Spark Grant
$5K–$25K
- Under 2 years in business, or earning under $50,000 a year
- You can apply before your first sale
- Any industry that meets our rules
- A grant proposal
Eligibility
Who can apply for a grant
If you own a for-profit small business in the U.S., there’s a good chance you can. Here’s exactly who qualifies.
The basics
What every applicant needs
Based in the U.S.
A for-profit business based and operating in one of the 50 states or D.C.
Independently owned
Not a franchise, a subsidiary of another company, or listed on a stock market.
Small
Fewer than 100 employees and under $5 million a year in revenue.
Run by you
You’re 18 or older and an owner, or an officer allowed to apply.
A business bank account
You’ll need one in the business’s name before we can pay a grant.
Each grant has its own rules
Which grant can you apply for?
These are on top of the basics. The application checks them for you.
Growth Grant
$25K–$100K
- 2 years or more in business
- $50,000 or more in yearly revenue
- A grant proposal
Expansion Grant
$100K–$300K
- 3 years or more in business
- $250,000 or more in yearly revenue
- At least 2 people working in the business
- A grant proposal
Can’t apply
Businesses we can’t fund
- Franchises, subsidiaries and publicly traded companies
- Nonprofits and government agencies
- Businesses that mainly lend money, invest, or buy and hold property
- Gambling, adult entertainment and multi-level marketing
- Political campaigns, political action committees and lobbying
- Cannabis, and anything illegal under federal, state or local law
- Businesses owned by our staff, board or reviewers, or their close family
- Businesses that won one of our grants in the last 24 months
If you’re a finalist
What we’ll ask you to show us
You don’t need any of this to apply. We only ask finalists, through a secure upload link, never by regular email.
- Proof of registration
- Your state registration, business license or DBA filing, showing the business is in good standing.
- Tax ID
- Your IRS EIN letter, or proof of your sole proprietorship.
- Financials
- Your latest business tax return or this year’s financial statements. Spark applicants with no sales yet can skip this.
- ID check
- A short video call where you show a government photo ID.
- Business bank account
- An account in the business’s name. We only pay grants into business accounts.
Still not sure?
Take the one-minute check.
Five quick questions tell you if your business meets the basics. Nothing is saved or sent.
Quick check
Could your business qualify?
Five yes-or-no questions. Nothing is saved or sent.
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1
Is your business a for-profit company based and operating in the U.S.?
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2
Is it independently owned, and not a franchise, a subsidiary or a public company?
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3
Does it have fewer than 100 employees and under $5 million a year in revenue?
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4
Are you 18 or older, and an owner or an officer allowed to apply for the business?
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5
Is the business free of the activities we can’t fund?
Applications close January 15, 2027