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Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund: Eligibility, $5,000 Small Business Grant, How to Apply, and Funding Guide (2026)

July 18, 2026
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Sarah T

Quick Answer: What Is the Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund?

The Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund is a micro-grant program from the nonprofit Black & Brown Founders that awards $5,000 each to four underrepresented entrepreneurs who have already generated revenue in the past year. The $5,000 small business grant helps recipients scale, stabilize, or systematize their operations. Applicants submit an application, proof of revenue, a short essay, and complete a business assessment tool before the deadline.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund:

Funding Opportunities for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs

Access to capital remains one of the toughest hurdles for Black founders, Brown founders, and other diverse entrepreneurs trying to grow a sustainable business. Traditional lenders and venture capital firms have historically underserved minority-owned businesses, which makes non-dilutive funding opportunities like the Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund especially valuable.

This empower growth fund is built specifically for underrepresented entrepreneurs who have moved past the idea stage and are now working to stabilize and expand an already-operating business.

What Is the Black & Brown Founders Growth Grant?

The Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund (sometimes referenced as the Empower Growth Micro-Grant, or BBF for short) is run by Black & Brown Founders Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on building a more diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in the United States. The organization’s mission centers on equipping underrepresented entrepreneurs with tools, training, and connections to launch and scale tech-enabled businesses.

The micro-grant itself is designed to give a financial boost to four selected entrepreneurs who have already demonstrated business success by generating annual revenue in the last 12 months. Rather than funding a brand-new idea, this program supports founders who are ready to scale, stabilize, or systematize what they’ve already built.

Why B&B Business Grant Matters for Founders

Equitable funding programs like this one matter because access to capital continues to be uneven across communities. Minority founders and diverse business owners are statistically less likely to secure traditional bank financing or venture capital, which makes grant funding, financial inclusion initiatives, and community investment programs a meaningful part of the broader funding ecosystem.

Non-dilutive capital (money that doesn’t require giving up equity) allows founders to reinvest in business growth without adding debt or diluting ownership. Programs like this support inclusive entrepreneurship and economic empowerment by putting resources directly into the hands of business owners who are already showing traction.

Key Benefits of the $5,000 Small Business Grant

Based on the program’s published guidance, the $5,000 micro-business grant can be used toward:

Key takeaway: This is working capital meant for operational support and strategic investment, not a loan, and not equity financing. It’s intended to help a business that already has revenue move toward more sustainable, systematized business growth.

Eligibility Requirements

Based on currently published program information, the fund is aimed at underrepresented entrepreneurs who have already generated annual revenue in the past 12 months. The organization does not publicly list a specific minimum revenue figure, a fixed years-in-business requirement, or a defined business stage cutoff.

Because eligibility details can change between grant cycles, always verify the latest eligibility requirements, deadlines, and funding availability on the official Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund website before applying

Eligibility Checklist

My business has generated revenue within the last 12 months
I identify as a Black, Brown, or otherwise underrepresented founder
I can verify my revenue through documents such as profit and loss statements, bank records, or a summary of my tax filings
I have a clear plan for how I'd use $5,000 to scale, stabilize, or systematize my business
I'm prepared to complete the required Bizscoreline business assessment
I am prepared to complete the application process, including the written essay and, if chosen, the video pitch requirements

Who Can Apply?

The fund is built for Black founders, Brown founders, BIPOC founders, and other diverse entrepreneurs and underrepresented business owners operating a revenue-generating business in the United States. This includes sole proprietors, LLCs, and other small business structures, though the organization does not publish a formal list of excluded entity types.

Checklist:

Who Cannot Apply?

Checklist:

How to Apply for the Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Confirm eligibility on the official Black & Brown Founders website before you begin. Use grant research services to save time and focus on grant opportunities that align with your qualifications.

Step 2: Gather Documents

Gather documentation, including proof of revenue such as a P&L statement, bank statements, or a tax return summary.

Step 3: Prepare Your Mini-Essay

Prepare your mini-essay, a roughly 250-word response explaining how the micro-grant will help you scale or systematize your business. A strong grant proposal writing service can help structure your ideas and ensure your response clearly communicates your goals.

Step 4: Complete Application

Complete the application form with accurate business and contact information.

Step 5: Complete Bizscoreline Business Assessment

Complete the Bizscoreline business assessment, a required step in the process.

Step 6: Proofread Before Submission

Review everything before submission to make sure documentation and essay responses are complete and consistent.

Step 7: Submit Before Deadline

The organization has indicated that Bizscoreline completion is due by August 31, 2026, always confirm current dates on the official site, since deadlines can shift. Use grant submission support service to streamline the final review process and ensure all submission requirements are addressed.

How Professional Grant Writing Services Can Help

Securing grant funding is rarely about filling out an application, it’s about presenting a well-prepared, credible, and strategic case for your business. A structured grant process helps ensure every part of the application aligns with the funder’s objectives while reducing common errors that can affect eligibility or competitiveness.

A professional grant writing company supports entrepreneurs through:

Grant Research Services to identify funding opportunities that match your industry, business stage, location, and funding goals.
Eligibility Review to confirm your business meets the grant requirements before investing time in the application.
Proposal Strategy to align your project goals, outcomes, and supporting evidence with the funder's evaluation criteria.
Grant Proposal Writing Services to develop clear, compelling, and well-structured narratives that effectively communicate your project's value.
Budget Development to prepare realistic, transparent budgets that support the proposed activities and demonstrate financial planning.
Compliance and Editing to verify that the application follows all formatting, documentation, and submission requirements while improving clarity and consistency.
Grant Submission Support to organize required documents, complete final reviews, and help ensure applications are submitted accurately and on time.
Long-term Grant Strategy to build reusable business information, financial documentation, and supporting materials that simplify future applications and create a more sustainable funding approach.

Taking a strategic, organized approach not only strengthens individual applications but also helps businesses prepare for future funding opportunities. Whether applying for startup grants, small business grants, minority business grants, women-owned business grants, or federal business grants, maintaining consistent documentation and a well-defined grant strategy can improve efficiency and support long-term funding success.

Funding Details

The program awards four micro-grants of $5,000 each per cycle. This growth funding is intended as working capital rather than a loan or investment, meaning recipients are not required to repay it or give up equity. As with any grant program, funding availability, number of awards, and cycle timing can change from year to year, verify current funding details directly with Black & Brown Founders before applying.

Required Documents

Document Checklist

Always confirm the current list of required documents on the official program page, as requirements can be updated between cycles.

Selection Criteria

According to the program’s published guidance, applications are reviewed by a panel of business leaders and community stakeholders. Reviewers consider:

No specific scoring rubric, weighting, or number of applicants per cycle has been publicly disclosed, so avoid assuming a formula, focus on making each of these three areas as strong and specific as possible.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

Common Application Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Hurts Your Application
Incomplete application form	Missing fields can disqualify a submission outright
Missing or inconsistent revenue documentation	Reviewers can't verify business traction
Vague essay responses	Fails to show clarity of goals and plan
No specific use-of-funds explanation	Weakens perceived impact potential
Ignoring the Bizscoreline requirement	Application is considered incomplete
Submitting close to or after the deadline	Risk of technical issues or late disqualification

Avoiding these common application mistakes can significantly improve your chances of submitting a strong grant application. For more guidance on improving your overall grant strategy and avoiding frequent errors, read our detailed guide on Top Grant Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

Alternative Grants for Diverse Founders

Grant Program	Best For	Official Website
Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund	Revenue-generating Black and Brown founders seeking $5,000 micro-grants	bbfounders.co
Comcast RISE	Small businesses seeking marketing, technology, or media support	comcastrise.com
Amber Grant	Women-owned businesses at various stages	ambergrantsforwomen.com
Hello Alice Grants	Small business owners across multiple grant programs	helloalice.com
NAACP-affiliated entrepreneur initiatives	Black entrepreneurs seeking community-backed support	naacp.org

Exploring different funding opportunities can help founders identify the right support for their business needs. To learn more about the different funding categories, check out our guide on Types of Grants Available in the US.

Conclusion

The Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund offers a meaningful, non-dilutive funding opportunity for underrepresented entrepreneurs who are ready to scale an already-revenue-generating business. Because eligibility rules, deadlines, and funding details can change between cycles, always verify the latest information on the official program website before applying. Taking time to prepare strong documentation, and getting professional grant support when needed, can help you submit a more competitive, complete application.

Need Assistance with Your Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund Application?

Preparing a competitive business grant application requires more than filling out a form. At Grant Writing Company, we help entrepreneurs find the right grant opportunities, verify eligibility, develop funding strategies, prepare professional applications, organize supporting documentation, and review submissions before they go out the door.

Contact Grant Writing Company today to strengthen your next application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Black & Brown Founders Empower Growth Fund?

It’s a micro-grant program from the nonprofit Black & Brown Founders that awards $5,000 each to four underrepresented entrepreneurs per cycle.

Who is eligible to apply?

Underrepresented entrepreneurs, including Black and Brown founders, who have generated revenue within the last 12 months.

How much funding is available?

Four micro-grants of $5,000 each per cycle, based on currently published program information.

Is the grant taxable?

Grant recipients should consult a tax professional, since grant income may have tax implications depending on individual circumstances. For a deeper understanding of tax obligations and reporting requirements, read our guide on Are Grants Taxable? What Recipients Must Know.

Can startups apply?

The program is aimed at businesses with documented revenue in the last 12 months rather than pre-revenue startups.

What documents are required?

Proof of revenue, a completed application, a mini-essay, and completion of the Bizscoreline assessment.

Can previous applicants apply again?

This isn’t specified publicly, confirm with the organization directly.

Is the grant legitimate?

Yes, the fund is managed by Black & Brown Founders Inc., which is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

What is the $5,000 micro-business grant meant for?

Marketing, technology upgrades, website or e-commerce improvements, hiring consultants, or scaling production and service delivery.

Is there a revenue requirement?

Applicants must show revenue generated in the last 12 months; no specific minimum dollar figure is published.

Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. Grant details, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and funding availability may change at any time. Always verify the most current program information through official sources before making any business or funding decisions.

Need Help?

Contact our grant writing experts today to get your right Professional Grant Writer

Author-Sarah T

Grant Research Analyst

Sarah T. is a Grant Research Analyst with more than 18 years of experience researching grant programs and funding opportunities for small businesses, nonprofits, startups, and entrepreneurs. She specializes in reviewing eligibility requirements, analyzing funding guidelines, and monitoring updates to government, corporate, and foundation grant programs. Her work focuses on producing accurate, well-researched funding resources by verifying information against official grant announcements, program guidelines, and funding agency documentation. Through her research, she helps readers understand grant eligibility, application requirements, deadlines, and program criteria with clear, reliable, and up-to-date information.

Reviewed By-Emily Carter

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