By demographic · 9 min read
Minority Business Grants: Programs, Eligibility, and How to Win
Federal, state, and corporate grants for Black-, Latino-, Asian-, and Indigenous-owned businesses, with eligibility checklists.
Who qualifies as a minority-owned business?
Most grant programs and the federal Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) define minority-owned as at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by individuals identifying as African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander.
Many programs additionally require US citizenship or permanent residency, day-to-day operational control by the qualifying owner, and proof through MBE certification (NMSDC, state, or city).
Federal programs
- MBDA Capital Readiness Program - funds incubators and accelerators that serve minority entrepreneurs.
- USDA Rural Business Development Grants - minority-owned rural businesses qualify alongside others.
- SBIR/STTR set-asides - agencies prioritize underrepresented founders within R&D awards.
- Section 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance - SBA-funded training for SBA 8(a) certified firms.
Corporate and foundation grants
- Comcast RISE - cash grants and marketing services for BIPOC-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses.
- FedEx Entrepreneur Fund - annual grants of $50K each.
- NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant - for Black-owned small businesses.
- National Association for the Self-Employed Growth Grants - up to $4,000 for members.
- Local foundations - community foundations in most major cities run BIPOC-focused programs.
Certifications worth getting
- NMSDC MBE - opens corporate supplier-diversity programs.
- State/city MBE - required for many public-contract set-asides.
- SBA 8(a) - federal contracting program for socially and economically disadvantaged firms.
Application tips
For demographic-restricted grants, reviewers expect a specific story about your community, customers, or hiring. Generic narratives lose to founders who name the gap they're closing and quantify the impact.
FAQ
What qualifies a business as minority-owned?
Most programs require 51% ownership by individuals from a recognized minority group, US citizenship or permanent residency, and day-to-day control by the qualifying owner(s).
Is MBE certification required to apply?
Some programs require certification (NMSDC for corporate supplier diversity, state/city MBE for public contracts). Many grants don't require it, but having it speeds future applications.
Find funding you qualify for
Chombo aggregates federal, state, and private opportunities into one filterable feed. Save the ones that fit, then track your applications.