NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant
NAACP / Black Entrepreneurs Day
$25,000
Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 4 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
$25K grants for Black entrepreneurs + Daymond John mentorship
The NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant awards $25,000 grants to Black entrepreneurs and small business owners. The program is tied to Black Entrepreneurs Day and has included mentorship from Shark Tank's Daymond John for recipients. In 2023, $500,000 was awarded to nine Black-owned businesses. Open to all rising and established Black entrepreneurs, no industry restriction. Grant is not currently open — applications reopen annually around Black Entrepreneurs Day events.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $25,000 – $25,000
- Realistic amount
- $25,000 flat amount for all selected recipients.
- Deadline
- Annual — tied to Black Entrepreneurs Day (typically October). 2026 cycle not yet announced. Monitor naacp.org/grants for application launch.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- Applicant must identify as a Black entrepreneur
- Open to both rising entrepreneurs (early-stage) and established business owners
- No industry restrictions
- Business must be for-profit
- Business or applicant must be US-based
Hard requirements
- Demographic eligibility: black-owned
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Working capital and operating expenses
- Equipment and business assets
- Marketing and advertising
- Hiring and payroll
- Technology and software
- Inventory
- Business development and training
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses
- Debt repayment unrelated to business operations
- Non-Black-owned businesses
How to apply
-
1
Monitor NAACP grants page for annual launch announcement
Check naacp.org/find-resources/grants/powershift-entrepreneur-grant regularly starting in August-September for the annual launch announcement. Program is tied to Black Entrepreneurs Day (typically October). Sign up for NAACP email updates to receive notifications.
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2
Apply online when the intake window opens
Complete the online application when announced, including: business description and stage, Black entrepreneur ownership documentation, how grant funds will be used, business revenue and impact metrics.
-
3
Selection and award at Black Entrepreneurs Day
NAACP reviews applications and selects recipients. Winners are typically announced publicly at the Black Entrepreneurs Day event and receive $25,000 grants plus mentorship from Shark Tank's Daymond John.
Program is tied to Black Entrepreneurs Day events — the live announcement adds visibility beyond the grant itself. Only 9 winners in 2023 from a national pool. Daymond John mentorship is genuine — winners appear on Black Entrepreneurs Day broadcast.
Deadline & timing
Program is not currently open as of May 2026. Applications typically open in conjunction with Black Entrepreneurs Day programming (historically October). Monitor naacp.org/find-resources/grants/powershift-entrepreneur-grant and NAACP social channels for the 2026 announcement. Email sign-ups available on the NAACP grants page.
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We don't draft NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant applications. We do draft these eight. Answer a few short questions once and we draft your application from what you tell us: only your facts, with a blank wherever the judges want a detail only you know. You submit it yourself. Five are for women-owned businesses; three are open more widely.
You see a free preview first and pay only if you want the full draft: $9 per grant. You can add the other month-end grants you qualify for at $5 each (never more than $15 extra).
For women-owned businesses
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Open more widely
- Business Freedom Grant$1,000Idea stage welcome · no entry feeReview rounds until the final deadline, December 31, 2026Draft my applicationit →
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