Grant Wednesday: 7 National Grants Open Right Now. One Deadline Is in 3 Days

This Grant Wednesday issue is publishing late. It was scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, and is going out now so you can still act on the deadlines below.

Funding follows structure. The strongest grant applicants are not simply searching for money; they are building organizations that can clearly explain their mission, prove their readiness, and execute a funded plan.

This week’s lineup includes one featured grant, three for-profit opportunities, and three nonprofit opportunities. Six are free to apply. The Amber Grant is included because it is open and relevant, but it has a $15 application fee with a hardship waiver available.

Featured Grant: H&R Block Fund Her Future Grant

Deadline: September 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. ET

This is the urgent one. The third annual Fund Her Future Grant from H&R Block will select four recipients, each receiving:

• A $45,000 cash grant
• One year of professional business services valued at $5,000
• Tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, and business structure analysis
• A total package valued at $50,000 per recipient

H&R Block has committed $180,000 in total awards.

The opportunity is open to a woman-led or woman-owned, U.S.-based for-profit business. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside in the United States, and show that the business generated at least $20,000 in revenue during 2025.

Cost: Free to apply.

How to apply:

1. Visit the official H&R Block Fund Her Future page.
2. Create a free account and complete your business profile on the Hello Alice platform.
3. Submit the Fund Her Future application before the September 22 deadline.

Winning Tip: This is a merit-scored, story-driven application. Lead with your 2025 revenue trajectory and identify one specific, measurable growth plan for the $45,000. H&R Block is funding operational strength, not ideas alone. Show clean books, a clear use of funds, and how the professional services will improve your back office.

7 Bricks read: Brick 4, Financial & Legal Infrastructure, and Brick 5, Multiple Streams of Revenue.

Do not leave money on the table because your books, records, or use-of-funds plan are unclear.

Three For-Profit Grants

1. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready National Grant

Award: $10,000; 10 small businesses selected monthly
Deadline: Rolling monthly selections; the final application window for 2026 closes December 1, 2026.

This national grant is available to for-profit small businesses based in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Owners must be at least 18 years old, and owners of multiple businesses may apply for only one business.

Cost: Free.

How to apply:

1. Create a free account on Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.
2. Complete any two eligible free courses or events during 2026.
3. Submit one grant application after the application unlocks.
4. Remain eligible for monthly selections through the end of the year.

Ten small businesses are selected each month. If you are not selected immediately, your application remains under consideration for later rounds.

Winning Tip: Complete the two-course requirement first, then choose courses that connect directly to your growth plan. Explain how the grant will create jobs, increase revenue, improve operations, or expand your market. Eligibility gets you in the door; a focused growth story makes your application easier to understand.

7 Bricks read: Brick 5, Multiple Streams of Revenue, and Brick 6, Brand & Marketing.

2. Business Freedom Grant

Award: $1,000
Next deadline: September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT

The Business Freedom Grant is open to anyone with a business idea or an existing small business. Any industry, location, and experience level may apply.

Cost: Free.

Applications are scored on a published 10-point system:

• Clarity of business idea: 3 points
• Feasibility of plan: 3 points
• Impact of the grant: 2 points
• Passion and commitment: 2 points

Applicants may also receive a two-point bonus for joining the GrantHouse community before the final deadline.

How to apply:

1. Visit the official Business Freedom Grant website.
2. Complete the online application form.
3. Explain your business idea, plan, and intended use of the $1,000.
4. Submit by the early deadline or a later deadline of November 15 or December 31, 2026.

Winning Tip: Write directly to the rubric. Be concrete about what you are building, why the plan is feasible, and what changes when the $1,000 arrives. In a scored competition, clarity beats cleverness.

7 Bricks read: Brick 1, Mission & Mindset, and Brick 3, Strategic Programming/Strong Offers.

3. Amber Grant for Women

Award: $10,000 awarded monthly, plus $50,000 year-end grants
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET on the last day of each month

The Amber Grant is available to women-owned businesses. One application can place you in consideration for monthly grants, category grants, and year-end awards.

Important cost notice: The application fee is $15. WomensNet states that applicants experiencing financial hardship may request a waiver by emailing info@ambergrantsforwomen.com before applying.

How to apply:

1. Review the official Amber Grant application page.
2. If needed, request the hardship waiver before submitting.
3. Complete one application describing your business and goals.
4. Submit before the monthly deadline.

Winning Tip: One application can carry you into multiple grant categories and cycles, making an early submission a high-leverage move. Tell a clear story about the business, the problem it solves, and the specific result the funding will produce.

7 Bricks read: Brick 1, Mission & Mindset, and Brick 6, Brand & Marketing.

Three Nonprofit Grants

1. Walmart Spark Good Local Community Grants

Award: $250 to $5,000
Cycle 3 deadline: November 30, 2026

Walmart and Sam’s Club offer local community grants through a national program. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, government entities, eligible schools, colleges and universities, and churches or faith-based organizations proposing projects that benefit the broader community.

Organizations must serve the same area as the Walmart, Sam’s Club, or distribution center they approach. 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), and 501(c)(19) organizations are not eligible.

Cost: Free.

How to apply:

1. Create a Spark Good account at Walmart’s nonprofit portal.
2. Complete verification through Deed.
3. Confirm that your organization is an authorized applicant.
4. Apply to individual nearby facilities with requests tailored to each community.
5. Track your pending applications; organizations may have up to 25 pending or approved applications.

Winning Tip: This is a volume-and-alignment opportunity. Do not copy and paste the same request to every facility. Explain the local need, your organization’s community trust, the use of funds, and the outcomes expected in that facility’s service area.

7 Bricks read: Brick 3, Strategic Programming/Strong Offers, and Brick 6, Brand & Marketing.

2. The Lawrence Foundation Grants

Deadline: October 31, 2026, at 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time
Award: Varies

The Lawrence Foundation supports eligible 501(c)(3) organizations working in areas that include environment, education, human services, and animal welfare. Grants may support general operations, programs, or capital needs.

Cost: Free. No Letter of Inquiry is required.

How to apply:

1. Review the official Lawrence Foundation application page.
2. Confirm your 501(c)(3) eligibility and alignment with the foundation’s priorities.
3. Create or access an account through the Common Grant Application system.
4. Submit the complete application by October 31.

Winning Tip: Because there is no Letter of Inquiry, your full application is the first impression. Lead with measurable outcomes and clearly state what the funding will support. If your organization needs general operating support, say so directly: the foundation accepts operating requests.

7 Bricks read: Brick 3, Strategic Programming/Strong Offers, and Brick 5, Multiple Streams of Revenue.

3. American Bar Endowment Opportunity Grants

Deadline: October 31, 2026
Award: Project-restricted support for new and innovative law-related projects

The American Bar Endowment Opportunity Grant Program funds new projects that benefit the public and the legal profession. Strong proposals may address access to justice, legal education, rights awareness, or improvements to the legal system.

The current official application page states that the applicant must be a 501(c)(3) public charity described under Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2). Organizations relying on a fiscal relationship should verify eligibility directly with ABE before applying because the live form requests an IRS determination letter.

Cost: Free.

How to apply:

1. Review the official ABE Opportunity Grant page.
2. Read the current FAQs and application instructions.
3. Prepare your IRS determination letter, 990, board list, project budget, and measurable objectives.
4. Submit the online application by October 31.

Winning Tip: This grant will not fund routine operations or an existing program. Frame your request as a new initiative, explain what makes it innovative, and show how the work will continue after the grant period.

7 Bricks read: Brick 3, Strategic Programming/Strong Offers, and Brick 4, Financial & Legal Infrastructure.

What Didn’t Make the List This Week, and Why

Trust matters. We did not include programs simply because they appeared in old grant lists or social media posts.

• Comcast RISE: No open 2026 cycle was identified; the site now redirects to Project UP.
• FedEx Small Business Grant Contest: The U.S. program has been retired.
• T-Mobile Hometown Grants: The program concluded after funding 500 projects, with the final window closing March 31, 2026.
• Breva Thrive Grant: Applications are currently closed between quarterly cycles.

Always verify a grant on the funder’s official website before spending time or submitting information.

Winning Tip: Build the File Once, Then Tailor It

The nearest deadlines are H&R Block on September 22, Business Freedom on September 30, followed by The Lawrence Foundation and American Bar Endowment on October 31.

Pick the two opportunities that best fit your organization. Then build one application file containing:

• A current organizational or business profile
• Revenue and expense information
• A measurable use-of-funds plan
• A short founder or organizational story
• Recent outcomes and supporting data
• A current budget and timeline

Reuse the foundation, but tailor every answer to the funder.

Most organizations do not have a funding problem. They have an infrastructure problem. Build the foundation first, then pursue the money.

That is the difference between a grant seeker and a Brick Builder. A Brick Builder does not chase every opportunity. A Brick Builder uses the right opportunity to strengthen the organization.

As Ty Woods teaches through the 7 Bricks Framework™, strong organizations attract funding. Weak organizations chase funding. Move like a wolf: focused, prepared, and aware of the whole environment, not distracted by every opportunity that crosses your path.

Build Your Funding Foundation

Ty Woods is the CEO of BusinessGrants.com and the author of The House the Pigs Built With 7 Bricks. Through BusinessGrants.com, she helps nonprofit leaders, founders, and mission-driven executives build grant-ready organizations, strengthen their infrastructure, and pursue recurring institutional capital.

If you want hands-on support, join the Grant Club for $97 per month for funding opportunities, training, and application guidance. You can also explore coaching and advisory support, review the BusinessGrants.com grant list, or contact the team about speaking engagements, fundraising strategy, and done-for-you grant support.

Implementation beats information. Don’t leave money on the table.

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