American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant
American Express
$5,000–$25,000
Community-impact grants from American Express
American Express awards competitive grants to small business owners through its Backing Small Businesses program. Past cycles have offered grants of $5,000–$25,000 to businesses with strong community impact stories. The program has run multiple rounds since 2020, typically targeting U.S. small businesses with strong community ties. Grant cycles are intermittent and not announced on a fixed annual schedule. As of early 2026, no active 2025/2026 grant cycle has been announced; monitor americanexpress.com/backing-small-businesses for new cycles.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $5,000 – $25,000
- Realistic amount
- Historically $5,000 (broader cohorts) or $25,000 (more selective cohorts), depending on the cycle. Check the current cyc…
- Deadline
- No active cycle as of May 2026. Monitor americanexpress.com/backing-small-businesses and American Express social media for new cycle announcements.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- Must be a for-profit small business based in the United States
- Business must have a compelling community impact story — Amex emphasizes businesses that serve their local communities, not just generate revenue
- American Express card membership has historically been encouraged (some cycles explicitly required being an Amex card member or business card member); verify per current cycle terms
- Business must meet the SBA definition of 'small business' (generally fewer than 500 employees for most industries)
- No minimum revenue requirement stated in past cycles
- Business must be currently operating (not pre-launch)
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Grant is unrestricted — any legitimate small business expense
- Working capital and operating costs
- Equipment and technology
- Marketing and advertising
- Inventory
- Staff hiring or training
Ineligible expenses
- No published list of ineligible expenses — grant is unrestricted
- Personal expenses unrelated to the business
How to apply
-
1
Monitor for cycle announcement
There is no active cycle as of May 2026. Bookmark americanexpress.com/backing-small-businesses and follow @AmericanExpress on social media. Past cycles have opened with limited advance notice (1–2 weeks). Being ready to apply quickly is an advantage.
~0 hrs
-
2
Prepare your community impact story in advance
When a cycle opens, applications are competitive and windows are short (30–60 days, sometimes less). Prepare your community impact narrative in advance: how your business serves your community, what you've overcome, and what you'll do with the grant. Authenticity and specificity outperform polished corporate language.
~4 hrs
-
3
Complete the online application when the cycle opens
Past cycles used a short online form (basic business info, 2–3 short-answer questions, sometimes a brief video). Application takes approximately 1–2 hours when complete.
~2 hrs
-
4
Submit and await winner announcement
Submit before the cycle closes — deadlines are firm and sometimes shortened without notice. Past cycles announced winners 6–10 weeks after close. Winners are notified by email and featured on americanexpress.com. If not selected, monitor for future cycles; Amex has run multiple rounds and the program recurs.
~0 hrs
Amex Backing cycles open and close fast — often within weeks. Set a Google alert for 'American Express small business grant 2026' so you're not caught flat-footed.
Deadline & timing
American Express does not run the Backing Small Businesses grant on a fixed annual calendar. Past cycles have opened with 30–60 day application windows. New cycles are announced via americanexpress.com/backing-small-businesses and @AmericanExpress on social media. Subscribe to American Express business news to be notified.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.