Five confirmed grants. No application fees. Direct links to apply. Every deadline verified for Q2 2026.
Access to capital remains one of the most well-documented barriers facing Black women entrepreneurs. Not a shortage of ideas. Not a lack of execution. Capital. And while the conversation around the funding gap is consistent, a clean and verified list of places to actually apply — right now, this quarter, at no cost — is harder to find than it should be.
Roundup articles promise resources and deliver dead links. Grant databases list programs that closed last year. Third-party sites collect affiliate revenue from the same five grants recycled under a new headline.
BACON Magazine does the vetting. Every grant below is open as of spring 2026, free to apply to, and linked directly to the source where the grantor controls the application. No detours. No fees. No padding.
Bookmark this page. Forward it to every woman in your network who is building something real. And apply before these windows close.
1. Galaxy Grant — $3,500
Grantor: Hidden Star (Galaxy of Stars) — 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Award Amount: $3,500
Application Fee: Free
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Eligibility: U.S.-based women and minority-owned businesses at any stage.
The Galaxy Grant is administered by Hidden Star, a nonprofit with nearly a decade of support for women and minority entrepreneurs. The application process is intentionally brief — basic information about your business and how you would use the funding. No essay. No pitch deck. No fee.
For a $3,500 award, the time-to-return ratio here is among the best on this list. If you are a woman or minority business owner and this window is open, there is no reason not to apply.
Apply Now: galaxyofstars.org/galaxy-grants/
2. Skip Spring Grant — $10,000
Grantor: Skip (Hello Skip) — Entrepreneur Funding Platform
Award Amount: $10,000
Application Fee: Free (open grant — see note below)
Deadline: April 17, 2026
Eligibility: U.S.-based entrepreneurs and small business owners, 18 and older.
Skip has awarded grants to more than 800 small business owners to date. This spring cycle includes two $10,000 grants. One is open to all eligible applicants at no cost. The second requires a paid Skip Plus membership.
Apply to the open grant only. The application is straightforward, and if your business is registered and you are 18 or older, you qualify to enter.
Apply Now: helloskip.com/funding-details/10k-spring-grants
3. Breva Thrive Grant — $5,000
Grantor: Breva (formerly Cadence Financial Group) — Financial Technology Company
Award Amount: $5,000
Application Fee: Free
Q2 Deadline: April 30, 2026
Eligibility: U.S.-based for-profit businesses. Preference given to businesses operating at least one year and those serving underrepresented or underserved communities.
The Breva Thrive Grant runs on a quarterly cycle, which means four application opportunities per year: Q1 closes January 31, Q2 closes April 30, Q3 closes July 31, and Q4 closes October 31. Missing this window does not mean waiting twelve months.
The grant is race- and gender-neutral in its selection criteria, but the stated priority — businesses serving underrepresented communities — reflects an audience that Black women entrepreneurs routinely represent. Funds can be applied to equipment, hiring, product development, marketing, and general business-building activities.
Apply Now: breva.ai/thrive-grant
4. Founders First CDC — Kitty Fund Mompreneur Grant — $1,000
Grantor: Founders First CDC — Nonprofit, Revenue and Employment Growth
Award Amount: $1,000 + accelerator program access
Application Fee: Free
Deadline: April 14, 2026
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs who are also parents (mompreneurs). 20 recipients selected per cycle.
This grant has the earliest deadline on the list. If you are a woman entrepreneur raising a family while building a business, this cycle was built specifically for you.
Founders First CDC pairs the $1,000 cash award with accelerator program access, which provides structured support beyond the grant itself. The organization also runs additional grant cycles throughout the year, including programs for LGBTQIA+-owned and veteran-owned small businesses.
Apply Now: foundersfirstcdc.org
5. Intuit Small Business Hero Program — $20,000
Grantor: Intuit QuickBooks + Mailchimp
Award Amount: $20,000
Application Fee: Free
Deadline: Rolling (nomination-based)
Eligibility: U.S. and Washington, D.C.-based small businesses. Business owner must be 18+ and must be nominated by someone in their community. Self-nominations are not permitted.
At $20,000, this remains one of the strongest funding opportunities on this spring’s grants list. The Intuit Small Business Hero Program celebrates entrepreneurs who have shown courage, perseverance, integrity, and community impact.
What makes this opportunity stand out is the community nomination model. Business owners cannot submit themselves. Instead, a client, customer, collaborator, mentor, or community supporter must nominate the business through Intuit’s official portal.
In addition to the $20,000 grant, selected businesses may receive exclusive growth resources, business tools, and national visibility support through QuickBooks and Mailchimp, giving winners both capital and brand-building momentum.
How to apply: Send this article to someone who has seen your impact firsthand and ask them to nominate your business.
Apply Now: Nominate a Small Business Hero
A Note on Verification
Grant programs update their deadlines, award amounts, and eligibility requirements on their own timelines. Every grant on this list was verified as of April 2026 using each grantor’s official application page. Before submitting any application, confirm the current terms directly at the source link provided.
BACON Magazine will continue updating this resource as new grant cycles open. Bookmark it and return. BACON Magazine covers business strategy, funding, and wealth-building for Black women entrepreneurs. For more resources on capital access, growth, and visibility, explore our editorial archive at thebaconmagazine.com
