Welcome to your September Grant Drop!
This month, we found opportunities for small businesses, nonprofits, women entrepreneurs, researchers, educators, creatives, agriculture, technology, community organizations and more—with opportunities across the United States and beyond.
Some deadlines are coming up FAST, so don’t save this email for “later.”
Remember:
You don’t need to qualify for every grant. You just need to find the right one for YOU.
Grab your calendar, open a few tabs and let’s find some funding!
1. Giving Joy Microgrant
Award amount: $250–$500
Application deadline: September 30, 2026
Who qualifies: Women 18+, any country, any legal business/trade — doesn't need to be an existing business yet
2. NBA Foundation Grant
Award Amount: Not publicly listed (grant size varies by project/org)
Application Deadline: Fall cycle runs October 1–31, 2026 (info webinar Sept 28)
Who Qualifies: Who qualifies: 501(c)3 nonprofits serving under-resourced youth ages 14–24 in workforce/career readiness, located in one of 28 NBA team markets
3. Shophand Small Business Boost Grant
Award amount: $5,000 ($2,500 cash + $2,500 in tech/services)
Application deadline: Rolling — Round 2 window is June 1–Nov 30, 2026 (winner announced Dec 15)
Who qualifies: U.S.-based for-profit, under 50 employees, under $5M revenue, actively operating
Apply here (login required)
4. BCALA (Black Caucus of the American Library Association)
Award Amount: Varies — this isn't a single grant, it's an org with multiple small awards (e.g. "Reading is Grand!" grant)
Application Deadline: Not listed on the homepage
Who Qualifies: Primarily librarians/library organizations serving Black communities — this doesn't appear to fit any business on your list
What if the grant meant for you isn’t one of the four above?
One of the hardest parts about finding grant funding isn’t writing the application.
It’s never knowing whether you missed the opportunity in the first place.
Maybe there’s a funder looking for the exact type of business you’re building or an organization ready to invest in the community you serve.
Maybe there’s money available for the program, research, equipment or idea you’ve been funding out of your own pocket.
But here’s the thing:
The grant you qualify for can’t help you if you never know it exists.
That’s why the Grant Insider doesn’t stop here for Elite subscribers.
On the other side of this paywall are MORE September funding opportunities for businesses, nonprofits, researchers, educators, agriculture, health, technology, humanities and more.
Some are U.S.-based. Some are international.
Some are thousands of dollars. Others can provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding.
Don’t just read about somebody else getting funded. Give yourself the opportunity to be the next success story.