Loving You Into Freedom Grant Competition
Loving You Into Freedom
$25,000 to $50,000 total prize pool
A $25,000 to $50,000 prize pool for early- or growth-stage businesses led by returning citizens or their families in NY, NJ and CT. The 2026 round has ended.
The Loving You Into Freedom Grant Competition is a judged pitch competition for justice-impacted founders in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut tri-state area. It is open to returning citizens (people who have experienced incarceration) and to family members of currently or formerly incarcerated people launching a mission-aligned venture. The total prize pool is $25,000 to $50,000 depending on sponsorship levels. A panel of five scores Clarity of Vision, Innovation and Differentiation, Feasibility, Social Impact and Leadership. The 2026 awards were presented on October 12, 2026 in New York City, and the form still lists 2025 dates, so the next window (likely July 2027) is not posted.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Foundation
- Amount range
- $50,000
- Realistic amount
- A total pool of $25,000 to $50,000 shared among winners; the split is not published.
- Deadline
- 2026 round ended; 2027 not posted (pattern: July)
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- NY, NJ, CT
Who qualifies
- Returning citizens: individuals who have experienced incarceration and are ready to build or scale a business
- Family members: spouses, parents, children or close relatives of currently or formerly incarcerated individuals launching a mission-aligned venture
- Must live in the New York, New Jersey or Connecticut tri-state area
- Early-stage or growth-stage businesses (for-profit or hybrid)
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Business use of the grant (use restrictions not published)
Ineligible expenses
- See official program guidance
How to apply
-
1
Watch for the 2027 window
Summer pattern (July) in 2025.
~0.2 hrs
-
2
Answer the written questions
Problem and who you serve (300 words); business model (300); what is unique or impactful (250); how it supports justice-impacted communities (250); 12-month goal (150); how you would use the grant.
~4 hrs
-
3
Business plan, budget and 2-minute video
Required with the form.
~6 hrs
-
4
Pitch
Judged by a panel of five.
~8 hrs
Six written answers are visible on the public form, so draft them ahead of the likely July window.
Deadline & timing
Presented at the 2026 Freedom Festival/Impact Awards on October 12, 2026 in New York City. The form still lists 2025 dates (Applications Open July 1, 2025; Close July 31, 2025). The 2027 window is not posted; the summer pattern suggests July. No AI policy found.
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Required documents
- Written answers
- Business plan
- Budget
- 2-minute video
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Last updated October 17, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.