How to find small business grants that fit: start with one specific project, not a list of grants. Search where that kind of work gets funded, such as your state and city, company programs, and Grants.gov. Before you apply, check each grant's eligibility rules and who it has funded before.
Key takeaways
- Search for funding for a project, not for your business in general.
- State, local, and company programs are often the best places to start.
- Filter by eligibility and location before you read anything closely.
- Check who a funder has paid before.
This guide is one part of how to get your business grant-ready. It covers the search itself: where to look, how to filter, and how to check fit. If you haven't decided whether grants make sense for you, decide whether you're ready for a grant first.
Where should you look for small business grants?
Look where your kind of project gets funded. For most small businesses, that means state, local, and company programs, plus federal grants if you do research and development.
| Source | Where to search | What to know |
| Federal agencies | Grants.gov, plus SBIR.gov for research and development | Filter by eligibility first; many notices don't accept businesses |
| State programs | Your state's economic development agency or grant portal | Some federal money reaches businesses through states |
| City and county programs | Local economic development offices | Rules often depend on your location and licenses |
| Foundations | Candid and foundations' own websites | Most fund nonprofits, so check their past grants |
| Companies | Company websites and official program rules | Read who can enter and what's required |
States matter more than many owners expect. Most federal funding reaches local areas through subawards, meaning money a state or other first recipient passes on to others (CRS). The SBA's State Trade Expansion Program, for example, gives awards to states, which then help them established small businesses with export costs such as trade shows (SBA).
Some states make this easier. California's grants portal lists state grant and loan opportunities in one place and lets you search by applicant type, including businesses (California Grants Portal).
How to find small business grants, one project at a time
Search for funding for a specific project, not for your business in general. Then filter hard before you read anything closely.
- Name one project. What will the money pay for, who benefits, and when do you need it? Workbook 1's exercise 1.4, From Need to Fundable Project, walks through this.
- List the words a funder would use. Think "workforce training" or "energy efficiency," not "money for my shop."
- Search each source above. On Grants.gov, put phrases in quotes and use AND between ideas. Its keyword box treats words with no operator between them as OR, so a plain multi-word search returns results with any of the words (Grants.gov).
- Filter by eligibility and location first. Every federal funding notice, the funder's official announcement of a grant, has a section defining who is eligible (Grants.gov).
- Save what passes in a simple list: the funder, the deadline, the link, and why it fits.
Workbook 2: Readiness & Pipeline, coming next, turns these steps into a full exercise, the Project-First Search.
How do you check whether a grant fits?
Look for three yeses: you're eligible, it pays for your project, and it's timing works. Then check who it has funded before.
- Eligible: your type of organization and location appear in the funding notice's eligibility section.
- Pays for your project: the funder's stated purpose matches what the money will do.
- Timing works: the deadline, award date, and payment schedule fit when you need the money.
If any answer is no, drop the grant or save it for a later cycle.
Past awards show what a funder actually pays for. For federal grants, USAspending.gov lets you search past awards by place, recipient type, and program, though its results may be incomplete or contain errors (CRS).
For private foundations, look at Form 990-PF, the tax return they file each year. These returns are public records, and they list the year's grants with each recipient's name, location, and grant amount (Candid). If every recipient is a nonprofit, treat that as a strong sign a business isn't a fit.
Verify before you rely: programs, eligibility rules, and deadlines change from cycle to cycle. Confirm every detail on the funder's own site before you invest time.
Who can help you find grants?
Free advisors, the funder's own staff, and owners who have applied before.
- Free advisors. The SBA's resource partners, including Small Business Development Centers, offer free or low-cost business advising (SBA).
- The funder's staff. Funding notices usually list a contact. Ask whether your project fits before you write a word.
- Other owners. People who have applied to a program know how it works in practice, including what the rules don't say.
What does this look like in practice?
Here's how one made-up business might run the search.
Hypothetical example. This business isn't real. A three-person HVAC business wants money to train two technicians to install heat pumps.
| Source | What it found | Next step |
| Grants.gov, searching "heat pump" AND training | Notices open mostly to governments and nonprofits | Skip for now |
| State grants portal | A workforce training program open to employers | Check eligibility and the next deadline |
| City economic development office | No open grant, but a small business loan program | Note it as an option |
| Foundations | Past grants all went to nonprofits | Skip |
| Equipment maker's training program | Discounted training not a grant | Compare the cost |
The business ends up with one grant to track and two other options to compare, instead of a long list of maybes.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Most mistakes come from searching too broadly or trusting the wrong sources.
- Searching for money for "my business" instead of a specific project.
- Typing several words into Grants.gov without quotes or AND.
- Trusting lists of named grants without checking the funder's own site. Lists go out of date quickly.
- Paying anyone who promises a grant or charges a fee to apply. The federal government doesn't charge a fee to apply for a federal grant (Grants.gov), and the SBA only emails from addresses ending in @sba.gov (SBA).
- Skipping the check on who a funder has paid before.
When doesn't this advice apply?
It fits most small businesses looking for grants. A few situations work differently.
- Nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects can reach far more foundations, so foundation research takes a bigger share of the search.
- Research and development startups should search the SBIR and STTR programs, which fund specific research topics. Start at SBIR.gov.
- Owners who need money within weeks should look at faster options, since grants usually take months.
- Owners who can't name a project yet should start there. Without one, no search will turn up a good fit.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find small business grants?
Start with your state's economic development agency or grants portal, your city or county, and company programs. Use Grants.gov for federal opportunities, and SBIR.gov if you do research and development. Foundations mostly fund nonprofits, so check their past grants first. Wherever you search, start with a specific project.
Does the SBA give grants to small businesses?
Not to start or expand one. The SBA says it does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business. Its grants mostly go to nonprofits, resource partners, and educational organizations that support owners, plus research and development programs and export help through states (SBA).
How do I search Grants.gov effectively?
Use quotes around phrases and AND between ideas. Grants.gov treats words with no operator between them as OR, so a plain search returns results with any of your words (Grants.gov). Then filter by eligibility, and read each funding notice's eligibility section before anything else.
How can I see who a foundation has funded?
Look at its Form 990-PF, the tax return private foundations file each year. These returns are public records, and they list the year's grants with each recipient's name, location, and amount (Candid). Candid also offers a free search after you register.
Should I pay for a grant search service?
You don't have to. Grants.gov and state portals are free, and Candid offers free search with registration (Candid). A paid tool can save time, but it can't make you eligible. Walk away from anyone who promises a grant or charges a fee to apply.
Your next step
Workbook 2: Readiness & Pipeline, coming next, will walk you through the Project-First Search step by step. Until then, The Starter Set helps you name a fundable project and check your eligibility before you search. It includes Start Here, Workbook 1: Foundation & Fit, and the Reference Guide.
This post is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Programs and rules change, so check current details with the funder or an official source.