to keep going in the face of adversity. -  https://commonpurpose.org/american-express-leadership-academy#anchor1

Antler Global Startup Program - Antler is a global early-stage VC that runs multiple programs for business startups around the world. See the website for more info about the program and application dates. - https://www.antler.co/platform/#apply-now

Aurora Tech Award - This award is a worldwide prize for women founders of tech startups created and supported by inDrive. Company must be led by a woman, be less than 5 years old and have a functional prototype of a product. Funding for $85,000. Apply by 11/21/2024 - https://www.auroratechaward.com/

Awesome Foundation - Foundation distributes $1,000 grants, no strings attached, to projects and their creators. At each fully autonomous chapter, the money is pooled together from the coffers of ten or so self-organizing “micro-trustees”.  Awarded monthly - https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en

AWS Startup Loft Accelerator - AWS Startup Loft Accelerator equips your technical team with tech resources, guidance and a community of peers. From technical deep dives to round tables on day-to-day CTO challenges, including: recruiting, managing an engineering team, building a minimum viable product, and design principles for cloud architecture.  Provides $25,000 in AWS credits - https://aws-startup-lofts.com/emea/program/accelerator

Canva Pro For Nonprofits - If you are a nonprofit, you can register now to get Canva’s premium features for free. - https://www.canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits/

D-Prize Challenge 2025 for Social Entrepreneurs - D-Prize is for new organizations. Most awardees are first-time entrepreneurs. Most have not yet launched their organization, nor have they raised other funding. Those from low-and-middle income countries are encouraged to apply. Funding for $20,000. Apply by 11/3/2024 - https://d-prize.org/

Emergent Ventures Grant/Fellowship Application (through Mercatus Center at George Mason University) - Emergent Ventures, a fellowship and grant program from the Mercatus Center, seeks to support entrepreneurs with highly scalable, “zero to one” ideas for meaningfully improving society. Projects will either be fellowships or grants: fellowships involve time in residence at the Mercatus Center in Northern Virginia; grants are one-time or slightly staggered payments to support a project. https://www.mercatus.org/emergent-ventures

Etsy Disaster Relief Fund - Sellers will be eligible for a grant if they experienced a federally declared natural disaster within the past year, have been an active seller on Etsy for at least one year, and their Etsy account is in good standing. Grants for $2,500 - https://advocacy.etsy.com/etsy-emergency-relief-fund-at-cerf/

F6S List of Accelerators and Pitch Competitions - Provides a list of accelerators, contests and pitch competitions around the world. https://www.f6s.com/

HubSpot Meta Accelerator - In this dynamic four-week webinar series with Desiree Whitehead, CEO of Howl Marketing, participants will learn how to use Meta advertising tools and HubSpot integrations to optimize their online selling. $2500 in credits.  Apply by 10/3/2024 - https://www.hubspot.com/meta-accelerator

Live Your Dream grant for women – Soroptimist - The Live Your Dream Awards provide monetary assistance to women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families. Applicant must be enrolled in or accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program. Funding up to $10,000. Apply by 11/15/2024 - https://www.soroptimist.org/our-work/live-your-dream-awards/apply-for-the-live-your-dream-awards.html

Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub helps startups radically accelerate innovation by providing access to industry-leading AI services, expert guidance, and the essential technology needed to build a future-proofed startup. Up to $150K in Azure credits - https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/startups

Pollination Project - Grants to global non-profits. Annual budget for your group or organization must be less than $50,000. The total cost for the immediate project for which you are requesting funding must be less than $40,000 - https://thepollinationproject.org/apply/

Roddenberry Catalyst Fund - The Catalyst Fund is offering grants to Nonprofits & Social Enterprises to fund ideas or early-stage projects that have a high potential for large-scale impact and sustainable change.  You can be a seasoned social entrepreneur or a first-time changemaker. Eligible candidates for the Catalyst Fund may be individuals, teams of individuals, non-profit organizations, or social enterprises. Funding up to $15,000 - https://roddenberryfoundation.org/our-work/catalyst-fund/

Savvy Fellowship - Savvy is a 12-week virtual Fellowship program for young professionals seeking to be part of the new generation of impact entrepreneurs. Applicants should be 40 or younger - https://savvyfellows.com/team/

SheTrades Accelerator - SheTrades Accelerator Programme for women entrepreneurs and business support organizations in the Apparel, Accessories and Home Décor sectors is targeting women-led businesses (WLBs) and Business Support Organizations (BSO) in the Apparel, Accessories, and Home Decor sector from Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Senegal, and South Africa. - https://shetrades-accelerator.converve.io/

Stanley Creators Fund - With grants up to $50,000 each to eligible nonprofits, Stanley Creators Fund is proud to amplify the voices of creative leaders who are showing up every day for their communities worldwide. Apply by 10/4/2024 - https://www.stanley1913.com/pages/stanley-creators-fund-info

Techstars Accelerators - Techstars accelerators have one goal: to help entrepreneurs succeed. During each three-month program, they surround companies (companies should be based in North American time zones) with the best mentors and an unrivaled network of corporate partners, investors, and alumni.  Companies can receive $20K for 6% of company.  Various locations and due dates - https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/

We Make Change - Global initiative that matches small businesses (mainly not for profits) with volunteers who are professional individuals or are from companies (including blue chip) that have an interest in supporting not for profits. Helps impact startups build a remote volunteer team for free - https://www.wemakechange.org/

Y Combinator - Y Combinator is accepting applications for the Winter 2025 funding cycle. The batch will take place from January–March 2025 in San Francisco. The batch will take place in-person in San Francisco. It kicks off with a 3-day, in-person retreat and features weekly meetups in San Francisco.  Funding of $500,000. Apply by 10/15/2024 - https://www.ycombinator.com/apply

AFRICA-SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES

Founders Factory Africa Gen F Incubator - Gen F is for exceptional founders/aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build out and test their ideas, achieve commercial success, and create outsized, systemic impact and founders looking to build tech solutions that solve Africa’s largest problems and catalyze change. Funding up to $250,000 - https://www.foundersfactory.africa/gen-f-eir-initiative

Grindstone incubator - Incubator will include training, corporate advisory, coaching, mentorship and funding. Specific interventions for each company include a structured gap analysis, understanding of the company value system, building a digital go-to-market strategy, financial modelling, intellectual property assessment, strategic and financial valuation as well as populating a data room - https://www.grindstonexl.com/grindstone-accelerator

CANADA-SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES

Black Ideas Grant 2.0 (3 opportunities) -  The Foundation for Black Communities takes a community-informed, iterative, and learning-focused approach to the definition of Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving. Applicants will be asked to describe how the organization and/or proposed initiative are Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving. Be a registered charity, incorporated non-profit or an unincorporated non-profit or group working with an incorporated partner. Unincorporated groups could include Black collaboratives, Student Unions, Affinity Groups, etc. – Apply by 11/8/2024 - https://forblackcommunities.org/black-ideas-grant-b-i-g-2-0-2024/

Black Innovation Launchpad - The Black Innovation Launchpad is a FREE virtual skills development platform focused on building the next generation of Black entrepreneurs. https://www.dmzlaunchpad.ca/courses/black-innovation-launchpad

IMPACT grants - Primary goal of grant is to fuel the endeavors of businesses and nonprofits that are actively making a significant IMPACT within their communities and beyond. Open to US and Canada-based organizations. Funding of $1,000 -https://impactfundingsolutions.com/impact-grant-application-for-businesses/

Launchpad for Women Entrepreneurs - Launchpad for Women Entrepreneurs is designed to empower early-stage women entrepreneurs interprovincially by offering dedicated resources to kickstart and grow a successful business. Program is available via its on-demand self-paced learning platform nationally or through in-person sessions across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia -https://www.launchpadforwomen.ca/

Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund - The 2024 Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund will provide 10 women-owned small businesses with $10,000 CAD each. Apply by 11/3/2024 - https://www.mastercard.ca/en-ca/business/overview/grow-your-business/small-business-fund-application-2024-signup.html

Odlum Brown Pitch Competition - Are you a Canadian self-identifying woman, non-binary, or trans-femme entrepreneur looking to elevate your business? The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch offers an incredible opportunity to gain clarity, connect with a supportive community, and access valuable resources. Funding for $5,000. Apply by 10/24/2024 - https://www.theforumpitch.ca/

Tidal Empowerment Program - The program offers ten selected businesses an opportunity to receive comprehensive consulting on Strategy, Marketing, Operations, and Technology— worth $25,000, and a promotional technology bundle to help with implementation.  - https://empowerment.tidalcommerce.ca/

Western Canada BIPOC Founders Hub - Are you an early-stage startup founder in Western Canada? The BIPOC Founders Hub is your gateway to success, offering a comprehensive 10-week accelerator program designed to empower entrepreneurs from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.  Apply by 10/10/2024 - https://www.bipocfoundation.org/accelerator/

Workforce Funders Collaborative - The Funder Collaborative is interested in supporting organizations that want to address deep rooted systemic workforce development problems. We hope to invest in organizations that are interested in deep and sustained engagement with the Funder Collaborative to create or enhance existing programs that lead to systems change and include principles of equity, collaboration, innovation and learning. Must be located in greater Toronto area. Funding up to $250,000. Apply by 10/18/2024 - https://workforcecollaborative.ca/call-for-proposals/

Zensurance Small Business Grant - To be eligible to win, entrants must complete the application form and be an operational company registered in Canada with annual revenue that does not exceed $1 million — only one entry per business. Funding of $10,000. Apply by 11/8/2024 - https://www.zensurance.com/small-business-grant

OPPORTUNITIES ONLY WITHIN THE UNITED KINGDOM/IRELAND

Innovate UK KTN - Resource for sourcing grant programs available in the UK across all sectors. Funding opportunities section allows visitors to the website to filter grants by sector or type of funding required. - https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/opportunities/

OPPORTUNITIES ONLY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES

AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator grant - Each selected participant will receive a $10,000 stipend, recognizing their time and dedication to the program. Additionally, one winning solution will be awarded a $50,000 unrestricted grant to support the implementation and development of their innovative approach to health equity. Must be a US-based nonprofit. Apply by 10/27/2024 - https://matter.health/challenges/abbvie-foundation-health-equity-accelerator/

Black Business Accelerator - Dedicated to helping build sustainable equity and growth for Black entrepreneurs by enabling their success as sellers. Grow your business with access to financial support, strategic business guidance and mentorship, and marketing and promotional support. - https://sell.amazon.com/programs/black-business-accelerator

Bank of America's Business Education Center for Entrepreneurs - Visit Bank of America's Small Business Education site for access to free webinars on Accessing Capital, Building Business Credit and more - https://go.bofa.com/BusinessEducationCenter

Beyoncé’s $10K Salon & Barbershop Grants - Beyoncé's Cécred x BEYGood Fund is awarding another round of five $10K business grants this fall to qualifying salon or barbershop owners who are based in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New Jersey. Applications open 11/1/24-11/20/24 - https://beygood.org/cecred/

Black Girl Ventures Pitch Program - The BGV Pitch Program flips the traditional pitch experience on its head: they coach entrepreneurs, host a live crowdfunded pitch competition, then connect entrepreneurs to community and professionals to support them on their journey. You don't need to have experience pitching, nor do you need to have a pitch deck already created. Must be located in Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago or NYC. Funding for up to $10,000 - Deadlines are based on city (April 26 to Nov 6) - https://blackgirlventures.submittable.com/submit

BryteBridge Cares Microgrant - The BryteBridge Cares Microgrant Program provides vital support to nonprofits across the United States. 10 nonprofits will receive $1,000 cash grants and another 10 organizations will receive $1,000 in service credits or a BryteBridge Connect membership. The cash grants can be used for any organizational needs, from general operations to program development. Service credits offer access to essential nonprofit services such as compliance support, strategic planning, and fundraising consulting. Apply by 11/1/2024 - https://brytebridge.com/empowering-nonprofits-brytebridge-cares-microgrant-program/

Cincinnati’s Commercial Tenant Improvement Program (CTIP) - Grants up to $20,000 for tenant improvements to small businesses (1) relocating to Cincinnati, (2) opening a new location in Cincinnati, or (3) expanding within Cincinnati are NOW AVAILABLE through Cincinnati’s Commercial Tenant Improvement Program (CTIP). Apply by 10/21/2024 - https://choosecincy.com/small-business/

EmpowerHer Grant - Boundless Futures Foundation - The Boundless Futures Foundation awards grants to U.S.-based female entrepreneurs and nonprofits that support female entrepreneurship. The EmpowHer Grant offers entrepreneurs up to $25,000, with funds provided as reimbursements for business expenses upon proof of payment. Nonprofits that support female entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, or financing can request up to $30,000 in grant funding through the Her Village Grant. EmpowHer Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis, while the deadline for the Her Village Grant is October 1, 2024. - https://boundlessfutures.org/our-impact/

Grow-NY Summit - Grow-NY Summit is a two-day event on Nov 15-16 highlighting food and agriculture innovation and entrepreneurship. The event is hybrid this year, attendees can join us in person in Syracuse, NY, or virtually. In person tickets are $50 ($25 for students) and virtual access is free. Participants in this program can use code BOAWOMEN10, also for $10 off. Apply by 11/6/2024 - https://web.cvent.com/event/d8ec5e31-571a-4791-a908-b39c68a8f308/summary

Heartland Regional Food Business Center Grant - (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and NW Arkansas) - Heartland Regional Food Business Center will provide financial assistance through Business Builder (BB) Subawards of $5,000 to $50,000 each to support projects focused on meeting regional needs and increasing capacity among food and farm businesses working toward expansion in local and regional food markets. Apply by 10/15/2024 - https://heartlandfoodbusiness.org/business-builder/

HerRise Micro-Grant ($10 fee to apply) - Each month a $1000 micro-grant will be awarded to a for-profit small business owned by women of color. Past recipients used their growth grants for computers, equipment, marketing materials, software purchase, website creation and more. - https://www.hersuitespot.com/herrise/

Idea Cafe Small Business Grant - Idea Cafe, an online resource center for women-owned businesses, has been awarding Idea Cafe Small Business Grants of $1,000 to women entrepreneurs who either own a business currently or want to start their own business. Applications are now being taken for women who would like to apply for the grant money. (no fee but must sign up to be part of Idea Cafe) - https://www.businessownersideacafe.com/business_grants/index.php

IMPACT grants - Primary goal of grant is to fuel the endeavors of businesses and nonprofits that are actively making a significant IMPACT within their communities and beyond. Open to US and Canada-based organizations. Funding of $1,000 -https://impactfundingsolutions.com/impact-grant-application-for-businesses/

Invest in Others – Grants for Good and Grants for Change - The Invest in Others organization offers two exceptional grant opportunities: Grants for Good and Grants for Change. These programs provide up to $20,000 in funding to help nonprofits meet critical needs and serve their communities effectively. The application is open to anyone in the financial services ecosystem, including financial advisors, asset managers, and more. Must be non-profit based in US. Apply by 10/25/2024 - https://www.investinothers.org/grant-program/

Josephine Collective - The Josephine Collective looks at deals on a rolling basis, and founders can apply to be considered at any time. Goal is to have the entire process take no more than 3 weeks from presentation to wire. They invest anywhere from $10K to $100K depending on the Collective’s interest.  JC prefers early-stage tech-enabled businesses.  Companies must be for-profit, US-domiciled, and have an expectation of becoming large-scale businesses.  "Lifestyle" businesses, single location businesses with no current plans to scale, and non-profits will not be considered. - https://joinjosephine.com/

Military Entrepreneur Challenge - The Military Entrepreneur Challenge is a nationwide grant program that gives veteran, military spouse, and Gold Star Family entrepreneurs the opportunity to network, learn, and compete for capital to grow their small business. - https://secondservicefoundation.org/mec/

Minority Business Circle - Supportive network for diverse entrepreneurs in various industries, offering opportunities like grants, loans, significant discounts on essential business products, and a comprehensive step-by-step guide with customized tools to track progress and foster growth. See link for info - https://minoritybusinesscircle.com/

Next 1B program (by McKinsey) - The Next 1B program from McKinsey is designed to support Black-owned brands in the United States. Eligible businesses are typically more than one year in maturity with anywhere from $250k-$5M in annual revenue, and sells consumer products - https://www.mckinsey.com/bem/overview/next-1b

Nordstrom Community Grants for Nonprofits - Nordstrom is dedicated to supporting causes that provide basic needs to youth and their families. They award over $2 million in Community Grants each year across the U.S. as part of this commitment. Applicants need to work within the Education, Health Care or Human Services space. Apply 10/1-10/31/24 - https://www.nordstrom.com/browse/nordstrom-cares/corporate-philanthropy/corporate-grant

Novae Grants Database - Novae Grants database are intended for small businesses with 6-100 employees, though some are also intended for larger businesses and sole proprietor startups - https://grants.novaegrants.com/

Panera Bread Foundation - The Panera Bread Foundation is committed to empowering young people by providing grants to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that focus on underserved, at-risk, and underrepresented youth. The foundation's grant program supports initiatives in education, leadership development, and mentorship. Funding up to $150,000. Apply by 10/27/24 - https://panerafoundation.versaic.com/login

SLB Impact Fund Grant - This program is designed to support Latino-owned businesses, providing them with the necessary resources to grow and thrive. Must be based in US and be a Latino-owned business in business for at least a year. Funding of $2,500. Apply by 10/1/2024 - https://supportlatino.biz/2024-support-latino-business-impact-fund-grants/

Small Business Readiness for Resiliency grant - Developed in partnership with founding sponsor FedEx, the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R) is a multi-year initiative to empower small business owners to proactively mitigate the risks posed by disasters. Funding of $5,000 -https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/solutions/disaster-response-and-resiliency/small-business-readiness-for-resiliency

Small Certified Supplier Innovative Finance Program - Targeted to small certified suppliers in California, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, the Small Certified Supplier Innovative Finance Program is designed to engage diverse suppliers in educational funding readiness training and funder matching to support capacity building. Funding for $5,000 - https://foundersfirstcapitalpartners.com/small-certified-supplier-innovative-finance-program/

SPUR (Shared Purpose, Unlimited Reach) Pathways - Through an integrated and collaborative approach, Macy’s, Inc. and Momentus will provide access to a range of capital options from microloans to growth capital to equity investments. This represents a commitment to underrepresented businesses and aims to galvanize the retail industry to invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs - https://www.macysinc.com/purpose/spurpathways

Start Pivot Grow Microgrant - To qualify for the grant, you must be in business for at least two years, have annual revenue of $50,000 or more, and have 1-2 employees, including the owner. Funding of $2,500. Apply by 10/17/2024 - https://www.startpivotgrow.com/grants

Start Small Think Big is a nonprofit that helps small businesses with high potential and limited access to the resources needed to create thriving businesses. They partner with small business owners, providing personalized business support and building connections with local communities.  Applicants should have at least $500 in recurring sales over the past 3 months and total household income must fall below 750% Federal Poverty Guidelines.  If you are interested in being considered as a “client” for free services, you can fill out this form https://partner.startsmallthinkbig.org/bofainstitute (check toggle on side for English/Spanish).  They also offer free webinars (in Eng and Span) with upcoming events listed here - https://www.startsmallthinkbig.org/events-for-small-businesses

Stephen L. Tadlock Grant (for Veterans) - The fund will make investments of $1000 each to 25 veterans who are running employer-based small businesses across the country. Must be a U.S. military veteran who owns or runs the business with less than 50 employees. Apply by 10/15/2024 - https://foundersfirstcdc.org/stephen-tadlock

Tory Burch Foundation Fellows - The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows program is now accepting applications. It is open to women-identifying entrepreneurs who own the largest or equal stake in a majority women-owned business. Applicants need to be legal residents of the US and the business must be for-profit. Funding of $5,000. Apply by 11/1/2024 - https://www.toryburchfoundation.org/fellows/

Truist NonProfit Grant - The Truist Foundation supports nonprofits with grants that target leadership development, economic mobility, thriving communities and educational equity. Quarterly deadlines - https://www.truist.com/purpose/truist-foundation/grant-application

Veterans Business Outreach Center - The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program offers resources to veterans who are interested in starting or growing a small business. There are 22 locations (soon expanding to 35) and they offer workshops, training, counseling, and mentorship opportunities. - https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/veterans-business-outreach-center-vboc-program

Veteran Shark Tank - The Veteran Shark Tank was created in 2012 to promote and assist Veterans who are starting or growing their businesses. The business submitting the application cannot be older than 3 years old on the day of the competition. Funding of up to $50,000.  Apply by 10/6/2024 - https://veteransharktank.com/apply/

Warrior Rising Grant - Warrior Rising strives to accept and assist veterans at any point in the process of starting their own business, whether it is only a concept or if they have actual operations. Funding of $20,000 - https://www.warriorrising.org/apply/

Wish Local Empowerment Program - You must be a Black-owned business with a brick-and-mortar shop within the United States and less than 20 employees. If selected for the program, you must join Wish Local (which is free). Grants for up to $2000 - https://www.wish.com/local/empowerment

YippityDoo Big Idea Grant ($15 application fee) - Each month, one $1000 grant is awarded to a woman, age 18 or over, in the US to invest in their Business or Idea. It can be used as a start up grant, marketing grant, operational grant or whatever you need to help you to the next level with your idea or business. - https://programs.yippitydoo.com/thebigideagrantforwomen

ZenBusiness Free LLC Formation for Moms - To help mothers take the first step toward entrepreneurship, ZenBusiness is covering business formation costs and will help entrepreneurs form an LCC, track expenses, secure a business name, and more.  -https://www.zenbusiness.com/moms/

ZenBusiness Small Business Grants - The ZenBusiness 2024 Small Business Grant Program offers $5,000 to small businesses who form a legal business entity (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp). In order to qualify for this grant, you must have used their formation services in the last 3-6 months. Apply by 12/31/2024 - https://www.zenbusiness.com/grants

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As mentioned above, see this link for over 110 opportunities listed by state that couldn't fit into the email:https://bofainstitute.cornell.edu/more/repost-spreadsheet-with-funding-and-resource-links-for-2024/