Frequently Asked Questions
User Experience & Eligibility
Who uses FundingTrail?
FundingTrail is designed for small business owners, startup founders, and aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking for non-dilutive capital to grow their ventures.
Whether you are a solopreneur just starting out or an established business looking to expand, our platform serves anyone who needs a curated, verified way to find funding without the noise of traditional search engines.
How do businesses typically use FundingTrail?
Founders use FundingTrail as a comprehensive three-part toolkit: they perform in-depth research via our grant database, subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on new opportunities, and utilize our professional templates to ensure their business is grant-ready.
Most business owners begin by using our interactive database to filter through thousands of data points for location and industry-specific funding. To ensure they never miss a deadline, they join our weekly newsletter for curated alerts. Finally, before submitting an application, they leverage our business plan and financial templates to meet the high standards of grant reviewers, ensuring their venture is fully "grant-ready" from day one.
What type of businesses does FundingTrail serve best?
We serve all small businesses, but our database is particularly strong for early-stage startups, minority-owned and women-owned businesses, and local "Main Street" companies.
Because we focus on curated, accessible grants, we are a primary resource for businesses that might not have a dedicated "grant writer" and need clear, actionable funding leads.
Do you help businesses outside of the US?
Currently, FundingTrail focuses primarily on grants and resources for small businesses based in the United States.
While some of our business planning resources are universal, our grant database is specifically tailored to U.S. federal, state, and corporate funding opportunities.
How We Curate Our Grants
What kinds of grants do you have?
Our database includes grants from federal agencies, state/local governments, private corporations, and non-profit foundations.
We categorize grants by industry (Tech, Retail, Hospitality, etc.), by state, and by founder demographics (Women, Veterans, Minority-owned) to ensure you only see what is relevant to you.
What makes FundingTrail different from other grant tools?
FundingTrail is built on human curation and firsthand expertise, rather than automated web scraping.
Most tools dump raw data behind a paywall. We provide a free, hand-verified database built by a former Venture Capitalist and SCORE mentor who understands exactly what makes a grant worth your time.
Am I "too small" to qualify for these grants?
No! While some federal grants are for larger entities, many of the corporate and local grants in our database are specifically earmarked for "micro-businesses," solopreneurs, and home-based startups.
We specifically tag and curate opportunities that are accessible to the everyday founder. Whether you are a side-hustler just starting out or a small team looking to scale, our filters help you find funding where your size is actually an advantage.
Pricing & Logistics
How much does FundingTrail cost?
FundingTrail is always free to use. We think information about public and corporate grants should be accessible to every founder without an upfront cost.
Our goal is to support the small business ecosystem. We don’t believe in charging entrepreneurs just to see a list of opportunities that are meant to help them grow.
Where can I get help on how to use FundingTrail?
You can find help through our Grants 101 guide, or by reaching out directly through our contact page.
Our platform is designed to be as intuitive as possible. but if you have questions about a specific grant or how to use the filters, we are always here to help. you can email us directly at hello@thefundingtrail.com.
Who is behind FundingTrail?
FundingTrail was founded by Sam Shanley, a former Venture Capitalist and hospitality entrepreneur who currently serves as a volunteer mentor for SCORE Chicago.
The site was built out of a desire to provide small business owners with the same high-level funding insights that large corporations have, but in a format that is accessible to everyday business owners. Sam is deeply embarrassed that we keep bringing him up on in our "about" pages so please make fun of him for this if you ever talk to him. It'll be great.
You can learn more about FundingTrail's mission HERE
Grant Overview
What is the difference between a grant and a loan?
The primary difference is repayment: a loan must be paid back with interest, while a grant is non-dilutive capital that does not require repayment.
Think of a loan as a "contract for debt" and a grant as a "contract for performance." While a loan focuses on your ability to pay back the bank, a grant focuses on your ability to achieve a specific goal, such as job creation, community impact, or technological innovation. For a deeper look at preparing your finances for either, check out our Business Plan Templates.
Do I need to pay for a grant list?
No, you should never have to pay to access a list of legitimate government or corporate grants.
At FundingTrail, we believe that the information itself should be free. While some "premium” aggregators charge for advanced tracking tools, the actual grant opportunities are public record. Beware of any service that "guarantees" a grant in exchange for an upfront fee. Legitimate grants are awarded based on merit, not a processing payment.
How do I know if a grant is legitimate?
A legitimate grant will always have a transparent application process, a clearly defined grantor (like a government agency or a known corporation), and will never ask for personal financial fees upfront.
To verify a grant, check the grantor's official website. Legitimate opportunities usually end in .gov or belong to established foundations like the Amber Grant or the UPS Store Small Business Grant. If you’re unsure, our Grant Database only lists hand-verified opportunities to help you avoid common scams.
What is a "non-dilutive" grant?
Non-dilutive funding refers to any capital, like a grant, that does not require you to give up ownership or equity in your company.
For founders, this is the holy grail of funding. In venture capital, "dilution" happens when you sell shares to investors. A grant is "non-dilutive" because the grantor isn't looking for a seat on your board or a percentage of your profits, they are looking for the social or economic impact your business provides.