Secretsos Small Business Grant
Secretsos Foundation
$2,500 (quarterly)
Researched for this program: 5 rejection traps · 5 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Quarterly grant for bank-loan-denied US SMBs
Secretsos Foundation awards quarterly $2,500 grants to underserved small business owners in the US, targeting those who have been denied bank loans or don't qualify for traditional financing. Each quarter features one to three themed grants — Q3 2026 has one general grant available for any qualifying US business with an age 21+ owner. A $15 application fee is waived for subscribers to the Top Secret Funding Blueprint service. Applications are judged on financial need, business viability, and community impact.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Foundation
- Amount range
- $2,500 – $2,500
- Realistic amount
- $2,500 (fixed award per winning applicant per quarter)
- Deadline
- Q3 2026: September 30, 2026 at 11:59:59pm CT
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- US-based active registered business
- Business owner must be at least 21 years old
- Must operate within US states or territories
- Preference for underserved entrepreneurs: women-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, or previously denied bank loan
- Business must be actively operating (not pre-launch)
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Business operations and working capital
- Equipment and tools for the trade
- Inventory and supplies
- Marketing and advertising
- Professional services (legal, accounting)
Ineligible expenses
- Personal living expenses
- Debt repayment
- Expenses incurred before grant award
How to apply
-
1
Review Q2 grant categories
Visit secretsos.com/grants to see the specific current-quarter grant categories available. Each quarter may feature themed grants (e.g., specific trades, demographic groups) alongside a general category. Ensure your business fits at least one open category.
~0.5 hrs
-
2
Pay $15 application fee (or subscribe)
Pay the $15 non-refundable application fee. Fee is waived for subscribers to the Top Secret Funding Blueprint monthly service — calculate whether subscription makes financial sense if you plan to apply multiple quarters.
~0.25 hrs
-
3
Complete application at secretsos.com/grants
Fill out the online application covering your business background, why you need the grant, how you've been underserved by traditional financing, and your planned use of funds.
~1.5 hrs
-
4
Submit before June 30, 2026 at 11:59:59pm CT
Submit before the hard deadline. Late applications are not accepted.
~0.25 hrs
-
5
Await winner notification
Winner announced on or around July 30, 2026 (approximately 30 days after Q2 closes). Check email and the Secretsos website for announcement.
~0 hrs
Only one grant awarded per quarter from the general pool — odds improve sharply by applying to any available demographic-specific category (Native American, Utah HVAC, etc.) if you qualify. Reapply every quarter; past applicants are eligible again.
Deadline & timing
Q2 2026 window runs April 1 – June 30, 2026. Q3 2026 will run July 1 – September 30. Winners announced on or around the 30th day following the quarter's close (Q2 winner announced ~July 30, 2026). New quarterly cycles open automatically.
Deadline: December 31, 2026 — put it in your calendar before you close this tab.
Includes reminders one week and one day before. Verify on the official program page — funders move dates.
Applications are open — don’t lose the window
GrantCompass tracks Secretsos Small Business Grant’s application windows in the live catalog. Leave an email and we’ll warn you before this window closes — and tell you when the next round opens.
Free. One email when the window moves, deadline warnings on your watchlist, and the monthly closing-soon digest. Unsubscribe anytime.
Programs that stack well
SecretSoS Grant compared with 11 other microgrants women founders apply to
Business Freedom Grant, Coach K Legacy Grant, Galaxy Grant and IFundWomen grants cost $0 to enter. Amber Grant, HerRise MicroGrant, Hey Helen Grant, SecretSoS Grant, The Hustle Grant and YippityDoo Big Idea Grant each charge $15, Freed Fellowship charges $19 and Women Founders Grant charges $25 per entry. Amber Grant and Hey Helen Grant pay the largest monthly award, $10,000; Coach K Legacy Grant is the only monthly award in this table with no entry fee.
| Program | Award | Entry fee | Cadence | Next close | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach K Legacy Grant · review | $1,000 | $0 | Monthly | Aspiring and existing business owners | |
| Amber Grant · review | $10,000 (3 a month) + $50,000 year-end | $15 | Monthly | Women-owned businesses, US and Canada | |
| Freed Fellowship · review | $500 + $2,500 year-end | $19 | Monthly | Any US small business; women encouraged | |
| Galaxy Grant · review | $2,500 | $0 | About quarterly | Women and minority business owners | |
| HerRise MicroGrant · review | $1,000 | $15 | Monthly | Women-owned, under $1M revenue | |
| Hey Helen Grant | $10,000 | $15 | Monthly | Women-owned, under $1M revenue | |
| Women Founders Grant · review | $5,000 | $25 | Rolling, posted deadlines | Women founders, any stage | |
| YippityDoo Big Idea Grant | $1,000 | $15 | Monthly | Women-owned, idea stage welcome | |
| Business Freedom Grant | $1,000 | $0 | Review rounds | Any founder, any stage | |
| SecretSoS Grant (this page) | $2,500 | $15 | Quarterly | Operating US businesses; underserved preferred | |
| IFundWomen grants · review | $10,000–$25,000 (by sponsor) | $0 | Rolling | Rolling, by sponsor | Women-owned for-profit businesses |
| The Hustle Grant | $1,000 | $15 | Monthly | Monthly; cutoff by newsletter | Women-owned businesses and ideas |
Table updated October 7, 2026 from the GrantCompass catalog. Entry fees are verified against each funder’s published rules; confirm the date on the funder’s own page before you apply.
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Last updated September 5, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.