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Who it's for · Immigrant founders

Immigrant Business Grants & Loans

GrantCompass tracks 13 loan, grant, and business-development programs specifically for immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs -- CDFI loans up to $500,000, a federal refugee microloan program, and one true cash grant. Most of this list is loans, not grants, and this page says so plainly. To see which of these immigrant business grants and loans you actually qualify for, use the free interactive eligibility map -- it checks your eligibility across all 631 programs in the catalog in about 60 seconds.

13 Dedicated immigrant & refugee programs · $500K Largest single loan ceiling · 5 Lenders explicitly accept ITIN · 1 True cash grant (LISC) · 11 Accept rolling, no-deadline applications
Loans 10 of 13 In-kind programs 2 of 13 Cash grants 1 of 13
Quick Answer

GrantCompass tracks 13 programs specifically for immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs in its 2026 US catalog: 10 CDFI loans, 2 in-kind business-development programs, and exactly 1 true cash grant. The best starting point for most first-time applicants is DreamSpring ($1,000-$350,000, ITIN accepted in all 27 states it serves) or, for New York-based refugee and immigrant founders specifically, Accompany Capital ($1,000-$350,000, no minimum credit score, multilingual loan officers). The single largest funding ceiling is Pursuit's CDFI loan program at $500,000 across six Northeast states. There is no six-figure immigrant-specific cash grant in this catalog -- the money at that scale is loan capital, and this page is explicit about which is which.

13dedicated immigrant & refugee programs in the catalog
$2.2Mcombined max funding across the 11 programs with disclosed ceilings
$500Klargest single loan ceiling (Pursuit CDFI)
11of 13 accept applications on a rolling, no-deadline basis
5lenders explicitly accept ITIN or serve undocumented founders
1true cash grant in the mix (LISC, $5K-$25K)

What Is Actually Active in 2026

Eleven of the 13 programs accept applications year-round with no cycle deadline. The other two run in waves: Feed the Soul Foundation's restaurant program opened February 1 and closed April 15, 2026 (next cohort not yet announced), and LISC's grants open only when a corporate or philanthropic campaign funds a new round. This guide covers only programs with confirmed active status or a clear reopening path as of July 2026, cross-referenced against the GrantCompass catalog of 631 US funding programs. Three other catalog matches were excluded because the data does not support genuine immigrant targeting: the Black Ambition Prize lists "first-generation immigrant" as just one of seven unrelated qualifying traits in a broad diversity OR-gate; Ascendus carries an immigrant-owned-business tag with no ITIN language or priority terms behind it; and Massachusetts's Small Business Technical Assistance Grant funds intermediary nonprofits, not businesses directly.

Immigrant & Refugee Programs: Status at a Glance (July 2026)
ProgramAmountStatus
Pursuit CDFI Loans$10K-$500KActive, rolling
DreamSpring CDFI Loans$1K-$350KActive, rolling
Accompany Capital$1K-$350KActive, rolling
Accion Opportunity Fund$5K-$250KActive, rolling
LEDC (Latino Economic Dev. Center)$500-$250KActive, rolling
Pacific Community Ventures$10K-$200KActive, rolling
Working Solutions CDFI$5K-$100KActive, rolling
Justine PETERSEN Microloans$500-$150KActive, rolling
Kiva U.S. 0% Microloans$1K-$15KActive, rolling
ORR Refugee Microenterprise Dev.Up to $15KActive, rolling (via local grantee)
Hot Bread Kitchen HBK IncubatesIn-kindActive, rolling
LISC Small Business Relief Grants$5K-$25KBetween campaigns
Feed the Soul Foundation$15K in servicesBetween cohorts

Immigrant founders have the smallest dedicated program set among ownership groups GrantCompass tracks

GrantCompass tags 79 programs in the national catalog by ownership group. Minority-owned businesses have the deepest bench at 48 dedicated programs; women-owned businesses have 25; veteran-owned businesses have 10; immigrant and refugee founders have this list of 13; and Black-owned businesses have 5. Every immigrant-owned business is also fully eligible for the 618 national and state programs open to all businesses -- immigration status is rarely a disqualifier for those, though it is worth confirming EIN and legal-operation requirements on each program's own page.

48 programs
25 programs
10 programs
Immigrant & refugee
13 programs
5 programs
What Kind of Money Is This, Really
CategoryProgram(s)What you actually receive
Cash grantLISC Small Business Relief Grants$5,000-$25,000, no repayment -- but only offered episodically, when a campaign is funded
Loan capital10 CDFI & federal lenders (Pursuit, DreamSpring, Accompany Capital, and others)$500-$500,000, repaid over time at CDFI or 0% rates -- not free money
In-kind servicesFeed the Soul Foundation, Hot Bread KitchenCoaching, kitchen access, and capital connections valued at $15,000 or free -- no cash disbursed

All 13 Immigrant & Refugee Programs, in One Sortable Table

The GrantCompass catalog tracks 13 programs reserved for or explicitly prioritizing immigrant and refugee-owned businesses: 10 loans, 2 in-kind business-development programs, and 1 cash grant. Click any program for its full profile, eligibility rules, and application steps. Sort by amount to see the spread from $500 microloans to a $500,000 CDFI loan ceiling.

ProgramOrganizationTypeAmountLevel / states
Pursuit -- CDFI Small Business LoansPursuitLoan$10,000-$500,000Private · NY, NJ, CT, PA, IL, DE
Accompany CapitalAccompany Capital (BCNA)Loan$1,000-$350,000Private · NY (5 boroughs)
DreamSpring -- CDFI Small Business LoansDreamSpringLoan$1,000-$350,000Private · 27 states
LEDC -- Loans for Latino & Underserved DMV EntrepreneursLatino Economic Development CenterLoan$500-$250,000Private · DC, MD, VA
Accion Opportunity Fund -- Small Business LoansAccion Opportunity FundLoan$5,000-$250,000Private · all states
Pacific Community Ventures -- Good Jobs LoansPacific Community VenturesLoan$10,000-$200,000Private · CA, CO, NY, TX, WA, IL, GA, FL, NC, OH
Working Solutions -- CDFI Small Business LoansWorking Solutions CDFILoan$5,000-$100,000Private · CA (Bay Area)
Justine PETERSEN -- Small Business MicroloansJustine PETERSEN Housing & Reinvestment Corp.Loan$500-$150,000Private · MO, IL
LISC Small Business Relief GrantsLocal Initiatives Support CorporationGrant$5,000-$25,000Private · all states, when open
Kiva U.S. -- 0% Interest MicroloansKivaLoan$1,000-$15,000Private · all states
Refugee Microenterprise Development (MED) ProgramHHS / Administration for Children and Families (ORR)LoanUp to $15,000Federal · all states via local grantees
Feed the Soul Foundation Restaurant Business DevelopmentFeed the Soul FoundationProgram$15,000 in services (in-kind)Private · 10 cities nationally
Hot Bread Kitchen -- HBK Incubates Food Business ProgramHot Bread KitchenProgramIn-kind (free program)Private · NY (NYC)
  • Loans 10
  • In-kind programs 2
  • Cash grants 1

"Loan" means repayable capital -- CDFI rates and terms vary by lender, and Kiva's is 0% interest. "Program" means coaching, kitchen space, or capital connections with no cash disbursed. Only LISC's grants are non-repayable cash, and those open in unpredictable waves. See our grants vs. loans vs. tax credits guide for how to tell the difference before you apply.

Loan ceilings span $500 to $500,000

The immigrant-specific catalog's largest disclosed ceiling is Pursuit's $500,000 CDFI loan, available across six Northeast states. The pattern here is the opposite of most demographic-specific catalogs: the biggest dollar figures are loans, not grants, and the only cash grant in the mix (LISC) tops out at $25,000 and is not always open. Founders chasing six-figure non-dilutive cash should look at the national GrantCompass catalog of 631 programs rather than expecting it from an immigrant-specific line item.

Positions on a logarithmic scale. Green dots = loans; orange = LISC's cash grant. All amounts are lender-published loan or grant ceilings, not average award sizes.

Top 5 Programs by Maximum Amount
ProgramMax amountType
Pursuit CDFI Loans$500,000Loan
Accompany Capital$350,000Loan
DreamSpring$350,000Loan
LEDC$250,000Loan
Accion Opportunity Fund$250,000Loan

CDFI Lenders That Actually Serve Immigrant Founders

The best CDFI lender for an ITIN-only or thin-credit immigrant founder is DreamSpring, because it accepts ITIN across all of its loan products in the 27 states it serves and offers a no-collateral option under $20,000 -- a rare combination among CDFI lenders nationally. Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven, federally certified lenders that underwrite for cash flow and character rather than FICO score alone, which is why they dominate this list: 10 of the 13 immigrant-specific programs in the GrantCompass catalog are CDFI or CDFI-style loans.

Quick Answer: ITIN and no-SSN options

Five lenders in this catalog explicitly accept ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) in place of a Social Security number, or explicitly state they serve undocumented founders: DreamSpring ($1K-$350K, ITIN across all products, 27 states), Working Solutions ($5K-$100K, explicitly welcomes undocumented founders, California only), Pursuit ($10K-$500K, ITIN accepted, six Northeast states), Accompany Capital ($1K-$350K, ITIN regardless of immigration status, NYC only), and LEDC ($500-$250K, ITIN-friendly, DC/MD/VA only). If your state is not covered by any of these five, check the official page of a program outside your area or a national option like Kiva or Accion Opportunity Fund and confirm ID requirements directly with the lender before applying.

ITIN-Accepted / No-SSN-Required Lenders
LenderStates servedAmountWhat the data confirms
Working SolutionsCA (Bay Area)$5K-$100KExplicitly welcomes undocumented founders; ITIN accepted
DreamSpring27 states$1K-$350KITIN accepted across all loan products
Accompany CapitalNY (5 boroughs)$1K-$350KITIN accepted regardless of immigration status
PursuitNY, NJ, CT, PA, IL, DE$10K-$500KITIN accepted, explicit priority language for immigrant founders
LEDCDC, MD, VA$500-$250KITIN-friendly per program eligibility
DreamSpring -- Full Detail

DreamSpring is the broadest-reach CDFI lender in this catalog, serving 27 states from Alabama to Wyoming with loans from $1,000 to $350,000. It accepts ITIN across all products, a differentiator among CDFI lenders that often restrict ITIN acceptance to a subset of loan types.

The no-collateral option under $20,000 (with a 650+ credit score) is the fastest path for founders without business assets to pledge. A dedicated DreamCare Microloan for childcare and home-health founders includes a 3-month interest-only grace period, useful for founders whose revenue ramps slower than their startup costs.

Standard loans typically clear underwriting in 1-3 weeks; the SBA Community Advantage product, which DreamSpring also offers, takes 4-8 weeks given the additional federal paperwork.

Source: dreamspring.org (confirmed active July 2026)
Verdict

The best national option for an ITIN-only founder outside DreamSpring's 27 states is Pursuit or Accompany Capital, depending on region -- Pursuit for the six-state NY/NJ/CT/PA/IL/DE corridor with loans up to $500,000, and Accompany Capital for NYC specifically, where multilingual loan officers and dedicated refugee-founder staff are available. Both explicitly accept ITIN regardless of broader immigration status, unlike most conventional bank lenders.

Federal vs. Private: Where the Government Fits In
SourceProgramAmountReach
FederalORR Refugee Microenterprise DevelopmentUp to $15,000All states, via local ORR grantees
Private CDFIPursuitUp to $500,0006 Northeast states
Private CDFIDreamSpringUp to $350,00027 states
Private CDFIAccompany CapitalUp to $350,000NYC only

There is exactly one federal program in this catalog dedicated to immigrant or refugee founders. Everything above $15,000 in this list comes from private, philanthropically capitalized CDFI lenders, not a federal grant or loan guarantee program aimed at immigrants specifically.

Refugee-Focused and Federal Support

The only federal program in this catalog built specifically for refugee entrepreneurs is the Refugee Microenterprise Development (MED) Program, run by the US Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). ORR does not lend directly to entrepreneurs -- it funds local nonprofit grantees, who then issue microloans of up to $15,000 plus business training to refugee founders in their service area.

Refugee Microenterprise Development (MED) Program -- Full Detail

Refugee entrepreneurs do not apply to ORR directly. They apply through a local ORR-funded grantee organization, and which organizations are currently funded changes by grant cycle and region. The federal grants to those organizations are themselves awarded through periodic Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) posted on grants.gov -- a separate process from the entrepreneur-facing microloan.

The real gatekeeper for an individual refugee founder is the local grantee, not the federal agency. Calling a state refugee coordinator or a local refugee-serving nonprofit or CDFI is the fastest way to identify the currently funded MED provider in a given region. Completing a grantee's financial-education course before applying markedly improves approval odds for thin-credit borrowers, per the program's own guidance.

Source: acf.gov/orr/programs/refugees/microenterprise-development (confirmed active July 2026)
Programs Specifically Naming Refugee Founders
ProgramFocusAmountReach
ORR Refugee Microenterprise Dev.Refugee entrepreneurs (federal)Up to $15,000All states, via local grantee
Accompany CapitalImmigrant & refugee founders, multilingual staff$1,000-$350,000NYC (5 boroughs) only
Hot Bread KitchenImmigrant women, food entrepreneursIn-kind (free)NYC only

Two of the three programs above are geographically restricted to New York City, which reflects where GrantCompass's catalog currently has verified coverage, not the full national landscape of refugee-serving organizations. A refugee founder outside New York should start with the ORR MED program's local-grantee lookup and treat DreamSpring or Accion Opportunity Fund (both broad multi-state reach, both open to immigrant-owned businesses) as the next-best options.

Verdict

A refugee founder anywhere in the US should start with the ORR Refugee Microenterprise Development Program because it is the only federal program built for this exact population, even though the founder must go through a local grantee rather than applying directly. A refugee founder in New York City specifically should add Accompany Capital, which pairs a larger loan ceiling ($350,000 vs. $15,000) with dedicated multilingual staff and no minimum credit score.

Eligibility by Immigration Status

Immigration status changes which of these 13 programs are realistic starting points. GrantCompass's data supports specific claims for some statuses and not others -- where the catalog doesn't say, this section points to the program's official page rather than guessing.

If You're a Refugee Founder

You have the clearest federal pathway of any status group in this catalog. Start here:

  • ORR Refugee Microenterprise Development Program: Up to $15,000 via a local ORR-funded grantee, plus training. The only federal program in this catalog built specifically for refugees. Find your local grantee through your state refugee coordinator.
  • Accompany Capital (NYC only): $1,000-$350,000, no minimum credit score, dedicated multilingual loan officers with refugee-founder experience. Firm five-borough restriction -- outside NYC, use Accion Opportunity Fund instead.
  • Hot Bread Kitchen (NYC only): Free food-business incubator focused on immigrant women, including refugee women, with kitchen access and capital-connection support.

Beyond this list, the catalog does not specify additional refugee-only eligibility rules for the remaining 10 programs -- confirm directly with each lender's official page whether refugee status specifically (versus immigrant status generally) affects underwriting.

If You're a Visa-Holder Founder

The GrantCompass data pack does not specify visa-category rules (H-1B, O-1, E-2, green card, etc.) for any of these 13 programs -- none of the source material names a specific visa type as a qualifying or disqualifying condition. What the data does show: several lenders (DreamSpring, Working Solutions, Pursuit, Accompany Capital, LEDC) explicitly accept ITIN as an alternative to a Social Security number, which suggests flexibility on documentation, but work authorization and legal ability to operate a US business are separate questions each lender will ask about directly. Before applying, confirm your specific visa's compatibility with self-employment or business ownership on the lender's own application page -- this is a legal question the GrantCompass catalog does not track, and getting it wrong can affect your immigration status.

If You're an Undocumented or ITIN-Only Founder

Five lenders in this catalog explicitly accept ITIN in place of an SSN, and one explicitly names undocumented founders:

  • Working Solutions (CA, Bay Area): The most explicit in the catalog -- states it welcomes undocumented founders regardless of citizenship or immigration status, no credit score or collateral required, ITIN accepted. A 5% closing fee applies at signing.
  • DreamSpring (27 states): ITIN accepted across every loan product it offers, plus a no-collateral option under $20,000.
  • Pursuit (NY, NJ, CT, PA, IL, DE): ITIN accepted, up to $500,000 -- the largest ceiling among ITIN-friendly lenders in this catalog.
  • Accompany Capital (NYC): ITIN accepted "regardless of immigration status," per the program's own eligibility language.
  • LEDC (DC, MD, VA): ITIN-friendly, including a SEED Loan up to $5,000 available to pre-launch businesses before any revenue has been generated.

Outside these five lenders' service areas, this catalog does not confirm ITIN acceptance one way or the other for the remaining programs -- check each lender's own application requirements before assuming eligibility.

Which Program to Prioritize First

Match the program to your state, your immigration-status documentation, and your business stage -- not the other way around.

If you're ITIN-only, anywhere in DreamSpring's 27 states

DreamSpring ($1,000-$350,000, ITIN accepted on every product, no-collateral option under $20,000).

If you're a refugee founder anywhere in the US

→ the federal ORR Refugee Microenterprise Development Program (up to $15,000 via a local grantee) -- find yours through your state refugee coordinator.

If you're in New York City specifically

Accompany Capital ($1,000-$350,000, no minimum credit score, multilingual staff) or Hot Bread Kitchen if you're a food entrepreneur.

If you're pre-launch with zero revenue

LEDC's SEED Loan (up to $5,000, DC/MD/VA only, applies before revenue starts) or Kiva (0% interest, $1,000-$15,000, all states).

If you need the largest loan ceiling and are in the Northeast

Pursuit (up to $500,000 across NY, NJ, CT, PA, IL, DE).

If you're undocumented and outside DreamSpring or Pursuit's territory

Working Solutions if you're in the Bay Area, or check Accion Opportunity Fund's current documentation requirements directly since it serves all states.

Worked example: a Salvadoran-born restaurant owner in Houston, Texas, on a green card

A green-card holder with 18 months in business and modest revenue does not qualify for the NYC-restricted programs (Accompany Capital, Hot Bread Kitchen) or the MO/IL-restricted Justine PETERSEN loans. Here is how the stack narrows to what's actually available, using each program's published numbers:

MoveProgramWhat the published numbers say
National reach, any stateAccion Opportunity Fund$5,000-$250,000, cash-flow underwriting, 70-80% approval among completed applicants
0% interest for a smaller askKiva U.S.$1,000-$15,000 at 0% interest, but requires crowdfunding 100% within a 15-day window
Food-business-specific coachingFeed the Soul Foundation$15,000 in free consulting for restaurant entrepreneurs, 10-city cohort, spots fill fast
Federal contracting reach (not immigrant-specific)Full GrantCompass catalog618 additional national and state programs open regardless of immigration status

None of these four options requires ITIN specifically (Texas is not covered by any of the five ITIN-explicit lenders in this catalog), which is why national-reach lenders and the broader 631-program catalog matter more here than the region-locked immigrant-specific programs.

Which Program Should You Prioritize?

IF you are a refugee, regardless of state
THEN: Contact your state refugee coordinator to find your local ORR MED grantee (up to $15,000 microloan plus training)
AND IF you are in New York City specifically
THEN: Also apply to Accompany Capital ($1,000-$350,000, multilingual staff)
IF you are ITIN-only or undocumented
THEN: Check DreamSpring (27 states), Working Solutions (CA), Pursuit (6 Northeast states), Accompany Capital (NYC), or LEDC (DC/MD/VA) -- all five explicitly accept ITIN
IF you are a visa holder
THEN: Confirm your specific visa's business-ownership rules on the lender's own page before applying -- this catalog does not track visa-specific eligibility
IF you are pre-revenue or pre-launch
THEN: Apply to LEDC's SEED Loan (up to $5,000, DC/MD/VA) or Kiva (0% interest, $1,000-$15,000, all states)
FOR ALL immigrant and refugee founders, regardless of status
THEN: Also run the free GrantCompass eligibility check against the 618 national and state programs open to every business owner
Verdict

The single best first move for most immigrant founders without a state-specific match is DreamSpring because it covers 27 states, accepts ITIN across every loan product, and offers a no-collateral option under $20,000 for founders without business assets to pledge. Founders in DreamSpring's footprint should apply there first; founders outside it should compare Accion Opportunity Fund (all states, cash-flow underwriting) against any region-specific lender covering their state.

How to Apply: Sequencing Your Immigrant Business Funding Stack

The 13 immigrant and refugee programs have different front doors, and most are CDFI loans rather than grants. Work the sequence below rather than applying to everything at once.

  1. Map your eligibility first. Run the free GrantCompass eligibility check (~6 questions) to see every immigrant-specific and national program your business matches, including the 618 programs open to all businesses.

  2. Confirm your documentation path before applying anywhere. If you're ITIN-only or undocumented, start with the five lenders confirmed to accept ITIN (DreamSpring, Working Solutions, Pursuit, Accompany Capital, LEDC). If you hold a visa, verify your specific visa's business-ownership rules directly with the lender first.

  3. Refugees should locate their local ORR grantee this week. Call your state refugee coordinator or a local refugee-serving nonprofit to identify the currently funded Microenterprise Development provider in your area -- funded organizations change by grant cycle.

  4. Apply to your best-fit CDFI lender by state. Match your state to the coverage table above: DreamSpring (27 states), Pacific Community Ventures (10 states), Pursuit (6 Northeast states), or a single-state lender like Working Solutions (CA), Accompany Capital (NYC), Justine PETERSEN (MO/IL), or LEDC (DC/MD/VA).

  5. Layer in-kind programs if you're in food or hospitality. Feed the Soul Foundation (10 cities, next cohort not yet announced) and Hot Bread Kitchen (NYC only) both deliver coaching and kitchen access rather than cash -- valuable alongside, not instead of, a loan.

  6. Watch for LISC's next grant campaign. It is the only true cash grant in this catalog, but it opens in unpredictable waves. Subscribe to lisc.org's mailing list now so you can apply within hours of the next opening.

  7. Run the broader 631-program catalog check regardless of status. Immigration status rarely disqualifies a business from the 618 national and state programs open to all -- SBIR grants, the Section 41 R&D tax credit, and state small-business grants are all worth checking alongside this list.

Five mistakes immigrant-founder applicants make

Immigrant Business Grants & Loans FAQ

Are these mostly grants or loans?

Mostly loans. Of the 13 immigrant and refugee-specific programs GrantCompass tracks, 10 are loans (repayable capital, typically from CDFI lenders), 2 are in-kind business-development programs (coaching, kitchen space, capital connections -- no cash disbursed), and only 1 is a true cash grant with no repayment: LISC's Small Business Relief Grants, which award $5,000-$25,000 but open only when a campaign is funded, not on a fixed schedule.

Which lenders accept ITIN instead of a Social Security number?

Five lenders in this catalog explicitly accept ITIN: DreamSpring ($1,000-$350,000, 27 states, ITIN across every product), Working Solutions ($5,000-$100,000, Bay Area, explicitly welcomes undocumented founders), Pursuit ($10,000-$500,000, six Northeast states), Accompany Capital ($1,000-$350,000, NYC, ITIN regardless of immigration status), and LEDC ($500-$250,000, DC/MD/VA). Outside these five lenders' service areas, confirm ID requirements directly on the lender's application page before assuming eligibility.

Is there a federal grant specifically for immigrant business owners?

Not a grant, but there is one federal program: the Refugee Microenterprise Development (MED) Program, run by the US Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement. It is a microloan of up to $15,000 plus training, issued through local ORR-funded grantee organizations rather than directly by the federal government, and it is restricted to refugees and other ORR-eligible populations rather than immigrants generally.

What can a visa holder apply for?

The GrantCompass data pack does not specify visa-category rules for any of these 13 programs -- no source material names a specific visa type (H-1B, O-1, E-2, green card, etc.) as qualifying or disqualifying. Work authorization and legal ability to own or operate a US business are separate questions each lender will ask directly, and this is a legal determination the catalog does not track. Confirm your specific visa's compatibility with business ownership on the lender's own application page before applying.

What's available for a refugee founder outside New York City?

Start with the ORR Refugee Microenterprise Development Program (up to $15,000 via a local grantee, available nationwide) -- contact your state refugee coordinator to find the currently funded grantee near you. Beyond that federal program, the two NYC-restricted options in this catalog (Accompany Capital, Hot Bread Kitchen) are not available outside the five boroughs; a refugee founder elsewhere should compare DreamSpring (27 states) or Accion Opportunity Fund (all states) as the next-broadest options, since both are open to immigrant-owned businesses generally.

How many immigrant and refugee business programs does GrantCompass track in 2026?

GrantCompass tracks 13 loan, grant, and business-development programs reserved for or explicitly prioritizing immigrant and refugee-owned businesses in its 2026 US catalog: 10 CDFI or federal loans, 2 in-kind business-development programs, and 1 cash grant. That spans national CDFI lenders (DreamSpring, Accion Opportunity Fund, Kiva), regional CDFI lenders (Accompany Capital in NYC, LEDC in DC/MD/VA, Working Solutions in the Bay Area, Justine PETERSEN in MO/IL, Pursuit across six Northeast states), one federal refugee microloan program (ORR MED), and two in-kind programs (Feed the Soul, Hot Bread Kitchen). Immigrant and refugee-owned businesses are also fully eligible for the additional 618 national and state programs open to every business owner in GrantCompass's 631-program catalog.

What this means for your immigrant-owned business

The winning stack for most immigrant founders pairs an ITIN-friendly CDFI loan matched to your state (DreamSpring, Pursuit, Accompany Capital, Working Solutions, or LEDC) with the federal ORR Microenterprise program if you're a refugee, and a check against the 618 broader national and state programs that don't factor in immigration status at all. The free GrantCompass eligibility check maps all 631 programs to your specific business in about six questions and generates your free matched report.

Check your eligibility across all 631 programs in about 60 seconds -- free →

Methodology & sources. Program data comes from the GrantCompass catalog of 631 US funding programs, updated July 2026 -- 13 programs reserved for or explicitly prioritizing immigrant and refugee-owned businesses, and 618 national and state programs open to all, each verified against the administering organization (individual CDFI lenders, HHS/ORR, and LISC). CDFI loan ceilings and ITIN-acceptance claims reflect each lender's own published eligibility pages as of July 2026. The ORR Refugee Microenterprise Development Program figures reflect current HHS Administration for Children and Families guidance (acf.gov/orr).
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