We’ve seen the ads before: free grants for your business! The good news is that there are actually two grants for which you can apply that are legitimate. I know because I mentored a business owner who was a winner of the Nav Grant last year. If you’d like help applying for a grant for your business, call me at (503) 692-0780 and let’s get started!

Grants for For-Profits Grants:

Nav Small Business Grant
https://www.nav.com/business-grant-contest/
There are three prizes each quarter: $10,000 grant, a $2,000 grant, and a $1,000 grant to small business owners. To enter, you write an essay about why you are in your business, what challenges you have faced or are facing, and how you would spend the money if you win.

Be creative! Nav likes to hear your personal story.

A few years ago, a dog-friendly Oregon brewery won the Grand Prize. Nav likes to know that you have a business advisor so please make sure you mention if the BRC is helping you!
How they select a winner: In the summer 2019 contest, Nav selected 10 semi-finalists from a field of over 300 entries. Nav conducted phone interviews with these 10. Out of the 10, they selected 5 businesses to visit in person. Out of the 5 businesses, they selected the 3 winners.

Hello Alice
Business for All/Hello Alice is offering $250,000 in business grants. Prizes are:

1 Grand Prize Winner receives $50,000 business grant
2 Runners-Up will each receive a $25,000 business grant
12 finalists will each receive a $10,000 business grant
3 business or entrepreneur support organizations (nominated by business owners!!!!) will each receive a $10,000 business grant to carry on their mission of helping small business owners.

While you don’t have to send in three box tops to enter, you do need to be a legal U.S. resident who is 18 years of age (or older) who owns a U.S.-based legal, for-profit business.