Grants for Small Businesses

Department of Education · Amount varies

Eligibility is broad: state and local educational agencies (including charter schools that are LEAs), IDEA Part C lead agencies, higher education institutions and community colleges, other public agencies, private nonprofits, freely associated states and outlying areas, Indian tribes/tribal organizations, and for-profit organizations may apply. This Department of Education program funds a National Center on Accessible Education Videos to support captioning, audio/video description, and distribution (such as a loan service) of accessible K-12 materials for students with disabilities. Specific award amounts are not stated in this listing.

Department of Education · Up to $1.1M

Eligibility is broad: state and local educational agencies (including charter schools that are LEAs), IDEA Part C lead agencies, higher education institutions and community colleges, other public agencies, private nonprofits, freely associated states and outlying areas, Indian tribes/tribal organizations, and for-profit organizations may apply. This Department of Education program funds Accessible Education Video Projects providing captioning, audio description, and accessible materials for K-12 students with disabilities, with awards up to roughly $1.05 million. The award is large.

Rural Utilities Service · $100K–$5M

Eligibility is broad: federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, state/county/city/township and special-district governments, for-profit organizations, and small businesses may apply. This USDA Rural Utilities Service Community Connect program funds broadband deployment (at least 100/20 Mbps) to all premises in rural, economically challenged communities lacking service, with awards of roughly $100,000 to $5 million. The award is large; note these programs commonly carry matching requirements, so confirm cost-share terms in the Application Guide.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $40K–$220K

This NOAA/NMFS program funds projects to conserve endangered marine turtles linked to the Pacific Islands Region and impacted by federally managed U.S. commercial longline fisheries. Eligible applicants are a broad set of U.S. entities: organizations, individuals, institutions of higher education, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, commercial organizations, and state, local, and Native American tribal governments; federal agencies and their employees are not eligible. Awards range from about $40,000 to $220,000.

Rural Utilities Service · $50K–$750K

This USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant has broad eligibility: state, county, city/township, and special-district governments; federally recognized tribes; public and private higher education institutions; 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits; small businesses; and for-profit organizations may apply. It funds telecommunications equipment and technology to expand distance learning and telemedicine in rural areas, with awards of roughly $50,000 to $750,000. Note that DLT grants generally require applicant matching funds, so confirm cost-share requirements in the FY2026 Application Guide.

Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement · $3.5M–$4M

Open to U.S.-based and foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, U.S. 501(c)(3) and foreign educational institutions, and for-profit organizations. The State Department project funds work in Colombia to combat forced child recruitment by Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Transnational Criminal Organizations, supporting law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, with awards of roughly $3.5 to $4 million. The work is country-specific to Colombia.

Foreign Agricultural Service · $28M–$35M

Open to a wide range of applicants, including governments of emerging agricultural countries, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, private voluntary organizations, nonprofit agricultural organizations and cooperatives, colleges and universities, and other private entities. The Food for Progress program donates U.S. agricultural commodities to developing countries, with proceeds funding agricultural development, and awards from about $28 million to $35 million. This is a large international development program.

U.S. Mission to India · $150K

Open to not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs), public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations (only where allowed by the appropriation), individuals, and public international or governmental institutions. The State Department program funds U.S.-India sports technology dialogues and innovation activities across multiple Indian cities, with a fixed award of about $150,000. The work is country-specific to India.

Health Resources and Services Administration · $0–$750K

Open to all domestic public or private, nonprofit and for-profit entities (the 50 states, DC, and listed territories and freely associated states). The program funds rural communities to expand integrated substance use disorder treatment and recovery services and workforce, with awards up to about $750,000. Eligibility is broad across organization types.

Health Resources and Services Administration · $0–$4.5M

Open to domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities, including faith-based and community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations. The cooperative agreement funds nationally available technical assistance to support community-based organizations and rural health stakeholders, with awards up to about $4.5 million. Eligibility is broad across organization types.

Health Resources and Services Administration · $100K

Open to domestic public or private, nonprofit or for-profit entities (the 50 states, DC, and listed territories and freely associated states). The program funds rural communities to build partnerships and capacity to plan substance use disorder and opioid response services, with a fixed award of about $100,000. Funds support planning only, not direct service delivery.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $1–$1M

This NOAA (NCCOS) program funds development and testing of technologies and strategies to prevent, control, or mitigate harmful algal blooms. A broad range of U.S. applicants is eligible, including higher-education institutions, nonprofits, state/local and tribal governments, U.S. territories, Pacific Islands institutions, and for-profits; federal applicants may apply where legal authority exists, and foreign researchers must participate via a U.S. entity. Projects may request up to $500,000/year (focal area 1) or $1 million/year (focal area 2).

U.S. Mission to the Dominican Republic · $30K–$80K

The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is funding a public technology and science fair to connect Dominican students, entrepreneurs, and institutions with U.S. companies and innovators. Eligible applicants include U.S. and Dominican nonprofits, chambers of commerce, business associations, innovation/startup incubators and accelerators, higher-education institutions, alumni associations, and civil society organizations with relevant STEM or workforce experience. Awards range from about $30,000 to $80,000.

Health Resources and Services Administration · $0–$100K

Open to domestic public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit entities, including faith-based and community-based organizations, tribes, health centers, and rural clinics, but applicants must be located in and serve HRSA-designated rural areas within the Northern Border Region (Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont). This one-year program funds building or strengthening rural healthcare networks. The maximum award is about $100,000, with a deadline of July 10, 2026.

Air Force -- Research Lab · Amount varies

Open to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations only; government organizations and individuals are not solicited. This Defense Production Act Title III opportunity supports expansion of domestic production capability and capacity, with applicants required to certify GAAP-compliant financial systems. Note: acceptance of white papers is currently suspended until further notice, and the announcement remains open until July 12, 2026. No specific award amount is stated.

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education · $0

Open to institutions of higher education and other nonprofit or for-profit organizations with demonstrated expertise in evidence-based American history, civics/government, or geography education. Funds promote innovative instruction, learning strategies, and professional development, particularly benefiting students from low-income and underserved backgrounds. Consortia may apply as group applications. No award amount is stated, and the deadline is July 13, 2026.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $1–$400K

NOAA's Ocean Technology Transition Program funds projects that move ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing technologies from research toward operational or commercial use. Eligibility is broad, including industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profits, and state, local, and tribal governments; federal agencies and foreign governments cannot be the prime recipient but may partner, and projects previously funded by this program are not eligible. Maximum award is up to about $400,000. The deadline is July 15, 2026, within about a month.

U.S. National Science Foundation · From $330K

The NSF Arctic Sciences Section funds investigators at U.S. organizations to research the Arctic's changing natural environment and social and cultural systems. Eligible applicants include U.S. institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), non-profit non-academic research organizations, tribal nations, and certain federal entities; for foreign collaborations only the U.S. portion is supported. The minimum noted award is about $330,000 (no stated maximum). The deadline is July 15, 2026, within about a month.

Bureau of Counterterrorism · $2M–$4.9M

Eligibility is broad, including not-for-profit organizations and think tanks, public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. The program funds an initiative to counter violent terrorist organizations' exploitation of illicit mining, taking an integrated approach across law enforcement, mining regulators, judiciary, and civil society, with awards from about $2 million up to roughly $4.9 million. The deadline is within about three weeks.

Bureau of Counterterrorism · $0–$3.9M

Eligibility is broad, including U.S. and foreign not-for-profit organizations and think tanks, public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. The program funds explosive ordnance disposal, counter-IED, and post-blast investigation training and equipment for security forces in Iraq, Lebanon, and Gulf Cooperation Council states, with awards up to about $3.9 million. The deadline is within about three weeks.