A practical guide to grants for social enterprises, B corps, cooperatives, and mission-driven businesses, including federal, foundation, and CDFI funding.
Social enterprises sit between traditional nonprofits and conventional businesses. Many are eligible for grants, others are not (most foundation grants require 501(c)(3) status), and the pathway depends heavily on the legal structure.
TL;DR: Quick Answers
- Can social enterprises get grants? Nonprofit social enterprises, yes. For-profit social enterprises usually need to partner with or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) for foundation funding, though federal programs and CDFI funding can flow directly.
- Who funds them? Federal programs (SBA, USDA, DOL, Treasury CDFI), some foundations, mission-aligned funders.
- What gets funded? Startup, growth capital, workforce, community impact, sector-specific work.
- What’s the biggest opportunity? CDFI Fund (for community lenders), federal small business and workforce programs, foundation funding (when nonprofit-aligned).
Federal Funding
SBA. Most SBA grants fund resource organizations rather than businesses directly; SBIR/STTR funds R&D-focused small businesses including mission-aligned ones.
Treasury CDFI Fund. Funds Community Development Financial Institutions; mission-aligned lenders are eligible.
USDA. Rural Business Development Grants, Value-Added Producer Grants, and other rural business programs.
DOL. Workforce programs supporting social enterprises that employ specific populations.
EPA. Sometimes funds environmental social enterprises.
Foundation Funders
Many foundations support mission-aligned business work, primarily through nonprofit partners:
- Skoll Foundation (social entrepreneurs globally).
- Echoing Green (fellowships for emerging social entrepreneurs).
- Halloran Philanthropies.
- Surdna Foundation.
- Local community foundations with social-enterprise programs.
What Gets Funded
- Startup (planning, pilot).
- Growth capital (sometimes via PRIs or program-related investments).
- Workforce (especially for businesses employing underserved populations).
- Community impact and measurement.
- Sector-specific work (food, clean energy, housing).
Tips for a Competitive Application
- Know what your legal structure can access. Nonprofit social enterprises have broader grant eligibility than for-profits.
- Use fiscal sponsorship for early-stage work, see how to start a nonprofit.
- Document mission and impact rigorously.
- Plan for sustainability with non-grant revenue.
- Partner with nonprofits to access grant funding when needed.
How Grantboost Helps
Social enterprise funding spans CDFI Fund, SBA, USDA, DOL, foundations, and corporates. Grantboost surfaces scored, mission-matched opportunities and drafts in your organization’s voice (see training AI on your past proposals).
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Read next:
- SBA Grants: A Guide to Small Business Administration Funding
- USDA Grants: A Guide to Department of Agriculture Funding
- Grants for New Nonprofits
Further Reading
- CDFI Fund (Treasury)
- Small Business Administration
- B Lab / Certified B Corporations
- Grants.gov (federal funding portal)
- Wikipedia: Social enterprise
Disclaimer: Grant programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and policies vary by region and change frequently. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current rules in your area. Always consult a local grant writer or qualified expert in your region for advice specific to your organization, project, and jurisdiction.