Business Resources
May 2025 Grants & Resources For Black-Owned Beauty Brands
Level up your business with these free grants and resources.
Each month, Sadiaa Black Beauty Guide pulls up with a list of resources for beauty entrepreneurs and brand owners to which they can apply, pitch or submit. With Black-centered grants under fire, this list has become even more essential for start-ups and solopreneurs looking to get stable footing.
Click through for info on current opportunities you can apply or tap in to help your business thrive in 2025.
Black Ambition Prize & Black Ambition HBCU Prize
Founded in 2020 by Pharrell Williams, this groundbreaking opportunity provides funding, resources, and mentorship from top industry leaders to help entrepreneurs in consumer products and services, healthcare, media and entertainment, technology, and / or AI. The General Prize competition will award an early-stage company with up to $1 million, along with mentorship, pitch coaching, and design support.
Deadline: May 2, 2025 Extended to May 9, 2025
Apply here: blackambitionprize.com
The Creative Business Boost Initiative
Presented by Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), with support from Etsy’s Uplift Fund, the Creative Business Boost Initiative will award 100 creative entrepreneurs with a $5K grant and access to an exclusive Boost Camp coaching program, helping them access capital and resources they need to foster growth and success.
Deadline: May 9, 2025
Apply here: helloalice.com
EmpowHer Grant
Just launched a clean beauty brand built around sustainability and the environment? Boundless Futures Foundation grant program may be just the right fit for you! This early-stage capital grant will award $25K in funding to female entrepreneurs with U.S.-based businesses operating for three years or less.
Deadline: May 15, 2025 (apply quarterly)
Apply here: boundlessfutures.org
Backing Small Businesses Grant
This grant program will offer a special round of Disaster Recovery grants for eligible locally significant small businesses that have been impacted by recent natural disasters. Businesses that have been impacted by FEMA-declared disasters on or after January 1, 2024, can apply for one of 100 available $10K grants to aid in their recovery efforts.
Deadline: May 21, 2025
Apply here: mainstreet.org
Amazon Small Business Grants
Amazon Business is awarding over $250,000 in monetary grants and prizes to support the growth of 15 small businesses. Existing Amazon Business small business customers based in the US with annual revenues of $1 million or less and have made a purchase on Amazon Business within the 12 months preceding May 1, 2025 can apply for a grant.
Deadline: May 23, 2025
Apply here: business.amazon.com
Comcast RISE
Comcast RISE is back and now open to all small businesses. The latest grant round will award 500 recipients with a grant package that includes business consultation services, educational resources, a monetary grant, creative production, media schedule, and a technology makeover. The grant is open to businesses in the following five cities:
- Boston, MA
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Nashville, TN
- Seattle, WA (King County)
- South Valley, UT (Wasatch Front)
Businesses must have established operations for a minimum of three years, be independently owned and operated, and generating revenue for the last 12 months.
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Apply here: ComcastRise.com
ONGOING DEADLINES
Amazon Black Business Accelerator
If you’ve got a shop on Amazon (or are thinking about starting one), then this grant program is for you. Accepted businesses get access to mentorship along with FREE imaging services for up to 50 products, $500 credit for start-up and operational costs, and up to $3,000 in advertising credits. Select sellers will also be able to apply for additional cash grant opportunities.
Deadline: None, but don’t wait!
Apply here: sell.amazon.com
Etsy Disaster Relief Grant Application
The Etsy Fund at CERF+ provides disaster relief grants of up to $2000 to U.S.-based Etsy sellers on a rolling basis based on available funds. Sellers are eligible to apply for a disaster emergency relief grant within one year of experiencing a natural disaster. Must be an active seller on Etsy for at least one year with an Etsy account in good standing.
Deadline: Ongoing.
Apply here: advocacy.etsy.com
Wish Local Empowerment Grant
U.S.-based Black-owned businesses with a brick-and-mortar shop can apply for microgrants ranging from $500-$2000. Must have 20 or fewer employees and under $1M average revenue.
Deadline: Ongoing.
Apply here: wish.com
Business Funding
Many small businesses are underserved by traditional lenders, with Black business owners continuing to have a higher rejection rate than White business owners. We’ve connected with a service that offers financing and term loans to businesses that have been in operation for at least four month and AI-Powered Platform to help make your business more bankable.
Not sure if you qualify? Click through to create a free borrower profile and generate a Bankability Index Score which shows how attractive your business is to potential lenders (and what you need to work on).
Deadline: None
Apply here: wardfreedompath.com
Bank Of America “Access To Capital Connector”
Bank of America has partnered with Community Reinvestment Fund, a national nonprofit CDFI, to help small business owners find capital via loans ranging from $10K to $1M, coaching, and support.
Deadline: Ongoing.
Apply here: accesstocapitalconnector.com
Small Business Readiness for Resiliency
The U.S. Chamber Foundation and FedEx teamed up to create the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R) to help small business owners prepare for disasters and offers quick-turn relief funding of $5,000 for those prepared businesses after a federal disaster declaration is made in their region.
Deadline: Ongoing
Apply here: uschamberfoundation.org
Amazon Amplify
The Amazon Black Business Accelerator also offers Black-owned businesses access to its Amplify program. The business education program offers a cohort learning experience, including a dedicated Customer Success manager, a network of industry experts and business consultants, and peer group mentorship.
Deadline: None, but don’t wait!
Apply here: sell.amazon.com
S.P.U.R. Pathways
Shared Purpose, Unlimited Reach (S.P.U.R.) Pathways is a multiyear, multifaceted funding program in partnership with Momentus Capital to provide financial support to diverse-owned and underrepresented growth-stage businesses. The program is currently offering loans or investments of $20K and above, along with access to an advisory network for strategic growth advice such as business strategy and planning, financial reporting, daily operating challenges, opportunity evaluation, and other personalized services.
Deadline: Ongoing.
Apply here: macys.com
Start Small, Think Big
The nonprofit has established partnerships to offer free legal, finance, and marketing resources and small business support to BIPOC entrepreneurs, women, LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, immigrants, veterans, entrepreneurs with disabilities, low-income entrepreneurs, and formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs.
Must be currently operational and have at least $500 in sales within the past three months. Applicant must also have a household income under 750% of federal poverty guidelines.
Apply here: startsmallthinkbig.org
Minority Business Circle
Here’s another digital platform dedicated to empowering and connecting minority-owned small businesses, providing access to curated funding partners, resources, and virtual events.
Sign up here: minoritybusinesscircle.com
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Did we miss something? Please feel free to email us deets at get@sadiaa.com.
