A guide to small business grants in 2026, from corporate programs like Venmo, Amazon, and Lenovo to federal SBIR awards, USDA rural grants, and state programs.
Small business grants are non-dilutive funding: money you don’t repay and don’t trade equity for. They come from corporations, federal agencies, and state governments, each with its own eligibility rules and award sizes. This guide rounds up real programs with amounts, requirements, and where to apply.
TL;DR: Small Business Grants at a Glance
- Corporate grants like the Venmo Small Business Grant ($20,000 to up to 10 businesses) and Amazon Business (over $250,000 split among 15 businesses) fund early-stage and small firms directly.
- Federal SBIR awards run $50,000–$256,000 in Phase I and up to $1.75 million in Phase II for research-driven companies.
- State programs like Pennsylvania’s Small Business Advantage Grant and New York’s Global NY reimburse 50–80% of specific project costs.
- Important tax note: for for-profit businesses, grant income is taxable revenue federally and in most states, though expenses paid with grant funds are generally deductible.
Corporate Small Business Grants
Venmo Small Business Grant. The Venmo Small Business Grant awards $20,000 each to up to 10 entrepreneurs with fewer than 10 employees and under $50,000 in annual revenue, aimed squarely at micro-businesses.
Amazon Business Small Business Grant. Amazon Business awards over $250,000 in grants and prizes to 15 small businesses annually. Applicants must be Amazon Business customers with revenue of $1 million or less.
Lenovo Evolve Small. Lenovo’s Evolve Small AI business grant has awarded winners $25,000 plus a customized AI technology package valued at $10,000, useful for businesses looking to modernize operations.
Breva Thrive Grant. The Breva Thrive Grant awards $5,000 quarterly to revenue-generating small businesses that can show measurable community impact.
Federal Small Business Grants
SBIR / STTR. The federal Small Business Innovation Research program funds R&D-heavy companies: Phase I awards typically run $50,000–$256,000 for feasibility studies, with Phase II awards up to $1.75 million. See our full SBIR/STTR grants guide for the application path.
USDA Rural Business Development Grants. USDA RBDG targets businesses with 50 or fewer employees and under $1 million in gross revenue located in eligible rural areas. More in our USDA grants guide.
A note on the SBA. The U.S. Small Business Administration does not give grants to start or expand a for-profit business, a common misconception scammers exploit. See what the SBA actually funds in our SBA grants guide.
State and Specialty Grants
Pennsylvania Small Business Advantage Grant. Pennsylvania’s DEP reimburses 50–80% of energy-efficiency or pollution-reduction project costs, with maximums of $7,500–$12,000.
New York Global NY. The Global NY program offers reimbursable export grants up to $25,000 for small businesses (up to $100,000 for export-assistance nonprofits), covering 50–75% of project costs.
San Francisco small business grants. San Francisco announced $6.3 million in new small business grants for equipment purchases, storefront openings, and property-damage recovery, an example of the city-level funding worth checking in your own area.
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grant. For creative entrepreneurs, this fund provides up to $5,000 to artists facing unexpected medical, dental, or mental health emergencies (income under $80,000, or $160,000 for joint filers).
Before You Apply: The Tax Reality
For for-profit businesses, grant income is taxable revenue at the federal level and in most states. The offset is that expenses paid with grant funds are generally deductible, so the net tax impact depends on how you spend the award. Budget for this from the start, and see our grant proposal budget guide for structuring the numbers.
How Grantboost Helps
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Read next:
Further Reading
- SBA: Small business grants and funding
- SBIR.gov (federal SBIR/STTR portal)
- USDA Rural Development: Business programs
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.