LISC Small Business Relief Grants
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
$5,000–$25,000 (when open)
CDFI grants for underserved small business owners
LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) is a national CDFI that periodically deploys small business grants of $5,000–$25,000 to underserved entrepreneurs — primarily Black, Latino, women, and low-income community business owners — through its network of local offices in over 35 cities. Grant programs are not continuous; LISC deploys them in waves tied to specific funding campaigns (corporate partnerships with Walmart, Verizon, JPMorgan, and others) or disaster-recovery contexts. LISC also provides loan access, technical assistance, and connections to its network of community lenders.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $5,000 – $25,000
- Realistic amount
- Typical LISC small business grant: $5,000–$10,000. Specific campaigns may offer up to $25,000 for businesses in qualifyi…
- Deadline
- Between intakes — LISC grant programs open in waves tied to specific funding campaigns. Monitor lisc.org/small-business and subscribe to LISC local office mailing lists for next campaign launch.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- Business must be a small business (typically defined as under 100 employees for LISC purposes, though some campaigns have stricter size standards)
- Priority given to businesses owned by women, people of color, immigrants, veterans, or businesses located in low-to-moderate income communities
- Most campaigns require businesses to be in operation for at least 1–2 years prior to application
- Business must demonstrate COVID-related, disaster-related, or systemic financial hardship (criteria vary by campaign)
- Some campaigns require business to be located in a specific city or neighborhood served by a LISC local office
- Both for-profit and nonprofit businesses are eligible depending on the specific campaign
- Must meet any industry or revenue restrictions specified in the active campaign guidelines
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Operating expenses and working capital
- Rent and utilities
- Payroll and employee retention
- Inventory and supplies
- Equipment purchases
- Technology and digital tools
- Marketing and reopening costs
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses of the owner
- Lobbying activities
- Expenses unrelated to the business
How to apply
-
1
Monitor LISC channels for campaign launch
Subscribe to LISC's national mailing list at lisc.org and follow your local LISC office (if applicable). Past campaigns have included Small Business Relief Fund, Metro Area Recovery Initiative, and Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund. Campaigns typically open with 2–4 weeks' notice.
~0.5 hrs
-
2
Submit online application when campaign opens
Applications are completed through LISC's online grant portal or a third-party application system. Typical requirements: business description, ownership demographics, financial hardship narrative, number of employees, and revenue figures. Applications take approximately 1–2 hours to complete.
~2 hrs
-
3
Provide supporting documentation
LISC typically requests: business license, most recent year's tax return or financial statements, proof of business registration, and ownership documentation (for demographic programs). Gather these in advance — campaigns often close within 2–3 weeks.
~2 hrs
-
4
Award notification and disbursement
LISC notifies award recipients by email. Grants are typically disbursed as a lump sum via check or ACH within 2–4 weeks of award announcement. LISC may also connect awardees to additional technical assistance and lending resources.
~0.5 hrs
LISC campaigns open and close fast — some fill in under 72 hours. Subscribe to LISC's mailing list and your local LISC office newsletter now, before a campaign launches. Pre-prepare a PDF with your key business info (EIN, revenue, employee count, hardship narrative) so you can apply within hours of a campaign opening.
Deadline & timing
LISC small business grants are not offered on a fixed annual schedule. They are deployed when corporate or philanthropic partners fund a specific initiative. Past campaigns have opened with 2–4 weeks' notice and closed within 2–6 weeks due to high demand. Subscribing to LISC's mailing list and following local LISC office channels is the best way to catch the next campaign.
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.