Grant discovery for US small businesses
Find grants without chasing stale listings.
Start with curated grant candidates, answer guides, and eligibility paths built from official funder sources. GrantTrek prioritizes realistic fit over claiming to list every grant.
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Grant cards designed for fast qualification
Global NY State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
Empire State Development's Global NY STEP program helps New York small businesses begin exporting, increase export value, and explore new trade opportunities. The official page says STEP 12 runs from September 30, 2024 to August 31, 2026, each company may receive a maximum combined award of up to $10,000 per funding period, and awards are first-come, first-served until funds are expended.
2026 Dairy Plus Program
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) 2026 Dairy Plus Program will award competitive grants to California dairy farms for the implementation of advanced manure management practices that address both methane emissions and nitrogen and salt surplus.
Galaxy Grants for Women and Minority Business Owners
Galaxy Grants is a small-business grant program from Hidden Star, a 501(c)(3), for women and minority business owners. The official page lists a current $2,500 grant, a free application, and an October 31, 2026 deadline.
NIH Parent STTR Grant (R41/R42)
The NIH Parent STTR Grant helps U.S. small business concerns partner with nonprofit research institutions to bring scientific innovations to market. The official Simpler Grants listing says the STTR program supports feasibility studies through later-stage R&D to develop a commercial product, identifies small businesses as eligible applicants, and closes April 5, 2027.
NIH, CDC and FDA Parent SBIR Grant (R43/R44)
The NIH, CDC and FDA Parent SBIR Grant supports U.S. small business concerns developing scientific innovations for the marketplace. The official NIH SEED page says NIH SBIR/STTR grant funding supports early-stage research and development, applications are accepted three times a year, and standard due dates are September 5, January 5, and April 5. The Simpler Grants listing identifies small businesses as eligible applicants and closes April 5, 2027.
SBIR/STTR Match Program
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) are competitive federal grant programs that provide funding opportunities for small businesses to perform research and development (R&D) on technology of interest to federal agencies. Both projects provide funding to explore the potential of high-tech products and encourage commercialization of those products. This program would provide a state match to companies that have received awards through the SBIR and STTR grant programs.
NIH Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award
The NIH Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award bridges the funding gap between an NIH SBIR/STTR Phase II award and commercialization. The official Simpler Grants listing says only U.S. small business concerns that previously received an NIH SBIR or STTR Phase II award are eligible, identifies small businesses as eligible applicants, and closes April 5, 2029.
NIH SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP)
The NIH SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot supports later-stage commercialization for eligible small businesses with NIH small-business R&D projects. The official NIH SEED page lists the CRP Program among parent announcements, and the Simpler Grants listing identifies NIH as the agency, small-business-related SBIR/STTR commercialization readiness as the program, and an April 5, 2029 closing date.
NSF America's Seed Fund Project Pitch
NSF America's Seed Fund is the National Science Foundation's SBIR/STTR path for startups and small businesses with high-risk technological innovations and commercial potential. The official Project Pitch page says startups and entrepreneurs submit a Project Pitch first, and the Get Started page says eligible companies must be U.S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees and at least 50% U.S. citizen or permanent-resident ownership.
First question in the flow
Main Street or R&D?
GrantTrek separates local operators from research-heavy technology companies so users do not get pushed into programs that look valuable but are a poor fit.
Retail, restaurant, service, local hiring, recovery, and community impact grants.
SBIR/STTR-style opportunities for companies with technical research plans.
AEO foundation
Answer pages built for direct questions
Start with common questions about repayment, taxes, application documents, LLC eligibility, women-owned grants, and SBIR before you spend time applying.
Recommended next step
Not sure where to start?
Most owners should choose a grant path before opening every card. Start with the checker, then review a shortlist that matches your business type.
GrantTrek answers
Clear answers before you apply
Grant basics
Answer the money questions before you spend time applying.
- Do you have to pay back grants? Understand repayment, clawback, and compliance risk.
- Are grants taxable income? Know when to ask a tax professional before spending an award.
- Do you pay taxes on grants? Review the practical tax question before relying on grant funds.
- What is the $10,000 SBA grant? Separate old COVID-era relief claims from current SBA options.
- Who pays for grants? Understand government, corporate, foundation, and nonprofit funders.
- Are grants better than loans? Compare grants with more predictable financing options.
- Do grants affect your credit? Separate grant applications from credit products and checks.
Application readiness
Get the documents, proposal structure, and expectations right.
- How to write a grant proposal Use a practical structure for project, budget, and impact.
- What documents do you need? Prepare identity, financial, project, and award records.
- Are small business grants hard to get? Set realistic expectations before writing applications.
- How long does grant money take? Plan around review, award paperwork, and reimbursement delays.
- What are the odds of getting a grant? Improve odds by applying only where fit is clear.
- How much grant money can I get? Compare microgrants, larger awards, and realistic project fit.
Eligibility paths
Find the right lane for your business type and owner profile.
- How do I find grants? Use a focused search workflow instead of chasing every listing.
- Can an LLC get grant money? Separate entity type from official applicant eligibility.
- Women-owned business grants Compare women-specific grants with broad small business grants.
- Veteran small business grants Compare veteran-specific grants with broad business programs.
- Restaurant grant applications Find local, corporate, and project-based restaurant grant paths.
- What is an SBIR grant? Understand the R&D / Tech funding lane.
Specific grant checks
Use these pages when a named grant appears in search or AI answers.
- Freed Fellowship grant Compare the fee, award size, and fit before applying.
- IFundWomen Universal Grant Application Understand the matching path and what to verify.
- Warrior Rising Business Showers Check the veteran-focused pitch pathway.
- EmpowHer Grant Review the women entrepreneur and social-impact fit.
Curated lists
Start with verified shortlists
Best Small Business Grants in 2026: Open and Recurring Programs
Compare open, rolling, and forecasted small business grants verified from official funder pages, with deadlines and eligibility caveats.
Small Business Grants to Watch in 2026
Active and forecasted 2026 small business grants, including recurring corporate, foundation, veteran, and women-owned business programs.
Corporate and Foundation Small Business Grants
Verified corporate, foundation, and nonprofit small business grant programs from official funder pages.
Grants for Women-Owned Businesses in 2026
Compare current and recurring grants for women-owned businesses, including award timing, fees, reimbursement rules, and official sources.
Grants for Veteran-Owned Businesses in 2026
Compare veteran-owned business grants, military-family pitch programs, and realistic broad alternatives from official sources.
Grants for Minority-Owned Businesses in 2026
Compare minority-owned business grants and broad alternatives, with official sources, current timing, and certification caveats.
Grants for LGBTQ-Owned Businesses
A focused list of LGBTQ-owned business grants and broad small business grant alternatives from official public sources.
Grants for Self-Employed Business Owners
Curated grants and recurring programs for self-employed owners, microbusinesses, solo founders, and very small businesses.
Startup Business Grants to Review
A curated list of startup-friendly grant paths for founders, early-stage businesses, women founders, and R&D startups.
Grants for Tech Startups and R&D Businesses
A curated list of R&D, SBIR/STTR, energy, construction technology, and innovation grants for technical startups.
Grants for Creative Businesses and Makers
A curated list of grants and recurring programs for makers, jewelry artists, creative founders, and small creative businesses.
Microbusiness Grants and Small Awards
Recurring microgrants and smaller small-business awards for owners who need realistic, lower-friction grant options.