If I have more than one business, can I apply more than once?

Only one entry per customer will be accepted. When completing your application, you’ll get the option to choose the business you’re applying for.

If I applied in a previous round, do I have to apply again?

Applications do not roll over from previous months. Only one entry will be accepted per customer, per month.

If I received a grant in the past, may I reapply?

ZenBusiness would like to extend its support to as many customers as we can. As of now, winners of a previous ZenBusiness award or grant are not eligible to re-apply for another grant.

When is the deadline to apply for a grant?

Entries will be accepted January 1 through December 31, 2023. Applicants will be reviewed against other entries submitted in the same month. For example, if you applied on January 3rd, you’ll be reviewed against all the applications submitted from January 1 to January 31.

How much is the grant award?

Each grant awarded will be $5,000.

What can the grant be used for?

Grantees are chosen based on their application responses. We’d love to see grantees apply their grant money as noted. Grantees are asked to agree to a 30-day follow up interview after the grant money has been distributed.

When will the grant money be distributed?

Before distributing the funds, we’ll work with you on obtaining your FEIN (if applicable), W-9, and banking information. Failure to respond with the required 10 business days of being notified may result in ineligibility for the Grants Program. Our team would love to grant the award money within 30 days of letting you know the good news.

What is the selection process like?

The grant award review process will be done in 3 steps: (1) An initial screening to ensure the applicant meets the eligibility requirements referenced in these terms & conditions. (2) Evaluation by a group of ZenBusiness staff of statement of need. (3) ZenBusiness Inc. shall conduct due diligence to ensure the applicant is an entity in good standing in their state of registration, or a U.S. citizen, as appropriate per applicant and that applicant is engaging in a positive business. Awarded applicants will be notified of their grant award on a rolling basis via email or telephone.

Are taxes deducted from the grant award?

Grant awards may be considered taxable income. We advise you to consult with your financial and tax advisors to learn more about any tax obligations you may have.

How will I be contacted or know if I will receive a grant?

Grantees will be notified by phone, then email if needed.

How long before I get an update on my application?

Applications are reviewed every month. You should receive a notification of your status within 4 to 6 weeks of applying.

My profile info has changed since I submitted my application. How do I update it?

Profile information is automatically updated when you update your dashboard. Please make sure that your profile info is up to date.

Our funding needs have changed since we applied. Can we adjust our response to how we would use the grant money and our area of most need?

Application responses submitted are considered final. If you’re awarded a grant and your needs change, we trust you’ll apply the funds to the area of your business that needs it most.

ZenBusiness 2024 Small Business Grant Program

Ambrosia Crump, Grantee

Dignity Disability Solutions LLC

“The grant money has helped me secure a private mailbox where my homeless clients can receive their social security correspondence, pay my membership dues to professional organizations, and paid for my ability to attend trainings to improve my advocacy skills.”

Anasa Whiting, Grantee

Always A Puppy At Heart Retirement Villa LLC

“The ZenBusiness grant will help move my business forward so I can help more senior dogs.”

Andrew Bellina, Grantee

Oak Leaf Gold LLC

“The ZenBusiness Grant money has already made a positive change for Oak Leaf Gold LLC. It has helped put me in the forefront in career and resume assistance for retiring and separating veterans.”

Lashaunda Robinson, Grantee

Beyond Care Enrichment and Engagement Program LLC

“The ZenBusiness grant money will help me ensure that I am able to provide high quality summer opportunities and experiences to students by using this grant to pay for those activities such as sailing and indoor rock climbing.”

Michael Wrodan, Grantee

Grapple The Streets Chicago LLC

“I would like to thank Zen Business for the amazing grant!. With the money now we have funding to help buy uniforms and start a handful of children and teens start their martial arts journey, hopefully changing their lives for the better! ”

Nolan Critzer, Grantee

Central Safety Solutions LLC

“The ZenBusiness grant money will help expand my safety & training business by providing no-cost CPR/First Aid training to local organizations as well as hiring a part-time Spanish speaking translator to help expand my services to a wider demographic of potential clients.”

Harsh Patel, Grantee

HRP LLC

“The ZenBusiness grant money has a huge impact our small business as it helps us with growth, development and ultimately assist individuals with felony records get back on their feet.”

Samie Smilz, Grantee

Eboore LLC

“Zen Business Grant provides us with an incredible opportunity to scale our innovation and positively impact millions of people in developing countries in Africa.”

Alicia Freeman, Grantee

Freeman Counseling and Consulting LLC

“I plan to use this grant in various ways including continuing education courses to expand my knowledge in the ethical and cultural issues that are impacting communities and discussing ways for me to continue to become a more knowledgeable and competent therapist.”

Elijah Ketchup Jr., Grantee

ACE Athletic Coach

“The ZenBusiness grant money will make a huge impact for me and ACE Athletic Academy! ZenBusiness is giving our academy all the support we need to propel forward.”

Ivette Bernal, Grantee

Bermon Group LLC

“The ZenBusiness grant helped my business covering real estate and repair costs for our very first affordable housing unit! The Grant money allowed us to dedicate extra resources in renovating a nice affordable future home for a monoparental family in Florida.”

Thaddeus Eugene Edward Cook, Grantee

Great American Radon LLC

The ZenBusiness grant money will significantly help to get us up and going. We plan to use the money to buy a few more tools and supplies that we would have had to wait on. This will help us to be more efficient and reduce time at the job sites. Thank You so much ZenBusiness!

Dr. Kevin White, Grantee

Milwaukee Academy of Learning LLC

“The ZenBusiness grant money will have a great impact for me and my school. It is going to help move the school in the right direction as I use the grant money to hire part-time faculty to assist me with teaching classes.”

Emily Pedzinski, Grantee

BeeFit Investments LLC

“The ZenBusiness grant will make a huge impact for me and my business as it is allowing me to start expanding my apiary now. With that I am able to start building my inventory so that I can start the next step in my business plan now.”

Anjanette Silas, Grantee

Birth & Beyond, NYC LLC

“The ZenBusiness grant will have a ripple effect within the communities I serve. With the grant that I received, I can offset the cost of doula services for families most affected by health inequities.”

Zainab ALJbory, Grantee

Agro BioResearch LLC

The ZenBusiness grant money will make a significant impact for my business, it’s going to drive our research services forward. I will be able to purchase the needed lab equipment which will increase our capacity to reach more customers”.

Rita Lewis, Grantee

RI-VIVE Wellness LLC

“The ZenBusiness grant money will make a huge impact for me and my business – it’s going to help propel my business forward as I’ll use the grant funds to help open a rental space in my area where I can see my patients in a clinical setting.

Yolanda Ramos

Clinical Comadre LLC

The money Clinical Comadre was awarded from ZenBusiness will help us host community events centered around healing. Funds will also be allocated to workshop/event scholarships, to make our offerings accessible to those who traditionally would not be able to afford to attend. We also have a guided journal with prompts which will be released in Spring 2023, and this award from ZenBusiness will also allow us to provide a set number of free copies to the community, again to those who may not be able to afford the journal on their own

Jeff Willingham

J&J Martial Consulting LLC

We are so excited about the ZenBusiness Grant. We are going to be using the funds to purchase more gear and equipment to help our students developing their techniques and strategies for competition and life

Ashley Harrington

Ashley’s First Aid and CPR Training LLC

The grant I was given helped me acquire the tools needed to give people the full and best training possible

Jodi Petersen

MentorStrat LLC

With the ZenBusiness grant, we will be able to enhance and promote MentorStrat Academy, making sure mentors, mentees, and program managers have what they need so everyone has the opportunity to advance through mentorship

Lewis Citizen

Black Royalty Success Publishing LLC

The ZenBusiness grant money will make a huge impact for me and my business. It’s going to help propel my business forward as we will use the grant funding to target and reach new customers to help increase our business online sales and brand awareness. Funding will help out with operation costs, advertising, marketing, promotion, books, videos, free online success curriculum courses, and clothing design and creation. We will also use funds for ongoing marketing and email campaigns along with sourcing contract workers, and third party creators to help with digital products design and creation

Mariel Benoit

Technique Unique Pet Services LLC

The ZenBusiness grant money will make a huge impact for me and my (our) business – it’s going to help propel my (our) business forward as I’ll (we’ll) use the grant target and reach new customers by increasing our marketing output and investing in reliable supplies so we can better serve the pets in our community

Dr. Gloria Davy

Mavis Dunbar Immigrants Services LLC

The Zen Business grant money will make a significant impact for me and my business. It will help with the business target population recruitment efforts and set up a checking account for our business.

Uzochukwu Ehiemenonye

Chipper and Cheeky LLC

Thanks to the Care for Your Calling Grant, we have been able to expand our marketing efforts and establish a solid footing in a ghost kitchen to expand business to better serve our local community!

Rodolfo Zorilla III

Scoop Speech LLC

Our rent, insurance premiums, software, and marketing will be covered.

Lesley Weir

Yogic Soul Counseling LLC

This grant helped to empower my business through allowing purchase of equitable equipment and technology to make services accessible.

Jacob Spector

Amy's Eight LLC

The ZenBusiness grant will be a huge help for our business! We plan to use these funds for our early-stage experiments, with the eventual goal of creating a diagnostic blood test for endometriosis.

Story Balcom

Blue Story Trauma Coaching LLC

The ZenBusiness grant money has given me a great opportunity to offer more free mental health workshops and discounted counseling sessions for Veterans.

Desire Greene

Letter C LLC

The ZenBusiness Care For Your Calling Grant will help us expand our reach on social media and more directly connect with customers. We’re excited to build communities on these platforms and better support children with special healthcare needs and their families.

Evan Riddle

SandLine Legal Analysis LLC

All of our clients are incarcerated, which means a lot of mail. Outreach for beginning and maintaining relationships through written correspondence can be expensive but this ZenBusiness grant is a blessing that will extend our impact exponentially.