Back the Builders Grant Program (Innovative Builder Grant)

Back the Builders Grant Program (Innovative Builder Grant) is sponsored by Forward Financing. This grant specifically targets small business owners who are using AI, software, or automation to improve operations, customer service, and competitiveness. The grant can cover costs associated with implementing AI tools, training staff, or purchasing AI-related subscriptions.

Forward Financing Back the Builders Grant Program — Forward Financing Forward Financing Back the Builders Grant Program This program provides $10,000 cash grants to U.S.-based small business owners who demonstrate innovation, community impact, or support for women entrepreneurs, helping them overcome growth challenges and enhance their operations.

The Forward Financing Back the Builders Grant Program is a private, skill-based grant initiative sponsored by Forward Financing LLC, a company that provides working capital to small businesses. The program recognizes small business owners across the United States who demonstrate dedication to growing their businesses, supporting their employees, serving their customers, and contributing to their communities.

The program will award three cash grants of $10,000 each, representing $30,000 in direct business grant funding. The program offers three distinct award categories: Innovative Builder, Community Builder, and She Builds. Innovative Builder recognizes entrepreneurs who use modern technology, automation, and digital tools to improve operations and scale their businesses.

Community Builder recognizes business owners who generate positive economic or social impacts in their neighborhoods. She Builds recognizes women-owned businesses overcoming capital barriers, pursuing growth, and contributing to their industries.

The program is a competitive grant opportunity rather than a lottery, loan, or financing product, and grant participation does not affect applicants' existing or future financing eligibility, terms, pricing, or account standing with Forward Financing. Each selected business will receive a $10,000 cash grant intended to support business growth and measurable improvements.

Applicants must explain how they intend to use the funding over the next 12 months and provide a concrete plan for deploying $10,000 within three to six months to achieve measurable results. The program prioritizes projects that address actionable business growth challenges, strengthen operational capacity, benefit local communities or workforces, and incorporate modern digital technologies or artificial intelligence where relevant.

The official rules do not specify an exhaustive list of allowable or prohibited business expenditures, nor do they establish a required matching contribution.

In addition to the cash grant, each recipient receives an invitation for themselves and one guest to an awards dinner in Boston, Massachusetts, including flights and lodging, a digital promotional recognition kit, and a feature spotlight through Forward Financing's platforms and media channels.

Each complete prize package has an estimated retail value of $14,500, comprising the $10,000 grant, approximately $3,000 in non-cash benefits, and an additional approximately $1,500 tax-assistance payment. The combined estimated value of all three prize packages is $43,500. Grants and associated benefits are taxable, and recipients remain responsible for their tax obligations.

Eligibility is limited to United States-based small businesses that are current or recent Forward Financing customers who received working capital from the company. A qualifying current or recent customer must either have an active funding round in good standing and have received funding within 12 months of the November 3, 2026 application launch, or have paid their funding in full within that same 12-month period.

Applications must be submitted by an individual who is at least 18 years old and authorized to represent the business. Only one application is permitted per customer. For the She Builds category, the business must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more women.

Applicants must be operating businesses capable of putting $10,000 to work within the next 12 months, be able to attend the required in-person awards dinner in Boston on January 22, 2027, and agree to public storytelling and promotional participation. Recipients must also provide a brief report approximately six months after disbursement explaining how the funds were used and their impact.

Employees, officers, and directors of Forward Financing, together with their immediate family and household members, are ineligible. The program is void where prohibited. Applications opened on November 3, 2026, and must be received no later than 11:59 p.

m. Eastern Time on November 17, 2026. Eligible applicants submit the official online entry form through Forward Financing's website.

The application is estimated to take approximately 15 minutes and requires business and contact information, an explanation of business growth plans, and several photographs showing the business. Applicants may present their narrative in written or video format.

Submissions should identify a specific growth bottleneck or opportunity, describe the anticipated impact of $10,000, outline a concrete spending plan with measurable outcomes, and demonstrate commitment to the local community, workforce, or customer base alongside effective use of digital tools or artificial intelligence.

All submitted materials must be original, relate to the applicant's business experience, and respect third-party intellectual property rights. No letter of intent, concept paper, separate preliminary application, or mandatory information session is specified. Late applications will not be considered.

Applications are evaluated by a sponsor-selected judging panel using three published criteria: Growth Bottleneck and Need, Grant Impact, and Community and Tech Innovation.

Reviewers assess whether applicants clearly identify an actionable challenge preventing their next stage of growth, demonstrate a practical plan for using the grant within three to six months to produce measurable results, and show meaningful engagement with their local communities or workforces and effective adoption of modern digital technologies or artificial intelligence.

Selected finalists must participate in a short interview with Forward Financing's team before the final selection of three recipients. Judges with personal, familial, financial, or business relationships with applicants must recuse themselves from evaluating those applications. Decisions are final and binding.

Potential recipients are contacted by email or telephone and must respond within seven calendar days or risk forfeiture. They may also be required to complete an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Release, Publicity Release, and IRS Form W-9 within seven days of receiving those documents. Grant payments are made electronically after recipient banking information is confirmed.

The program culminates in the Back the Builders Awards Dinner in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 22, 2027, when the three selected recipients will be celebrated. Recipients must attend this event and permit Forward Financing and external news outlets to publicize their business stories.

Applicants retain ownership of their submitted materials but grant Forward Financing a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use and distribute those materials for program-related publicity and marketing. Approximately six months after receiving the grant, recipients must provide an account of their expenditures and business outcomes.

The program materials identify one application cycle beginning November 3, 2026, and closing November 17, 2026, without establishing an annual or other recurring schedule. Questions about the program may be directed to [email protected] . The sponsor is Forward Financing LLC, located at 53 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

Applicants should review the official program rules, including the tax, publicity, intellectual property, and recipient obligations, before submitting their applications. Three fixed $10,000 cash business grants; one each for Innovative Builder, Community Builder, and She Builds.

Each recipient also receives approximately $3,000 in non-cash benefits and approximately $1,500 in taxable tax assistance, bringing the estimated package value to $14,500 per recipient and $43,500 in total. Applicants must describe a 12-month use plan and concrete deployment over 3-6 months. Awards are paid electronically.

A six-month impact report is required. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based small businesses that are current or recent Forward Financing customers who received working capital. A current or recent customer must either have an active funding round in good standing and have received funding within 12 months of the November 3, 2026 launch or have paid in full within that period.

Applications must be submitted by an authorized individual at least 18 years old. One application is permitted per customer. She Builds applicants must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women.

Applicants must be operating and prepared to use $10,000 within 12 months, attend the January 22, 2027 Boston awards dinner, allow public sharing of their stories, and provide a six-month post-disbursement impact statement. Sponsor employees, officers, directors, and their immediate family or household members are excluded. The program is void where prohibited.

Nonprofit eligibility, fiscal sponsorship, faith-based restrictions, and specific prohibited expenditures are not established in the rules. Identify one clear growth bottleneck and explain how $10,000 will address it. Present a realistic 3-6 month spending plan with measurable business outcomes.

Demonstrate tangible community or workforce impact and effective use of digital tools or AI. Select the most appropriate award category and ensure the She Builds ownership threshold is met when applicable. Submit original business photos and narratives before 11:59 p.

m. ET on November 17, 2026. Be prepared for a finalist interview and the mandatory Boston awards dinner.