Innovative Builder Grant (part of Back the Builders Grant Program)

Innovative Builder Grant (part of Back the Builders Grant Program) is sponsored by Forward Financing. This grant specifically targets small business owners who are using AI, software, or automation to improve their operations, serve customers, and compete more effectively. It aims to help cover costs associated with getting automation up and running, training staff, or purchasing AI software.

Forward Financing Launches the Back the Builders Grant Program - Forward Financing Forward Financing Launches the Back the Builders Grant Program ">November 3, 2026 | Company News Three Forward customers will each receive a $10,000 grant for their next chapter, plus a trip to Boston to be recognized for what they’ve built. Most small business owners don’t get much applause.

They open early, close late, cover the shift when someone calls out, and plan next quarter while running this one. The work that holds a business and a neighborhood together rarely gets noticed. Today we’re launching the Back the Builders Grant Program to change that for a few of the businesses we serve.

Through the program, Forward Financing will award three $10,000 grants to customers who are building something lasting in their industries and communities. Why we created the program Since 2012, Forward has provided more than $5. 7 billion in capital to over 100,000 small businesses across America.

Our mission is to unlock the capital that fuels them. The Back the Builders Grant Program is the first major milestone in our corporate social responsibility work. It puts that mission into practice as directly as we know how, by investing in the businesses we serve and the neighborhoods they’re part of.

We also wanted to recognize the kind of building that doesn’t show up on a balance sheet. Running a small business means building a team, a customer base, a reputation, and often a corner of a community. This program is our way of noticing.

Three grants, three kinds of builders The program has three categories, each with its own $10,000 grant. The Innovative Builder Grant goes to a tech-forward owner using software, automation, or AI to work smarter, serve customers better, and compete with larger players.

The Community Builder Grant goes to an owner whose business makes a real difference close to home, whether by hiring locally, giving back, or meeting a need no one else was meeting. The She Builds Grant goes to a woman-owned business that’s growing in spite of the capital barriers women founders still face. A $10,000 grant to invest where it counts most.

An all-expense-paid trip to Boston for the owner and a guest, to be honored at the Back the Builders awards dinner on January 22, 2027. A spotlight on their story across Forward’s channels. The focus is the business and the owner’s journey.

A digital recognition kit with badges and assets to share the news. What makes an application stand out You don’t need financial statements or a polished business plan. We want to understand where your business is headed.

Strong applications usually show: A clear next step: a specific challenge or opportunity standing between your business and its next milestone. A plan for the grant: how $10,000 would make a measurable difference in the months ahead. Commitment to community: how you show up for your customers, your team, or your neighborhood.

A story worth telling, from an owner who’s excited to tell it. The application takes about 15 minutes. Tell us about your business, the moment it’s in, and how you’d put the grant to work, either in writing or in a video of up to two minutes.

Then add one to three photos of your business, team, or storefront. Finalists will have a short conversation with our team before three recipients are selected. The Back the Builders Grant Program is open to US-based small businesses that are current or recent Forward Financing customers.

That means you have an active round in good standing that was funded in the past 12 months, or you paid off a round in that time. Applications are open now through November 17, 2026, and recipients will be notified in December. Ready to be recognized?

Start your application. (The grant is a business grant, not a loan or financing. Applying, winning, or declining won’t affect your eligibility for financing, your terms, or your account with Forward.

Recipients must attend the awards dinner and agree to share their story publicly. Grants and related benefits are taxable. Full eligibility and official program rules are on the program page.)