Grants for Disabled-Owned Businesses 2026
GrantCompass tracks 6 active programs that name disability-owned businesses as an eligible category, worth $1,525,000 combined -- from a $10,000 accelerator to a $1,000,000 Oregon state loan. Service-disabled veteran programs (SDVOSB, VOSB) require veteran status and are covered separately. To see which of these disabled-owned business grants you actually qualify for, use the free interactive eligibility map -- it checks your eligibility across all 631 programs in the catalog in about 60 seconds.
GrantCompass tracks 6 active programs in its 2026 US catalog that specifically name disability-owned businesses as an eligible category, worth $1,525,000 combined: the Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (up to $1,000,000), Illinois's OE3 Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant ($10,000-$245,000), the Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program ($5,000-$150,000), the Sephora Beauty Grant ($100,000), the Antares REACH Grant Program (up to $20,000), and the 2Gether-International Startup Accelerator for Founders with Disabilities (up to $10,000). The single best starting point for most founders is the 2Gether-International accelerator, because it is run by and for disabled founders specifically rather than treating disability as one line in a longer eligibility list. If you are a service-disabled veteran, the stronger path is SDVOSB/VOSB federal certification -- covered in a dedicated section below and in full on our veteran-owned business grants guide.
What Is Actually Active in 2026
This is a narrower list than most GrantCompass demographic guides, and that is the honest picture: relatively few funders write "disability-owned" into their eligibility rules as a standalone, closed category. Two state loan programs (Illinois, Minnesota) list it as one named category in a broader SEDI-style definition. Two private programs (Sephora Beauty Grant, Antares REACH) list it within a longer roster of underrepresented-founder categories. Only one program, the 2Gether-International accelerator, is built specifically around disabled founders as its entire premise. Of these six, three are between application cycles as of July 2026 -- check the status table below before building a plan around any single deadline, cross-referenced against the GrantCompass catalog of 631 US funding programs.
| Program | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon EDLF | Up to $1,000,000 | Active, rolling year-round |
| Minnesota ELP | $5,000-$150,000 | Active, rolling via certified lenders |
| Antares REACH Grant Program | Up to $20,000 | Active, recurring cohort intakes |
| Illinois OE3 Capital and Infrastructure Grant | $10,000-$245,000 | Between rounds, next unannounced |
| Sephora Beauty Grant | $100,000 | Between cycles, next ~Oct 2026 |
| 2Gether-International Accelerator | Up to $10,000 | Between cohorts, watch for next opening |
Disability-owned businesses have a smaller dedicated program set than other tracked groups
GrantCompass tags 79 programs in the national catalog by ownership group. Minority-owned businesses have the deepest bench at 48 dedicated programs; women-owned businesses have 25; veteran-owned businesses have 10; disability-owned businesses have 6; and Black-owned businesses have 5. This is the honest count, not an inflated one -- every disabled founder is also fully eligible for the 625 national and state programs open to all businesses, and for the intersectional programs on our other ownership guides if they also qualify as a woman, veteran, or minority-owned founder.
All 6 Disabled-Owned Programs, in One Sortable Table
The best-funded program for a disabled founder needing capital is the Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund, because its $1,000,000 ceiling exceeds every other program on this list combined. Click any program for its full profile, eligibility rules, and application steps. Sort by amount to see the spread from $10,000 to $1,000,000.
| Program | Run by | Type | Level | Amount | Deadline / status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (EDLF) | Business Oregon | Loan | State | Up to $1,000,000 | Rolling, via certified SBDC partners |
| Illinois OE3 Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant | Illinois DCEO | Grant | State | $10,000-$245,000 | Between intakes, FY2025 closed Apr 7, 2025 |
| Sephora Beauty Grant | Sephora / Fifteen Percent Pledge | Grant | Private | $100,000 | Annual, next window ~Oct 2026 |
| Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program (ELP) | Minnesota DEED | Loan | State | $5,000-$150,000 | Rolling, apply directly to a certified lender |
| Antares REACH Grant Program & Boost Camp | Antares Capital / Hello Alice | Grant | Private | Up to $20,000 | Recurring cohort intakes, rolling |
| 2Gether-International Startup Accelerator for Founders with Disabilities | 2Gether-International (2GI) | Program | Private | Up to $10,000 + accelerator | Between cohorts, watch for next opening |
- Grants 3
- Loans 2
- Accelerator program 1
Two of the six are loans, not grants -- the Oregon EDLF and Minnesota ELP both require repayment, though at below-market terms arranged through certified nonprofit or CDFI lenders. Only three (Illinois OE3, Sephora, Antares REACH) are non-repayable grants. See our grants vs. loans vs. tax credits guide for how to tell the difference before you apply.
Award ceilings span $10,000 to $1,000,000
The disability-owned catalog has the widest single spread of any GrantCompass demographic guide: a $10,000 accelerator grant at one end and a $1,000,000 state loan at the other, a 100x range. The pattern here is the reverse of most private-grant categories: the largest dollar figure on this list is a state-run loan, not a foundation grant, and it requires free SBDC counseling as a condition of approval.
Positions on a logarithmic scale. Orange dots = grants; green = loans.
| Program | Ceiling | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon EDLF | $1,000,000 | State loan |
| Illinois OE3 | $245,000 | State grant |
| Minnesota ELP | $150,000 | State loan |
How These Programs Actually Define "Disability-Owned"
Three of the six programs treat disability ownership as one named category inside a broader eligibility list, not the sole focus. Illinois's OE3 grant and Minnesota's ELP both use a SEDI-style definition (Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual, or an equivalent state list) that explicitly and specifically includes persons with disabilities alongside minority-, women-, veteran-, and low-income owners. The Sephora Beauty Grant and Antares REACH Grant use a similar "underrepresented founder" roster from the Fifteen Percent Pledge and a partner network, respectively, that names disability by term. Only the 2Gether-International accelerator is built around disability as its sole, exclusive focus rather than one line among several.
| Program | How disability appears in eligibility |
|---|---|
| 2Gether-International Accelerator | Sole, exclusive focus -- run by and for founders with disabilities |
| Illinois OE3 Grant | Named category inside a closed SEDI-style list (also minority, women, veteran, low-income) |
| Minnesota ELP | Named category inside a closed eligible-owner list, per certified lender |
| Sephora Beauty Grant | Named category inside the Fifteen Percent Pledge's underrepresented-founder definition |
| Antares REACH Grant | Named category inside a closed underrepresented-founder list, via Hello Alice |
The 2Gether-International Startup Accelerator is the only program on this list where disability is the entire premise rather than one eligible category among several, because it was founded and is staffed by people with disabilities specifically to serve disabled entrepreneurs, and its up to $10,000 in seed funding is paired with mentorship built around disability-specific business barriers. The state loan programs (Oregon, Minnesota) and private grants (Illinois OE3, Sephora, Antares REACH) are worth applying to just as seriously, but they were not designed disability-first -- read each program's full eligibility list before assuming disability alone qualifies you, since most also require the business to be majority-owned and operationally controlled by the disabled individual.
The $1,000,000 Oregon Loan, in Detail
The Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund offers direct loans up to $1,000,000 through Business Oregon to small businesses with 25 or fewer employees or $1.5 million or less in revenue. A 50%-or-greater ownership stake by a severely disabled individual is an explicit, standalone qualifying criterion -- separate from the general small-business size standard. There is no application cycle; applicants work through their local Oregon Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which assigns a certified EDLF counselor to build the loan package before it reaches Business Oregon. There are no application or counseling fees.
Business Oregon administers the EDLF as a direct state loan program rather than a grant, which means the capital must be repaid -- but at more accessible terms than most conventional small business loans, and without the equity dilution of venture funding. The program is open to Oregon-based businesses generally, with severely disabled ownership named as one specific, standalone qualifying path alongside the standard size-based eligibility (25 or fewer employees, or $1.5 million or less in annual revenue).
The certified SBDC counselor, not Business Oregon directly, is the practical gatekeeper: counselors review the loan package, help structure the request, and make the recommendation that Business Oregon follows in the large majority of cases. There is no fixed application window -- applications are accepted year-round, and the process begins with a conversation at your local Oregon SBDC rather than a form submission.
Source: oregon.gov/biz/programs/edlf (confirmed active, rolling intake, July 2026)Confirm Oregon eligibility. The business must operate in Oregon and meet either the disability-ownership path (50%+ owned by a severely disabled individual) or the general size standard (25 or fewer employees, $1.5M or less in revenue).
Contact your local Oregon SBDC. There is no direct application to Business Oregon -- the process starts with an SBDC advisor who matches you to a certified EDLF counselor.
Build the loan package with your counselor. Free of charge; the counselor structures the request and financial documentation before submission.
Submit through Business Oregon. Approval follows the certified counselor's recommendation in most cases; there is no annual deadline to work around.
Service-Disabled Veteran Programs Are a Separate Path
This is the distinction to keep straight
Being a disabled founder and being a service-disabled veteran are different eligibility paths, and the funding programs built around each rarely overlap. SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) and VOSB (Veteran-Owned Small Business) certifications, along with veteran-focused accelerators like Warrior Rising and DAV Patriot Boot Camp, all require verified military veteran status as the primary gate -- disability alone, without veteran status, does not qualify a founder for any of them. None of the three veteran-gated programs GrantCompass tracks with a disability tag (SBA VetCert VOSB/SDVOSB certification, Warrior Rising's LaunchPoint track, and DAV Patriot Boot Camp) are usable by a non-veteran disabled founder, which is why they are excluded from the 6-program list above.
| Program | What it requires | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| SBA VetCert (VOSB / SDVOSB) | Verified veteran, service-disabled for SDVOSB tier | Federal set-aside contract access, no cash award |
| Warrior Rising (LaunchPoint track) | Verified service-disabled veteran status | Free training + invite-only grants (Business Showers) |
| DAV Patriot Boot Camp | Veteran or military-connected community | Mentorship + pitch-contest cash prizes |
If you are a service-disabled veteran, your strongest path is SDVOSB federal certification through MySBA Certifications (processing has dropped to roughly 12 days as of late 2025) plus the VA's Vets First procurement preference, which is a materially stronger lever than any grant on this page if your business sells to government buyers. For the full picture -- every program, certification path, and application sequence built specifically for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses -- see our dedicated veteran-owned business grants guide.
The Federal Disabled Access Credit: A Different Kind of Program
The Disabled Access Credit (IRC Section 44) is not a disabled-owned-business program. It is a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 per year, available to any small business, that offsets the cost of making a business accessible to disabled customers and employees -- ramps, wider doorways, signage, interpreter services, adaptive equipment, and similar ADA compliance work. Ownership by a disabled person is not a qualifying criterion; a business owned entirely by non-disabled people can claim it just as easily. It is included here because it is the single most relevant federal incentive tied to disability and small business, and because conflating it with a disability-owned business grant would be dishonest.
| Who qualifies | What it funds | |
|---|---|---|
| The 6 programs above | Business must be owned (usually 50%+) by a disabled individual | General working capital, equipment, growth funding |
| Disabled Access Credit | Any small business, regardless of owner's disability status | Specifically accessibility improvements for customers/employees |
The credit covers 50% of eligible access expenditures between $250 and $10,250, for a maximum annual credit of $5,000. It is claimed on IRS Form 8826, attached to the business's regular annual tax return -- there is no separate application, no approval process, and no waiting for a decision. Eligible small businesses are those with $1 million or less in prior-year gross receipts or 30 or fewer full-time employees.
The credit can be stacked with the related Section 190 Barrier Removal deduction (up to $15,000 per year) for the same accessibility project: the credit covers the first tier of costs, and the deduction can offset remaining expenses beyond the credit's ceiling. Any small business planning ADA compliance work -- regardless of who owns it -- should evaluate both before filing.
Source: irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/tax-benefits-for-businesses-who-have-employees-with-disabilities (Form 8826, confirmed current, July 2026)Which Program to Prioritize First
Match the program to your situation, not the other way around. If you're a disabled founder building a general small business, the accelerator and state loans below are your real options -- the ADA credit is a separate, universal tool, not a substitute.
→ start with the 2Gether-International accelerator (up to $10,000 + mentorship) -- it is the only program on this list built entirely around disabled founders.
→ the Oregon EDLF (up to $1,000,000) is the largest program here, but it's a loan -- start with your local Oregon SBDC.
→ the Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program ($5,000-$150,000) runs through certified CDFI and nonprofit lenders -- email ELP@state.mn.us to get matched.
→ watch for the next Illinois OE3 round ($10,000-$245,000) -- email CEO.GrantHelp@illinois.gov to be notified when it reopens.
→ the Sephora Beauty Grant ($100,000) is worth the wait for its next window, ~October 2026.
→ the Antares REACH Grant Program (up to $20,000) pairs a 12-week accelerator with growth grants.
→ skip this list and start with SDVOSB certification -- see our veteran-owned business grants guide for the full path.
→ claim the Disabled Access Credit (up to $5,000/yr) on Form 8826 -- ownership by a disabled person is not required.
The best starting point for most disabled founders is the 2Gether-International accelerator, because it was designed by and for disabled entrepreneurs rather than treating disability as one eligible box among several, and its up to $10,000 in seed funding comes with mentorship built around disability-specific operational barriers. Founders needing larger capital should pursue the Oregon EDLF or Minnesota ELP loans in parallel; founders who are also service-disabled veterans get materially more leverage from SDVOSB certification than from any grant on this page.
How to Apply: Sequencing Your Disabled-Owned Funding Stack
These 6 programs have different front doors -- two run through state agencies, two through private foundations/partners, one through certified lenders, and one is a direct accelerator application. Work the sequence below.
Map your full eligibility first. Run the free GrantCompass eligibility check (~6 questions) to see every disability-owned and national program your business matches before spending time on any single application.
Confirm which category you actually fall into. Disability-owned founder, service-disabled veteran, or both -- the program lists barely overlap, so this determines your whole funding stack.
If disability is your defining identity, apply to 2Gether-International first. Check 2gether-international.org for the next open cohort (Tech, Health Innovation, or the JPMorganChase Venture Labs pre-accelerator for idea-stage founders).
If you need larger capital, start a state loan conversation now. Oregon founders: contact your local SBDC. Minnesota founders: email ELP@state.mn.us to get matched to a certified lender.
Watch for the next Illinois OE3 and Sephora Beauty Grant windows. Both are between cycles as of July 2026 -- email CEO.GrantHelp@illinois.gov for OE3 updates; the Sephora cycle typically reopens each October.
If you're a service-disabled veteran, start SDVOSB certification in parallel. Apply via veterans.certify.sba.gov -- processing now averages roughly 12 days -- rather than waiting on any grant cycle.
Separately, claim the Disabled Access Credit if you're doing ADA accessibility work. This has nothing to do with your ownership status -- file Form 8826 with your next tax return regardless of which grants you pursue.
Mistakes disabled-founder applicants make
- Assuming the Disabled Access Credit is a disability-owned business grant. It funds accessibility improvements for customers and employees and is open to any small business -- it says nothing about who owns the company.
- Applying to SDVOSB certification or Warrior Rising without veteran status. Both require verified military veteran status; disability alone does not qualify a non-veteran founder for either.
- Treating a 6-program list as thin without checking the broader catalog. Every disabled founder is also fully eligible for the 625 other national and state programs open to all businesses -- this page covers only the ones that name disability specifically.
- Skipping the Oregon or Minnesota loan programs because "loans aren't grants." True, but at $1,000,000 and $150,000 ceilings respectively, they dwarf every grant on this list -- worth the repayment terms if you need real capital.
- Missing that most of these programs list disability among several qualifying categories. Read each program's full eligibility list; most also require majority ownership and operational control by the disabled individual, not just a disability diagnosis somewhere in the business.
Disabled-Owned Business Grants FAQ
How many programs does GrantCompass track for disabled-owned businesses?
GrantCompass tracks 6 active programs in its 2026 US catalog that specifically name disability-owned businesses as an eligible category, worth $1,525,000 combined: the Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (up to $1,000,000), the Illinois OE3 Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant ($10,000-$245,000), the Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program ($5,000-$150,000), the Sephora Beauty Grant ($100,000), the Antares REACH Grant Program (up to $20,000), and the 2Gether-International Startup Accelerator for Founders with Disabilities (up to $10,000). Disabled founders are also fully eligible for the 625 additional national and state programs open to every business owner in the 631-program catalog.
What is the best grant for a disabled founder starting out?
The 2Gether-International Startup Accelerator for Founders with Disabilities is the best starting point for most disabled founders, because it is run by and for disabled entrepreneurs specifically -- not one line in a longer eligibility list. It offers up to $10,000 in seed funding plus a mentorship-based accelerator. 2GI runs several cohorts a year (Tech, Health Innovation, and the JPMorganChase Venture Labs pre-accelerator for idea-stage founders); check 2gether-international.org for the next open window.
Is the Disabled Access Credit a grant for disabled business owners?
No. The Disabled Access Credit (IRC Section 44) is a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 per year, available to any small business regardless of who owns it, that offsets the cost of making a business accessible to disabled customers and employees -- ramps, signage, interpreter services, adaptive equipment. It is not tied to the owner's disability status. It is claimed on IRS Form 8826 with your annual tax return; there is no separate application or approval process.
Can a non-veteran disabled founder apply for SDVOSB certification or Warrior Rising?
No. SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) certification, VOSB certification, Warrior Rising's LaunchPoint track, and DAV Patriot Boot Camp all require verified military veteran status as the primary eligibility gate. Disability alone, without veteran status, does not qualify a founder for any of them. These are a separate funding path covered in full on our veteran-owned business grants guide.
What is the largest disabled-owned business program available?
The Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (EDLF), administered by Business Oregon, offers loans up to $1,000,000 to Oregon small businesses -- with 50%-or-greater ownership by a severely disabled individual as an explicit, standalone qualifying criterion separate from the general size standard. It is a loan, not a grant, and requires free counseling through a certified Oregon Small Business Development Center before Business Oregon reviews the package. There is no fixed application deadline; intake is rolling year-round.
Do state programs like Illinois OE3 and Minnesota ELP require the business to be exclusively disability-focused?
No. Both programs use a SEDI-style (Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual) or equivalent eligible-owner definition that names persons with disabilities as one qualifying category alongside minority-, women-, veteran-, and low-income-owned businesses. A business only needs to meet one named category, plus the program's general size and location requirements, to qualify -- it does not need to be disability-focused as its core identity.
What this means for your disabled-owned business
The honest picture: 6 programs name disability-owned businesses specifically, ranging from a $10,000 founder-focused accelerator to a $1,000,000 Oregon state loan, with the ADA tax credit and veteran-specific certifications as related but distinct tools. The free GrantCompass eligibility check maps all 631 programs to your specific business in about six questions.
Check your eligibility across all 631 programs in about 60 seconds →