5 Essential Steps to Secure Small Business Grants in 2025: A Complete Guide for Small Business and Minority Business Owners

Natacha Barthelemy
Aug 6
2 min read

Updated: Aug 13

Getting funding as a minority business owner can be challenging, but 2025 is packed with opportunities for Small Business and Minority Business Owners who are ready to level up their business dreams. Whether you're just starting or scaling your operations, mastering the grant application process is key to unlocking non-repayable capital that can fuel your growth.

This guide breaks down 5 essential steps to help you navigate the grant landscape

confidently—plus real success stories and a game-changing course to prepare you for funding wins.

Step 1: Get Organized with a Solid Business Plan

Before applying for any grants, your business needs to be grant-ready. That means besides having your EIN and your State Registration, you will need:

A detailed business plan, with a clearly defined mission, target market, and revenue model
Tip: Most grantors want to know how their money will be used and your plan to sustain the business afterward. Need help creating a strong plan? Check out our Grant Ready Business Plan Template, designed specifically for Small Business Owners like you.

Step 2: Search for Small Business and Minority Business Grant Opportunities

Focus on grants tailored to minority- and small business-owned, such as:

AT&T She's Connected Grant Program: A 2025 initiative supporting women entrepreneurs with up to $20,000 in funding, business mentorship, and tech tools.

Step 3: Tailor Each Application

Generic answers won’t get you funded. Each grant has its own criteria, mission, and impact goals. Adapt your responses to show:

How your business aligns with the funder’s values
Your potential community or economic impact
A realistic, grant-appropriate use of funds

Example: For the AT&T She’s Connected Grant, emphasize how technology empowers your business and your plan to scale with digital tools.

Step 4: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Even great businesses get rejected because of simple missteps. Avoid:

Submitting incomplete applications
Ignoring the eligibility rules
Missing the deadline
Lacking clear financial projections
Not following word count or formatting instructions

Pro Tip: Have someone review your application before submitting—fresh eyes catch easy errors.

Step 5: Stay Consistent and Follow Up

Most entrepreneurs give up after one or two tries. Persistence pays off. Track the grants you’ve applied for, take notes on feedback, and keep refining your approach.If you’re shortlisted or win a grant—congrats!

Be sure to: