Mark As Not Viewed
TVFCU Idea Leap Grant
Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union
ABOUT THE GRANT
The TVFCU Idea Leap Grant is an annual pitch competition that awards a total of $300,000 in no-strings grant funding to 15 small businesses across three regional competitions, with $100,000 in prizes distributed within each region. Administered by Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU) and now in its 10th annual competition, the program is funded through proceeds from TVFCU's Idea Leap Loans program and was created to reinvest those proceeds directly into local small businesses. Since launching in 2018, the program has supported nearly 90 businesses with roughly $1.2 million in total grants and scholarships.
Within each of the three competing regions (the Chattanooga Region, the Ocoee Region, and the Northwest Georgia Region), the top winner receives a $50,000 grand prize, one winner receives $20,000, and three winners receive $10,000. Winners also receive prize packages that may include media packages, consulting services, and additional promotional support from regional chambers of commerce and media partners. Applicants must apply to only one of the three regional competitions based on the primary area where their business operates. The competition process runs across roughly seven months, beginning with an online application in the fall and progressing through several selection rounds: quarterfinalists submit a video and logo for judge review, semifinalists receive on-site business visits and are featured in promotional videos (which air on Local 3 for the Northwest Georgia and Ocoee competitions), finalists are selected by the judging panel with one additional People's Choice finalist selected by public vote, and finalists then receive professional pitch coaching before presenting live at regional pitch competitions in the spring. Applications are reviewed initially by an internal panel of TVFCU employees and then by external community volunteers, who serve as judges through each round including the final pitch competitions.
To qualify, applicants must operate a business physically located within TVFCU's 17-county service area, which includes six counties in the Chattanooga Region (Bledsoe, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, Rhea, and Sequatchie), four counties in the Ocoee Region (Bradley, Polk, McMinn, and Meigs), and seven counties in the Northwest Georgia Region (Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Gordon, Murray, Walker, and Whitfield). Applicants must be at least 18 years old, operate an active and lawful for-profit business with all necessary licenses and registrations, have been in operation and generating revenue for at least 12 months, gross less than $2.5 million in revenue, and have between 2 and 25 employees. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible. Applicants do not need to be TVFCU members to apply, but finalists selected to receive grant funding must open a TVFCU account to receive their winnings. Past applicants who have not made it to the pitch competition round are encouraged to reapply.
Tracking grants is our job
Sign up for The Grant Brief to get our latest grants every Tuesday. One email, zero fluff.
NOTES
We haven't added commentary on this grant yet. In the meantime, the fundor's website (linkeded above) is the best source for application details and eligibility specifics.
Not the right grant for you?
Other Grants
Texas Enterprise Fund
State of Texas
The Texas Enterprise Fund awards “deal-closing” grants to companies considering a new project for which one Texas site is competing with other out-of-state sites. The fund serves as a performance-based financial incentive for those companies whose projects would contribute significant capital investment and new employment opportunities to the state’s economy. Eligible applicants include all companies planning a new project including a facility opening or expansion, with significant projected job creation and capital investment, where a single site in Texas is actively competing with at least one viable out-of-state option.
Clark County Tenant Improvement Grant
Clark County
Are you a small business or commercial property owner in the unincorporated areas of Clark County, NV Commission District A? This grant program offers up to $25,000 to help you improve your property and strengthen your business presence. Eligible Improvements: -Tenant improvements -Building façade renovations -Installation or renovation of on-premise signs -Beautification of shared commercial areas
Brooklyn Pitch Competition
The Social Justice Fund
The Brooklyn Pitch Competition awards a total of $450,000 in unrestricted grant funding to selected Brooklyn-based businesses, including a $150,000 grand prize and additional finalist awards ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Administered by the Social Justice Fund (a Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation initiative), the competition is designed for established businesses ready for their next stage of growth and aims to spotlight entrepreneurs who are strengthening Brooklyn's economy, creating jobs, expanding opportunity, and investing in their communities. To be eligible, businesses must be headquartered or primarily operating in Brooklyn, generate between $1 million and $5 million in annual revenue, demonstrate a clear growth strategy and strong potential for expansion, show evidence of innovation, execution capacity, and business momentum, contribute to Brooklyn's economy through job creation, local hiring, community impact, or neighborhood investment, and be prepared to participate in a competitive screening process and a live pitch event if selected as a finalist. In addition to grant funding, selected finalists pitch live at Barclays Center and receive access to investor introductions, capital matchmaking, strategic advisory sessions, and connections to procurement and growth opportunities. Businesses ready to grow, hire, expand their market reach, or deepen their impact in Brooklyn are the program's target applicants.
The Wish Local Empowerment Program
Wish
The Wish Local Empowerment Program, funded by the e-commerce brand Wish, is designed to support Black-owned small businesses. With a $2 million fund, the program offers financial assistance between $500 and $2,000 to around 4,000 Wish Local partners. To qualify, businesses must be Black-owned, have 20 or fewer employees, and earn under $1 million annually. Recipients will also gain access to Wish Local's consumer base through various partnership opportunities.
Mona Small Business Impact Grant
Mona Ventures
The Mona Small Business Impact Grant awards $5,000 in unrestricted, flexible funding to a small business making a meaningful impact in its community. The grant, sponsored by small-business funding co-pilot Mona, was incubated at Harvard Innovation Labs. Whether it's hiring support to expand your capacity, investing in equipment or inventory, launching an initiative you've been planning, or giving yourself the financial breathing room to focus on growth – you decide how to put this money to work. We trust you to know what your business and community need. Let us know how $5,000 will help you do more of what's already working or take the next step you've been waiting to take.