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The Shop Small Grants Program is a grant from the American Express Foundation, in partnership with Main Street America, that funds small businesses looking to grow, innovate, and strengthen their local communities. The program has distributed over $10 million in grants, providing more than 500 awards of $20,000 each. Eligible applicants are small business owners in the United States who are 18 years of age or older.
Recipients receive a 6-month project completion window along with networking opportunities and e-learning resources. The most recent application window ran from November 29, 2025 through January 23, 2026. Businesses should prepare a ready-to-execute project plan and detailed itemized budget before applying.
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Amex Shop Small Grants Program | Main Street America Amex Shop Small Grants Program Amex Shop Small Grants Program Providing grants for small businesses to grow, innovate, and support their local communities. The Amex Shop Small Grants Program, in partnership with American Express®, will fund more than 500 grants of $ 20 , 000 each, empowering small businesses to grow, innovate, and support their local communities.
The program was initially launched with a $ 5 million contribution, and as a result of its giving pledge for eligible transactions made on Small Business Saturday®, American Express will now contribute an additional $ 5 . 1 million to the program – totaling over $ 10 million in grants.
The Amex Shop Small Grants Program reflects the shared commitment of American Express and Main Street America to champion small businesses that strengthen communities and help local economies thrive. Recipients will have a 6 ‑month period in which to complete their projects, so applicants are encouraged to prepare a “ ready-to-execute” project plan and a detailed, itemized budget.
During that period, Main Street America will provide opportunities for grant recipients to connect and network with each other, complete self-guided e‑learning courses, and share the story of their business and their Amex Shop Small Grants Program project journey with a variety of audiences. The application period was open from Small Business Saturday, November 29 , 2025 , to Friday, January 23 , 2026 at 11 : 59 CT .
Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses and communities across the country and is part of the larger Shop Small Movement. Founded by American Express in 2010 , this day is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. Since its launch in 2010 , U.S. consumers have reported spending an estimated $ 223 billion at small businesses on Small Business Saturday.
1 What types of businesses are eligible? Be 18 years of age or older. Be an owner of an eligible small business.
Have been an owner of that business on or before January 1 , 2025 . Be a for-profit, independently owned business. Have a start date on or before January 1 , 2024 .
The start date refers to the date that the business first was in operation providing goods or services and had the potential to generate income. Operate out of a physical “ brick-and-mortar” location, which must be: Located in one of the 50 U.S. states or Washington D. C.
(excludes U.S. territories). Solely used by that same business operating within it. Have operated out of that eligible physical location on or before January 1 , 2025 .
Currently employ 20 or less FTE (Full Time Equivalent) employees. Meet all federal, state, and local requirements to legally operate. Businesses must maintain up-to-date licenses and permits required dependent on business activities.
If the business is required to be registered with the Secretary of State or similar organization, the business must be registered and In Good Standing (or of a similar status in their locality). Be submitted via MSA ’s application submission portal Submittable, which requires you to create an account and login. Be submitted within the application open period beginning on November 29 , 2025 and ending at 11 : 59 p.
m. CT on January 23 , 2026 .
The following are NOT eligible to apply for this program: Businesses located outside of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, DC (Businesses located in U.S. territories are not eligible) Businesses solely operating from within a mobile vehicle, trailer, or other temporary structure Businesses who operate, or operate within, shared spaces (e.g. pop-up spaces, coworking spaces, indoor marketplaces) Businesses seeking to use grant funds for a location which they own, but which a different business is operating out of, or which is vacant and/or intended for resale What types of grant expenses are eligible?
Grant funds must be used to help the small business grow and/or innovate and support their local communities. If a business already supports its local community, the grant can be used for growth and/or innovation. If not, a portion of the grant must be dedicated to a community-focused initiative, in addition to business growth and/or innovation.
All proposed project plans must be implemented and operational by the end of the grant spending period. Proposal examples for inspiration: Large capital expense projects, a physical or marketing refresh, or adding new revenue streams. Creating or improving a community-centric space within the business such as a patio, performance stage, or area used for community gatherings, or hosting events in existing spaces.
All grant funds must be spent during the grant spending period, April-September 2026 . All recipients will receive a grant of $ 20 , 000 . If the project’s total budget is greater than $ 20 , 000 , the application must clearly show how the business will source the additional needed funds.
If the primary project is budgeted for less than $ 20 , 000 , any remaining funds may be used on equipment and inventory, marketing expenses, or other operational expenses, as long as all spending occurs during the grant period. These items should be included in the budget submitted with the application.
Grant funds may NOT be used towards: Payment of invoices/credit card purchases made before the grant period Payroll/staffing/labor (with the exception that grant funds may be used to cover contracted labor being performed by the employee of another business, e.g. contracting a branding consultant or an electrician) Personal or non-business-related expenses How will recipients be selected?
Applications will be reviewed based on ( please see FAQs for details ): Are all eligibility requirements met, both for the applicant and for the project plan? What are the expected outcomes of the project to help the business grow and/or innovate? Does the small business already support their local community, or have a clear plan as to how the project will positively affect their local community?
Is the business exemplary in how it represents and/or interacts with the local community? Can the project be completed (or substantially completed) with the $ 20 , 000 grant within six months? Applications Open: Saturday, November 29 , 2025 Applications Close: Friday, January 23 , 2026 , at 11 : 59 p.
m. CT (Extended from Friday, January 16 , 2026 ) Grant Recipients Notified: March 2026 Grant Period: April 2026 – September 2026 ( 6 months) Grant Reports Due: Thursday, October 15 , 2026 at 11 : 59 p. m.
CT Contact smallbizgrant@mainstreet. org or call 708 − 515 − 4889 and leave a voicemail with any other questions. Please allow up to five ( 5 ) full business days to respond to all inquiries.
1 This spend statistic is an aggregate of the average spend as reported by consumers who shopped small on Small Business Saturday in surveys commissioned by American Express reporting spend habits on Small Business Saturday since 2012 . It does not reflect actual receipts, sales or American Express Card Member spending data. Each such survey was conducted online among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.
The data was projected from the samples based on then-current U.S. Census estimates of the U.S. adult population ( 18 +). Find Small Business Resources Through our Small Business Support work, Main Street America is equipping both small business owners and economic development leaders with tools, resources, and opportunities to build stronger and more resilient local economies.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Small business owners in the United States. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Typically $5,000–$10,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to four (4) Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) that will provide entrepreneurial development services to Native American communities, focusing on supplying services to socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing SBA resources. Eligible applicants must be Tribal Colleges and Universities as defined in the Higher Education Act HEA 316 (U.S.C. 1059c). Funding Opportunity Number: SB-GC7J-23-002. Assistance Listing: 59.007. Funding Instrument: G. Category: BC,ED. Award Amount: Up to $250K per award.
The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to two (2) private, non-profit organizations that will provide entrepreneurial development services to women, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing WBCs for the District of Columbia (DC) and the State of Oregon. There will be one award for each location. Eligible applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax exempt status from the U.S. Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service and must provide services to the District of Columbia (DC) and State of Oregon. Funding Opportunity Number: SB-OEDWB-23-002. Assistance Listing: 59.043. Funding Instrument: G. Category: BC,CD,RD. Award Amount: $75K – $150K per award.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs (Phase I) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit in agriculturally-related areas. This can include app development for agricultural technology, rural development, and smart farming. Phase I aims to demonstrate technical feasibility.