Cash in this winter with a private business grant to boost your company and get ahead of the competition. Written by Isobel O'Sullivan
If you have a great business plan and long-term vision but lack the funding to turn dreams into a reality, business grants are a great funding option to consider.
Private business grants provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to entrepreneurs, whether they’re launching a new venture, or trying to scale their business to new heights. Unlike with business loans, you aren’t tied down by stringent repayment terms either, enabling you to plan your next steps while staying out of the red.
We’ve curated a list of exciting business grants, currently accepting applications this February. Read on to learn about their payouts and eligibility criteria, and to find out how the funding type compares to government grants.
Small Business Grants to Apply For in February 2025
It’s time to stop procrastinating applying for funding. Here are five business grants accepting applications this February:
EmpowHer Grants
2025 Lenovo Evolve Small Grant Program
UPS Store® Small Biz Challenge
Skip $10,000 Growth Grant
Black History Makers Grant
1. EmpowHer Grants
For: Female entrepreneurs
Grantor: Boundless Futures Foundation
Amount: Up to $25,000
The Boundless Futures Foundation believes in championing female entrepreneurs through grants and business guidance. It’s EmpowHer grant is back for yet another round and is currently accepting applicants from female entrepreneurs aged 22 and older, with a business operating in the US.
Alongside a sizable cash prize of $25,000, successful applicants will gain access to a network of marketing, financial, and leadership professionals who can help provide guidance on their next steps. To apply, you simply have to submit a pitch describing how your business plans to address a social issue, describe how you would use the grant, and how you plan to measure your success.
Deadline: February 16
2. 2025 Lenovo Evolve Small Grant Program
For: Minority, disabled, and women-owned small businesses in select metropolitan areas
Grantor: Lenovo and Intel
Amount: $25,000
The Lenovo Evolve Small grant scheme has been supporting minority, disabled, and women-owned businesses for four years, and in 2025, the initiative is getting an AI twist. In addition to a generous $25,000 in funding, Lenovo will award 10 lucky businesses customized technology solutions worth $10,000 and exclusive mentorship on AI integration and business strategy.
To be eligible for the grant, your business must be located in one of the following metro areas: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Diego, Toronto, Washington, DC, or Vancouver. Your business also must have made anywhere from $100,000 to $7,500,000 in revenue in the last 12 months and not raised over $3m in investment capital.
Deadline: February 17
3. The UPS Store® Small Biz Challenge
For: Small US businesses with under nine employees
Grantor: The UPS Store®
Amount: Up to $25,000
The UPS Store® Small Biz Challenge is a grant scheme designed to empower small businesses across the US. Granters receive a share of UPS’s $35,000 prize pool – with the frontrunner securing $25,000 – a feature in Inc. magazine, and the opportunity to display your business to a national audience at a live event in Austin, Texas.
To be in with a shot, you’ll have to be a US resident, be aged 18 or older, and operate an independent, non-franchised business with nine employees or fewer.
Deadline: February 19
4. Skip’s $10,000 Growth Grant
For: Active Skip Plus Members
Grantor: Skip
Amount: $10,000
Business grant platform and provider, Skip, is currently accepting applications for its Growth Grant scheme. Unlike the majority of grants on this list, Skip’s $10,000 Growth grant is open to any US small business owner or entrepreneur, regardless of their stage, size, or specialism.
Aside from this stipulation, to be in with a chance of securing $10,000 to power your business’s growth, you have to be over 18 and be an active Skip Plus member. Don’t have a Skip Plus membership? Rest assured, you’ll have time to become a member and fire off an application before the March 1st deadline.
Deadline: March 1
5. Black History Makers Grant
For: Black-owned business
Grantor: Citi Trends
Amount: $5,000
US retailer Citi Trends is back with another Black History Markers grant, in celebration of Black History Month. With a goal to help advance and further the businesses of Black entrepreneurs, the retailer is offering 10 $5,000 grants to applicants who are making a positive impact in their community.
To be in with a chance of winning, your business needs to be black-owned and focused on supporting the local community. All you need to do to apply is fill out an online application form, and winners will be selected by the Citi Trends CitiCares Council.
Deadline: February 28
Grant Tips
Government vs Private Grants: Which Is Best For Your Business?
Government and private grants are both crucial funding sources for US businesses, but each comes with a unique set of advantages and drawbacks.
Government grants are issued by local, state, or federal agencies and are often tied to public policy objectives from research and development to community improvement projects. Due to their sharp focus, the eligibility criteria for government grants can be very strict, and their application processes tend to be much more rigorous and time-consuming.
Private grants, on the other hand, are typically provided by charitable foundations, corporations, or wealthy individuals and vary widely in focus. Compared to government grants, their application process is quite simple, and while there are notable exceptions, their payouts aren’t normally as big. The eligibility criteria of private grants are often much more inclusive, however, making them more accessible to a wider pool of businesses.
Government grants are better suited to…
Businesses engaged in R&D
Businesses working on large-scale infrastructure projects
Non-profit organizations with a focus on social issues
Private grants are better suited to…
Businesses seeking smaller amounts of funding for specific projects
Businesses that need funding quickly
Newer businesses that don’t neatly fit into government funding categories
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