Grants for Small Businesses

Office to Monitor-Combat Trafficking in Persons · Amount varies

This is a Notice of Intent for the State Department TIP Office's 2020 funding opportunity; no applications are being accepted at this time. When posted, eligible applicants are expected to include U.S.-based and foreign non-profits, public international organizations, institutions of higher learning, and for-profit organizations. No award amounts are provided in this notice. Watch for the actual funding announcement before preparing anything.

Office to Monitor-Combat Trafficking in Persons · Amount varies

This is a Notice of Intent for the State Department's Program to End Modern Slavery (FY 2022); the TIP Office is NOT accepting applications at this time. When opened, eligibility is expected to be broad, including commercial, international, educational, and non-profit organizations, plus faith-based, community-based, and public international organizations. A valid Unique Entity Identifier is required for any organization selected for an award. No award amounts are listed in this notice.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Engineering Environmental Resiliency (EER) program funds fundamental research to advance resource and energy conservation and recovery and to protect the environment and human health, including circular-economy, waste-reuse, contaminant-fate, and related topics. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, open to any type of entity subject to NSF clarifications, though the work is research-oriented and best suited to universities and research organizations. No award amounts or deadline are listed. Projects focused mainly on earth systems or human/social behavior are directed to other NSF directorates.

Department of Public Health · Amount varies

Open to Skilled Nursing Facilities, nonprofits, consumer advocacy organizations, businesses, individuals, public agencies, and tribal governments in California for projects that directly improve life for nursing home residents, such as person-centered care, infection control training, or arts engagement. Research-only projects, capital improvements, staff salary payments, and high-cost technology like AI or telemedicine are explicitly not eligible. Award size depends on the project request, up to an allowable maximum, with projects running up to 36 months.

Natural Resources · $5K–$150K

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding Great Lakes habitat and species protection, restoration, and management priorities under the Aquatic Nuisance Species Comprehensive Management Plan. Awards range from $5,000 to $150,000.

Natural Resources · $30K–$2M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding invasive carp removal and monitoring activities in the Upper Mississippi River. Awards range from $30,000 to $2,000,000.

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · Amount varies

Open to businesses, individuals, nonprofits, other legal entities, and public agencies owning 20 to 5,000 acres of forest land in California; this program provides cost-share assistance (not full grants) for forest management planning, reforestation, and related improvement activities performed under a Registered Professional Forester. Broadcast, controlled, or cultural burning is not an eligible cost. No specific award amount or deadline is listed, and applicants should expect to cover part of the cost themselves.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service · $1.5K–$500K

Open to agricultural producers, the USDA REAP program funds renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements, with awards ranging from about $1,500 up to $500,000. Eligibility is limited to agricultural producers (and, under the broader REAP program, certain rural small businesses), so general applicants and urban organizations typically do not qualify. Review the application package and contact a State Energy Coordinator for required forms and current terms.

Food and Drug Administration · Amount varies

This forecasted FDA funding opportunity targets outsourcing facilities and aims to reduce fraud and lower barriers to producing drugs currently in shortage. It is likely relevant mainly to pharmaceutical manufacturers/outsourcing facilities rather than typical small nonprofits; eligibility, funding amount, and deadline are not yet published.

NSWC CRANE - N00164 · Amount varies

This Navy (NSWC Crane) Broad Agency Announcement seeks innovative research and technology demonstrators in national-security focus areas such as electronic warfare, sensors, hypersonics, and power systems. Eligibility is unrestricted to any entity type, so businesses, nonprofits, universities, and research organizations may propose, though work must align with the Navy's defense mission. No fixed award amount or deadline is stated; proposers are encouraged to contact the listed points of contact before submitting.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This is a forecast notice from NIH signaling that a future funding opportunity for an R41/R42 Small Business Transition Grant aimed at early-career scientists is expected to be published, but the opportunity is not yet open. No eligibility details, funding amounts, or deadlines are available yet; interested small businesses and early-career researchers should watch for the official NOFO announcement.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This forecasted National Eye Institute program (R61/R33, clinical trial not allowed) supports translational research to develop therapeutics for eye diseases through a phased milestone-driven award. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadline are not yet posted. R61/R33 awards typically fund universities, research institutions, and sometimes small businesses; clinical trials are not permitted under this opportunity. Review the full notice for confirmed eligibility.

AFRL Kirtland AFB · Amount varies

This forecasted Air Force Research Laboratory (Kirtland AFB) announcement (DETER ARA) funds experimentation and research in directed energy technology. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadline are not posted in this listing. Defense research announcements typically fund universities, research institutions, and companies, and may carry restrictions related to U.S. national security and export control; review the full announcement for confirmed eligibility and any citizenship or facility requirements.

Department of Housing and Community Development · Amount varies

Businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply for this roughly $101 million California HCD Super NOFA funding multifamily rental housing and infrastructure programs, but awards are strictly limited to projects located in Los Angeles County affected by the January 2025 wildfires. Funding covers new construction, rehabilitation, and conversion of affordable, supportive, transit-oriented, or veteran-focused rental housing, plus infrastructure gap funding for qualifying infill projects; organizations outside LA County are not eligible.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $250K–$30M

Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit companies, U.S. territories, and state, local, and tribal governments may apply to this NOAA program for fish habitat restoration in the Great Lakes. Federal agencies and their employees are not eligible. Applicants can be located anywhere, but the proposed work must take place within the Great Lakes basin in one of the eight U.S. Great Lakes states (NY, PA, OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN). Awards range from about $250,000 to $30 million, making this a large-award opportunity with a strong geographic restriction.

Natural Resources · $30K–$3M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant, which funds fish and wildlife management activities supporting Asian carp control in the Ohio River Basin. Awards range from $30,000 to $3,000,000.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · $100K–$2.3M

This U.S. Army research program (Tactical Behaviors for Autonomous Maneuver) funds work on robotics and autonomous systems for future multi-domain military operations, with awards ranging from about $100,000 up to roughly $2.3 million to a single entity. Institutions of higher education, for-profit, and non-profit organizations may apply, and FFRDCs may propose subject to their sponsoring agency's policy; teams are allowed but not required. Note the listed proposal dates have passed (Cycle 2 submission was April 24, 2024), so verify whether any cycle remains open before pursuing it.

Environmental Protection · Up to $100K

This is for small businesses located in Pennsylvania across manufacturing, industrial, service, and other sectors; larger companies and businesses outside PA are not eligible. It offers low-interest, fixed-rate loans up to $100,000 for equipment purchases or process changes that reduce waste, pollution, or energy use. No application deadline is listed.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

California businesses, nonprofits, individuals, public agencies, and tribal governments building or expanding a manufacturing facility involving recycled feedstock, advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, or advanced transportation technologies can apply to CAEATFA for a sales and use tax exclusion on qualifying equipment purchases. This is a tax exclusion rather than a direct cash grant, so applicants should confirm it fits their funding needs; no dollar cap or deadline is specified here.

CA Energy Commission · Amount varies

Businesses, individuals, public agencies, and tribal governments in California may apply for this CA Energy Commission program, which provides cost-share funding to match federal geothermal energy grants (energy, science, technology, and R&D projects). No award amounts or deadlines are listed here, and applicants should consult the program's application manual for full eligibility rules and required documentation.