Entreprenista Evolve Grant

TRANSFORM is actively anticapitalist and antiracist, continually working to identify and dismantle oppressive systems of power. Funding shouldn’t be the reason you sacrifice your business idea or your professional development. We offer growth-focused wealth redistribution grants of $1,000 to anticapitalist businesses led by social impact focused individuals. In addition to funding, grantees participate in a customized year-long growth-based mentorship program, which includes access to pro bono services from a roster of experts in branding, coaching, skill-based learning, marketing, and more. The TRANSFORM Business Grant is designed to support individuals in systemically marginalized groups who are making social impact and demonstrate financial need. This includes, but is not limited to, BIPOC individuals, individuals who have a disability, formerly incarcerated individuals, and queer, trans, and nonbinary folks.

The Sharon Economic Development Grant Fund provides grant funding to startup and existing businesses operating within the City of Sharon, Pennsylvania to help de-risk and accelerate operations, fuel growth, and support the revitalization of the city's downtown. Administered by the Shenango LaunchBox (Penn State Shenango's entrepreneurial support program) on behalf of a partnership between the City of Sharon, Penn State Shenango, and the Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, the fund draws from a $2 million endowment created in 2022 (with funds contributed by the City of Sharon's American Rescue Plan dollars and a matching investment by Penn State University), and awards approximately $100,000 in grants to Sharon businesses each year. Individual grant amounts vary based on each business's pitch and the recommendation of the Grant Selection Committee, with recent rounds awarding multiple businesses through a single annual cycle. Priority is given to businesses that align with the City of Sharon's Main Street Model, contribute to the revitalization of the State Street Downtown Improvement District, generate new jobs, and drive travel and tourism to Sharon. To qualify, applicants must have a business presence within the 16146 zip code (City of Sharon). The application process is multi-stage: applicants first submit a Letter of Intent on a rolling basis, then participate in a review and feedback round, complete a pitch coaching session with the Shenango LaunchBox team, and ultimately deliver a 5-minute pitch with Q&A to the Sharon Economic Development Grant Committee, which makes the final funding decision. In addition to grant funding, applicants benefit from free consulting services, pitch coaching, and access to broader Shenango LaunchBox programming, with some past recipients also receiving free legal advice from Penn State Law's Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic and business plan support from the Gannon Small Business Development Center.

The EDGE Grant Competition is the Division’s flagship funding program aimed at helping young Delaware small businesses grow and scale. The program awards grant funds through a highly competitive selection process and pitch competition. Ten or fewer businesses in the Entrepreneur (general business) category will receive funding from a pot of $400,000, and eight or fewer businesses in the STEM category will receive funding from a $750,000 pot.

The Bend Small Business Assistance Grant Program provides Bend, Oregon small businesses with grants to strengthen operations, invest in employees, improve services, adapt to changing conditions, and invest in climate-smart projects. Administered by the City of Bend's Economic Development Department, the current program cycle offers a total of $130,000 to be distributed among qualifying businesses, allocated across two tracks: $100,000 for economic development projects and $30,000 for climate and sustainability projects. Individual grant amounts are determined based on project scope, funding requests, and available program funds. Eligible projects fall across six broad categories: Business Growth and Customer Engagement (such as website updates, online sales tools, marketing and outreach, customer service enhancements, and multilingual communication materials), Employee Development (workforce training, professional certifications, leadership development, and employee retention tools), Operations and Technology (technology upgrades, cybersecurity improvements, financial system improvements, business planning and consulting, and HR or compliance support), Business Resilience (business continuity planning, risk reduction projects, supply chain improvements, and economic or environmental preparedness), Planning and Innovation (market research, feasibility studies, strategic planning, and product or service testing), and Climate and Sustainability Projects (energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy planning, waste reduction initiatives, transportation improvements, and environmental tracking and reporting tools). Eligible uses of grant funds include professional services and consultants, employee time dedicated to the project, equipment, tools, and technology, training and certifications, marketing and communications, translation services, project supplies, technical studies and assessments, and environmental planning and support services. To qualify, businesses must be registered in Oregon, hold a current City of Bend business registration, employ 50 or fewer people, operate within the City of Bend, and propose a project that benefits business operations in Bend and supports program goals. Applications are reviewed by City staff for eligibility and completeness, then evaluated by either the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board (for economic development projects) or the Environment and Climate Committee (for climate and sustainability projects). Staff develop funding recommendations, and the City Manager makes final award decisions. Applications are scored across five categories: Project Impact (42 points), Business Capacity and Readiness (12 points), Feasibility (12 points), Alignment with Program Goals (12 points), and Equity and Accessibility (12 points), for a total of 100 possible points. Grant recipients are required to provide project updates every six months for two years following award. Businesses applying for climate-related projects are encouraged to first explore incentives available through utility and energy-efficiency programs (including Energy Trust of Oregon and Central Electric Cooperative) and explain in the application how those opportunities were considered before requesting grant funding.

The Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards provide small and medium-sized business owners around the world with $20,000 cash prizes, along with data and insights, technical training, and marketing and brand activations to accelerate their work. Administered through a partnership between Global Citizen, a global advocacy and citizenship platform, and PayPal, the awards recognize creative business leaders who have developed innovative products and services that drive measurable social or environmental impact in their communities. Multiple winners are selected each year (five winners were honored in 2025). To be eligible, applicants must be the owner, founder, or CEO who plays a crucial role in the business, operate a small-to-medium-sized business with fewer than 50 full-time employees or annual revenue under $1 million (subject to local regulations and standards), maintain an online presence that allows customers to buy their product, have between 1 and 5 years of demonstrated impact in their community, and live and work in one of four eligible regions: North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, or Latin America. Demonstrated community impact may include supporting local causes, charities, or nonprofits, engaging in community development projects or partnerships, implementing sustainable practices that benefit the local environment or economy, or creating jobs or educational opportunities for community members. Franchises and businesses that are part of national or international chains are not eligible, and businesses affiliated with organizations subject to U.S. financial sanctions cannot receive awards. The application consists of four parts: basic information about the applicant and their business, a 1 to 2 minute pitch video explaining why they deserve the award, four short-answer questions describing how the work aligns with the judging criteria, and supplemental organizational details if requested. Applications are evaluated on three core criteria: Innovation (how the business's innovation supports its mission and creates positive societal or environmental impact), Vision (a compelling vision and concrete plans for expanding the work over the next 3 to 5 years), and Impact (a demonstrated track record of measurable impact advancing one or more of the United Nations' Global Goals). Up to 50 finalists are selected for additional review and asked to submit three letters of recommendation before final winners are chosen.